Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
SELF-EVALUATION OF GENERIC SKILLS
Last name, first name:
Your file No.
Date:
INSTRUCTIONS
I.
Rate your proficiency (level of mastery) for each skill. Be as accurate as possible in your
self-evaluation. Circle the letter that best corresponds to your rating.
“A” is the lowest rating and “I” is the highest.
II.
When you have finished, go to page 7 and indicate your ten strongest skills, the skills that
you will need for your target occupation and the skills that you would like to develop.
III.
On pages 8 and following, give examples of situations where you have used each of your
strongest skills in a work or non-work context.
IV. Definitions of the individual skills are provided on pages 11 to 17, in the same order as on
pages 2 to 6 . (Most of the definitions are based on those provided in the French version of
this text, which have been taken from the dictionary Le Petit Larousse Illustré. The author
of the text has also added his own definitions between parentheses; they apply more closely
to the world of work.)
1
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
For each of the skills below, I would rate my proficiency (level of mastery) as follows:
LOW
1. ADAPTABILITY
A
B
MEDIUM
HIGH
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
2. SELF-ASSERTION
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
3. ABILITY TO LEARN
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
4. ABILITY TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
5. AUTONOMY (self-reliance)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
6. COLLABORATION
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
7. ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE KNOWLEDGE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
8. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
9. VERBAL COMMUNICATION
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
10. CONCEPTUALIZATION (abstract thinking)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
11. SELF-CONFIDENCE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
12. CONTROL
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
13. CREATIVITY
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
2
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
LOW
14. CURIOSITY
A
B
MEDIUM
C
HIGH
D
E
F
G
H
I
15. RESOURCEFULNESS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
16. DECISIVENESS
A
B
D
E
F
G
H
I
17. REALISM (commitment to choosing realistic alternatives)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
18. ABILITY TO DELEGATE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
19. DIPLOMACY
A
B
D
E
F
G
H
I
20. TEAM LEADERSHIP
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
21. ABILITY TO LISTEN
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
22. EFFECTIVENESS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
23. EMPATHY
A
B
D
E
F
G
H
I
D
E
F
G
H
I
25. ABILITY TO SYNTHESIZE (ability to summarize and combine)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
26. TEAM SPIRIT
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
27. RELIABILITY
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
C
C
C
24. ANALYTIC THINKING
A
B
C
3
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
LOW
28. FLEXIBILITY
A
B
MEDIUM
C
HIGH
D
E
F
G
H
I
29. CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
30. ADVERSITY MANAGEMENT (ability to manage problems)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
31. CHANGE MANAGEMENT (ability to manage change)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
32. STRESS MANAGEMENT
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
33. TIME MANAGEMENT
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
34. ABILITY TO INFLUENCE OTHERS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
35. SPIRIT OF INITIATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
36. INTEGRITY
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
37. GOOD JUDGMENT
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
38. LEADERSHIP
A
B
D
E
F
G
H
I
39. LOGICAL THINKING
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
40. LOYALTY
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
41. SELF-CONTROL
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
.
C
4
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
LOW
MEDIUM
42. METHODICAL THINKING/APPROACH
A
B
C
D
E
HIGH
G
H
I
43. ABILITY TO INTEGRATE INTO THE WORKPLACE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
44. METICULOUSNESS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
45. NEGOTIATING SKILLS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
46. OBSERVATION SKILLS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
47. ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
48. ORGANIZED APPROACH
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
49. OPEN-MINDEDNESS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
50. PERSEVERANCE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
51. PERSUASIVENESS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
52. PLANNING SKILLS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
53. ACCURACY
A
B
D
E
F
G
H
I
54. RISK-TAKING (willingness to take risks)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
55. ABILITY TO SET PRIORITIES
A
B
C
D
F
G
H
I
C
E
5
F
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
LOW
56. PROACTIVITY
A
B
MEDIUM
C
F
G
H
I
57. CHANGE ADVOCACY (support for change)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
58. REALISM
A
B
E
F
G
H
I
59. GOOD INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
60. PROBLEM-SOLVING
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
61. RESPECT FOR OTHERS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
62. ABILITY TO MEET DEADLINES
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
63. RESPONSIBLE APPROACH
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
64. ABILITY TO ADJUST
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
65. STRATEGIC APPROACH
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
66. ABILITY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
67. COMPUTER USE
A
B
C
F
G
H
I
H
I
C
D
D
D
E
HIGH
E
68. ABILITY TO SIMPLIFY IDEAS AND MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
6
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
My ten strongest skills
Skills I need to develop
1.
Skills I require for my target
occupation
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
4.
4.
4.
5.
5.
5.
6.
6.
6.
7.
7.
7.
8.
8.
8.
9.
9.
9.
10.
10.
10.
11.
11.
11.
12.
12.
12.
13.
13.
13.
14.
14.
14.
7
1.
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
MY STRONGEST SKILLS
1)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
2)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
3)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
4)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
5)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
8
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
6)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
7)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
8)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
9)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
10)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
9
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
11)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
12)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
13)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
14)
Give an example of a situation where you have used this skill.
10
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
SELF-EVALUATION OF GENERIC SKILLS
Definitions
(The definitions in the French version of the Self-Evaluation are based on
those found in the dictionary Le Petit Larousse Illustré, 1992 edition.)
(The author has added information, between parentheses, applicable specifically to a work context.)
CAPABLE
Having the required skills.
COMPETENCY
Recognized ability in a given field and, by extension, ability to judge in this area.
Competent:
Having in-depth knowledge and good judgment in a given area.
Having the required competency to master a given area.
Able to act in a given area.
1-
2-
3-
4-
5-
6-
7-
ADAPTABILITY
Flexibility; ability to conform.
(Ability to change the way I do my work: e.g., following the arrival of new equipment.)
SELF-ASSERTION
Person’s ability to show, prove, assert his or her personality.
(Ability to express my thoughts.)
ABILITY TO LEARN
Learn: Acquire knowledge.
(Ability to learn new ways of carrying out a task and master new technologies.)
ABILITY TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE
Ability to learn from practical, “real-life” experience.
Learn: Acquire knowledge.
Experience: Knowledge acquired through extensive practice and observation.
(Ability to profit from my experience in order to carry out a task or avoid repeating past
mistakes.)
AUTONOMY (self-reliance)
Independence, ability to decide (for an organization or an individual, vis-à-vis a central
power, a hierarchy, a superior).
(Ability to carry out my work without having to wait for specific instructions, and to take
initiatives if appropriate.)
COLLABORATION
Collaborate: Work with other people.
(Ability to work with other people to complete a task.)
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE KNOWLEDGE
Communicate: Pass on or share.
Knowledge: Something learned through study or practice.
(Ability to share my knowledge and know-how with my co-workers.)
11
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
8-
9-
10 -
11 -
12 -
13 -
14 -
15 -
16 -
17 -
18 -
19 -
20 -
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Communicate: Pass on or share.
(Ability to express my ideas clearly, in writing.)
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Communicate: Pass on or share.
(Ability to say clearly what I want to say.)
CONCEPTUALIZATION (abstract thinking)
Conceptualize: Organize concepts.
Concept: Characteristics of a project or a product, based on the target result.
(Ability to visualize or imagine the various facets of deploying a project.)
SELF-CONFIDENCE
Self-confidence: Confidence in one’s own abilities.
(Feeling that I can succeed.)
CONTROL
Mastery over a situation in a given sector. Ability to exercise authority.
(Ability to ensure the quality of work or a product.)
CREATIVITY
Creativity: Ability to imagine or invent something original.
(Ability to imagine and carry out a task in a new way in order to improve quality and
productivity.)
CURIOSITY
Curious: Driven by the wish to understand, learn, observe.
(Interest in new aspects of my work.)
RESOURCEFULNESS
Resourceful: Able to rise to situations, devise ways and means, show ingenuity.
(Ability to get around a problem.)
DECISIVENESS
Decisive: Resolved, determined, firm.
(Ability to act easily and quickly.)
REALISM (commitment to choosing realistic alternatives)
Committed: Determined to take action or make a decision.
Alternative: Possibility.
Realistic: Practical-minded.
(Ability to choose between two or more ways of carrying out a task.)
ABILITY TO DELEGATE
Delegate: Transfer, entrust responsibility.
(Ability to transfer one of my responsibilities to someone else and to trust this person.)
DIPLOMACY
Skill and tact in relations with others.
(Ability to stay calm and talk to my co-workers and superiors in order to avoid conflicts.)
TEAM LEADERSHIP
Lead: Assume responsibility, take command.
Team: Group of people working to complete the same task.
(Ability to take charge of a group of workers: e.g., allocate tasks fairly.)
12
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
21 - ABILITY TO LISTEN
Listen: Be attentive to and take into account what other people say, their aspirations, their
wishes.
(Ability to pay attention to other people’s opinions.)
22 - EFFECTIVENESS
Driving force thanks to which efforts produce their full effect.
Effective: Describes an action that produces useful results.
(Ability to finish my work in the time allotted to me.)
23 - EMPATHY
Empathy: Intuitive capacity to project oneself into someone else’s position, to feel what he
or she feels.
(Ability to understand other people’s problems without being affected by them personally.)
24 - ANALYTIC THINKING
Analysis: (a) Breakdown of a body or substance into its component parts (qualitative
analysis, quantitative analysis). (b) Study aimed at distinguishing the different parts of a
whole, at determining or explaining the relationships between these parts.
(Ability to grasp the overall job and the individual tasks that have to be performed to
complete it.)
25 - ABILITY TO SYNTHESIZE (ability to summarize and combine)
Synthesize: Intellectual operation whereby someone unites various elements to form a
coherent, structured whole.
(Ability to generate a clear overview of a given situation, e.g., a labour conflict.)
26 - TEAM SPIRIT
Team spirit: Spirit of solidarity that motivates the members of a given group.
Team: Group of people who work together to complete a given task.
(Ability to work as part of a group, to abide by the breakdown of tasks assigned to the
individual group members, to keep in mind that the final result depends on the outcome of
all of these tasks.)
27 - RELIABILITY
Reliable: Someone who can be trusted is deemed to be reliable.
Trust: Place one’s confidence in someone, something.
(Ability to earn other people’s trust.)
28 - FLEXIBILITY
Ability to adapt.
(Ability to carry out different tasks and replace co-workers.)
29 - CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Manage: Administer a situation, including difficult situations: e.g., manage a crisis.
Conflict: Antagonism, clash of feelings or opinions involving individuals or groups.
(Ability to stay calm, grasp the various facets of a problem or conflict and intervene.)
30 - ADVERSITY MANAGEMENT (ability to manage problems)
Manage: Administer something for oneself or for someone else.
Adversity: Opposite of well-being. Misfortune.
Problem: Opposition, divergence (between people or views).
(Ability to grasp opposing views of a problem and find a solution.)
13
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
31 - CHANGE MANAGEMENT (ability to manage change)
Manage: Administer, direct or organize something.
Change (verb): Make something different.
Change (noun): Action or result of transforming someone or something.
(Ability to convince my co-workers to accept new work methods.)
32 - STRESS MANAGEMENT
Manage: Administer, direct or organize something.
Stress: Combination of biological and psychological disturbances caused by aggression
against an organism.
(Ability to stay calm in various situations.)
33 - TIME MANAGEMENT
Manage: Administer, direct or organize something.
Time: Duration considered as a measurable period.
(Ability to organize my work within the time allotted to me.)
34 - ABILITY TO INFLUENCE OTHERS
Influence: Produce an effect on someone; exercise authority.
(Ability to convince other people to think or act like me.)
35 - SPIRIT OF INITIATIVE
Initiative: Proposal or action initiated by someone.
(Ability to propose and apply a new way of carrying out a task.)
36 - INTEGRITY
Honesty, probity.
Integrity: Total honesty, incorruptibility.
Probity: Strict compliance with principles of justice and morality.
(Fairness and loyalty toward my co-workers and the organization.)
37 - GOOD JUDGMENT
Judgment: (a) Mental capacity to judge and discern. (b) Ability to make good judgments.
(c) Process of forming an opinion and judging; forming an opinion about someone or
something. Opinion, feeling.
Judge: Form an opinion about something. Estimate the value of something.
(Ability to form an opinion, evaluate, understand a task or situation related to my work.)
38 - LEADERSHIP
Position of leader. Dominance.
Leader: Person who heads a party, movement, group.
(Ability to inspire trust among my co-workers so that they accept my ideas and ways of
doing things.)
39 - LOGICAL THINKING
A person who is logical is someone who thinks in a coherent way.
(Have “both feet on the ground.”)
40 - LOYALTY
Loyal toward the organization.
Characteristic of someone who is loyal.
Loyal: Describes someone who abides by the rules of honour, probity and honesty.
Probity: Strict compliance with principles of justice and morality.
(Ability to respect and be loyal to a superior, an organization.)
14
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
41 - SELF-CONTROL
Restraint exercised over a person’s own emotions.
(Ability to stay calm even in difficult, acute and unexpected situations.)
42 - METHODICAL THINKING/APPROACH
Rational thinking to assimilate knowledge or demonstrate facts. Organized approach.
Organized way of obtaining something. Logical use of a set of principles and guidelines to
achieve a result.
(Ability to organize my tasks in order to avoid wasting time.)
43 - ABILITY TO INTEGRATE INTO THE WORKPLACE
Integrate: Assimilate into a group.
Workplace: Place of employment and the people who work there.
(Ability to become part of my new work environment or work group.)
44 - METICULOUSNESS
Scrupulous attention to detail.
(Ability to be highly precise and pay attention to detail. E.g.: watchmaking.)
45 - NEGOTIATING SKILLS
Ability to discuss and deal with an issue in order to reach an agreement, and take part in
dialogue in order to settle a difference, end a conflict, agree on a compromise, etc.
(Ability to appreciate both sides of a situation and explain them to opposing parties, in
order to reach a solution that satisfies the maximum number of people.)
46 - OBSERVATION SKILLS
Ability to look closely at things, people, events, phenomena, in order to study, oversee,
draw conclusions.
Observant: Describes someone who has a talent or skill for observation.
(Ability to look at and analyse actions and people, in order to identify the root of a problem
or note the proper way of doing something.)
47 - ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
Organize oneself: Arrange one’s work and activities in an efficient, harmonious way.
Organize other people or things: Combine and arrange to achieve smooth functioning.
Prepare and arrange for a specific purpose.
(Ability to organize my work in the best way for myself and the organization.)
48 - ORGANIZED APPROACH
Organize oneself: Arrange one’s work and activities in an efficient, harmonious way.
(Ability to organize my work efficiently.)
49 - OPEN-MINDEDNESS
Open-minded: Describes a person who is open and receptive.
Open: (a) Open to ideas, intelligent, lively. (b) Welcoming, accessible. Open environment.
Open to new ideas.
(Ability to be positive and welcome new ways of carrying out a task.)
50 - PERSEVERANCE
Perseverant: Describes someone who persists, who remains firm and stands by a decision
or an action that has been undertaken.
(Ability to continue a task as long as it takes to succeed, especially in the event of a
problem.)
15
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
51 - PERSUASIVENESS
Persuade: Lead someone to believe, do or want something. Convince.
(Ability to convince my co-workers or superiors to accept something.)
52 - PLANNING SKILLS
Plan (verb): Organize according to a development plan.
(Ability to organize a task based on a well thought-out approach. E.g., who does what,
when, where.)
53 - ACCURACY
Precise action.
Clear, scrupulous thought and expression.
Attention to detail, resulting in fuller information.
Accurate: A person who cares about being accurate leaves nothing uncertain, and acts
carefully and with precision.
(Ability to do my job precisely and “fine-tune” my work.)
54 - RISK-TAKING (willingness to take risks)
Take something upon oneself: Accept a responsibility.
Risks: Potential perils and hazards to which a person is exposed.
(Awareness of my limits when making a decision or carrying our an unaccustomed task.)
55 - ABILITY TO SET PRIORITIES
Priority: Superiority in rank, position (due to its importance).
Ability to know what has to come first, to ensure smooth overall operations.
56 - PROACTIVITY
Action in anticipation of future needs.
(Ability to foresee what may happen and take quick action, in advance.)
57 - CHANGE ADVOCACY (support for change)
Advocate: Promote.
Change (noun): Action or result of transforming something.
(Ability to convince my co-workers to accept new work methods.)
Change (verb): Replace something by something else.
(Ability to encourage and deploy a new way of doing something.)
58 - REALISM
Realistic: Practical. Describes someone who sees things as they really are and acts
accordingly.
Practical: Describes someone who focuses on facts and action. Matter-of-fact.
(Have “both feet on the ground” and see things as they really are.)
59 - GOOD INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
Good relations with other people.
(Ability to get along with other people.)
60 - PROBLEM-SOLVING
Ability to make decisions regarding problem situations and issues.
(Ability to identify the best way of solving a problem.)
16
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
61 - RESPECT FOR OTHERS
Respect (verb): To deal with, consider with respect.
Respect (noun): Feeling that encourages people to treat other individuals and things with
consideration, esteem, to avoid harming them.
(Ability to recognize everyone’s work as important.)
62 - ABILITY TO MEET DEADLINES
Meet: Abide by, comply with.
Deadline: Date or time before which something must be done.
(Ability to carry out a task in the allotted time.)
63 - RESPONSIBLE APPROACH
Responsible: Describes someone who thinks things out, who weighs the consequences of
his or her actions.
Sense of responsibility: Ability to make a decision without prior consultation with a
superior.
(Ability to make a decision without having to wait for a superior’s approval.)
64 - ABILITY TO ADJUST
Adjust: Show flexibility, be willing to adapt.
(Ability to accept even last-minute changes.)
65 - STRATEGIC APPROACH
Strategy: Art of coordinating actions, of manoeuvring skilfully to achieve a goal.
(Ability to find ways to perform a task.)
66 - ABILITY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
Follow: Follow a method, a procedure, regularly and assiduously.
Instruction: General indication given by a superior to his or her subordinates.
(Ability to do my work according to the established methods or techniques.)
67 - COMPUTER USE
Computer: Computer and peripherals.
Use: Utilization for a specific purpose.
(Ability to operate a computer according to a well-defined program.)
68 - ABILITY TO SIMPLIFY IDEAS AND MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE
Simplify: Make accessible (knowledge, idea) to the general public. Popularize.
(Ability to use everyday words instead of hard-to-understand jargon to describe my work.)
17
Appendix 1
Self-Evaluation of Generic Skills
By Daniel Poulin
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ARSENAULT. Trema, Dictionnaires des compétences. 1997. 129 pp.
BELISLE, Rachel. Nos compétences fortes. Institut canadien d'éducation des
adultes. 1995. 194 pp.
CONFERENCE BOARD OF CANADA. Employability Skills 2000+: The Skills
You Need to Enter, Stay in, and Progress in the World of Work
(http://www.conferenceboard.ca/education/learning-tools/pdfs/esp2000.pdf).
HUMAN RESOURCES AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CANADA. Essential
Skills (http://srv108.services.gc.ca/english/general/home_e.shtml).
LAFLAMME, Roch (professor at Université Laval). Les nouvelles compétences à
l'aube des années 2000.
LAVIGUEUR. L'appropriation des compétences génériques. 1994.
LE PETIT LAROUSSE ILLUSTRÉ. Paris: Larousse, 1992.
18