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S kills are abilities that make it possible to perform tasks.
Marketable skills are abilities that are in great demand in the labor market. Regardless of your level of work experience and even if you are looking for a first job, you have valuable skills. There is, however, a difference between a skill and a marketable skill. For example, a machinist who has just been laid off after 15 years of working on a lathe possesses skills. However, because he or she worked on a lathe that is rarely used today, the machinist will need to get training on modern equipment to acquire the marketable skills necessary to use today’s technology and get another job.
Marketable skills may change over time depending on employers’ needs. Employers are more likely to hire job applicants with marketable skills, especially when there is a shortage of qualified workers. Unfortunately, many people are not sure about the skills they possess and miss opportunities to showcase their abilities during job interviews. Others may choose jobs that do not match their abilities.
Being aware of your marketable skills benefits you in several specific ways:
• Helps you make better career decisions.
Skills are one of three major elements to think about when choosing a job or a career. When skills are considered, along with interests and values, you get a complete profile of yourself and you can make informed career decisions.
• Makes you more competitive in the job market . Employers want people who have what it takes to perform well on the job. When applying for a job, make yourself stand out from other applicants. Marketable skills can give you an edge over the competition.
• Prepares you for the job interview.
In a job interview, you have to be prepared to tell the employer what you have to offer. Demonstrate an understanding of the skills the employer needs and how you can meet those needs. Familiarity with your marketable skills gives you the confidence to talk about yourself and make a good impression in a job interview.
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What skills do employers want? The U.S. Secretary of Labor and the Commission on
Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) identified foundation skills and basic workplace competencies that are critical for employment in the twenty-first century.
Foundation Skills
•Basic Skills Reading, writing, arithmetic, mathematics, speaking, listening
•Thinking Skills Abilities to learn, reason, think creatively, make decisions, solve problems
•Personal Qualities Individual responsibility, verbal and written skills, self-esteem, self-management, integrity
Workplace Competencies
•Resources
•Interpersonal
Skills
•Information
•Systems
•Technology
Allocate time, money, materials, space, and staff.
Participate in teams, teach others, serve customers, lead, negotiate, and work well with people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Acquire and evaluate data, organize and maintain files, interpret and communicate, and use computers to process information.
Understand social, organizational, and technological systems; monitor and correct performance; and design or improve systems.
Select equipment and tools; maintain and troubleshoot equipment; and apply technology to specific tasks.
Marketable skills fit into one of three basic categories:
Transferable skills are basic skills that transfer from one job to another. These include the communication and interpersonal skills of managing, organizing, coordinating, and writing.
Examples are flexibility, leadership, patience, responsibility, maturity, decisiveness, commitment, and enthusiasm.
Adaptive skills are personal characteristics that develop through life experiences.
Although these skills are not specific to jobs or careers, they are extremely important to employers and are, therefore, very marketable.
Job-related skills are associated with specific occupations or jobs. Every occupation requires a set of crucial skills that all workers must have to complete the work.
Examples include computer programming, welding, and carpentry.
Job Search: Marketable Skills

Self-assessment is a way to identify the skills you currently have and to gain a sense of your job qualifications, strengths, and weaknesses. The process involves looking back at your experiences to determine skills you have developed throughout your life. Self-assessment answers the question, What do I know how to do?
Self-Assessment Exercise
Step 1: Begin the self-assessment process by concentrating on experiences you have had with previous jobs, hobbies, family responsibilities, volunteer work, and community involvement. T hink about activities that gave you a sense of accomplishment. Make a list of twelve to fifteen items. Describe your experiences using action verbs. The following chart will help you think of skills you have developed from past experiences and accomplishments.
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Technical Skills assembled built calculated designed operated overhauled remodeled repaired
Clerical Skills arranged cataloged compiled generated organized processed systemized
Research Skills clarified evaluated identified inspected organized summarized
Management Skills Creative Skills administered analyzed coordinated developed directed evaluated improved supervised conceptualized created designed established fashioned illustrated invented performed
Financial Skills administered analyzed balanced budgeted forecast marketed planned projected
Helping Skills assessed coached counseled diagnosed facilitated represented
Communication Skills arranged addressed authored drafted formulated persuaded
Activities
Managed family budget
Designed a quarterly newsletter
Raised a garden
Job Search: Marketable Skills

Step 2 : For each activity on the list, ask yourself, What specific skills did I use?
Don’t worry if a skill appears several times.
Activity
Homemaker
Designed a community newsletter
Raised a garden
Skills
Managed a budget
Managed time
Taught children
Communicated verbally
with family members
and service providers
Solved problems
Multitasked
Researched information
on the World Wide
Web and in printed
materials
Selected and organized
information
Communicated informa-
tion in writing
Created a layout
Used computers
Managed time
Used resources wisely
Used proper garden tools
and methods
Step 3 : Count the number of times each skill is written. For each skill on the list, ask yourself, Do I really enjoy using this skill in my work? Cross off skills that you do not enjoy.
Step 4 : Study the list of remaing skills and ask yourself, In what kind of occupation can these skills be used? Several possibilities may come to mind right away, but, if not, give it a little time. Don’t rush or give up on the process.
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Step 5 : Now look at the list of occupations that you created. Ask yourself, What employer or business is likely to place a high value on these skills? Who would pay someone to use these skills in his or her business or organization? Use the resources available to you to identify employers and businesses that can benefit from your unique marketable skills. Job search resources include the following: newspaper ads business section of telephone books career centers business directories at libraries business bulletin boards employment agencies job fairs friends and family
To learn more about the relationship between skills and careers, visit two valuable career development Web sites. ONET Online at http://online.onetcenter.org
and America’s Career Infonet at www.acinet.org
are government Web sites that offer a wealth of career development information and tools, including skill assessment features. Use these Web sites to study occupations that interest you. Don’t forget to factor in your values and interests before making final career decisions.
Sources
Association for Computing Machinery. Assessing your most marketable skills and strengths. www.acm.org
Farr, J. M. (2002). Getting the job you really want. JIST Publishing, Inc.: Indianapolis, IN.
Kasper, H. T. (2004). Matching yourself with the world of work. Occupational Outlook Quarterly. Fall. pp. 2-21.
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. (1996). Tips for finding the right job. U.S. Government
Printing Office.
U.S. Department of Labor. (1991). What work requires of schools: SCANS report for America 2000. U. S. Government Printing
Office.
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Carol Centrallo, Extension Specialist, Associate Professor, Consumer Science and Personal Financial
Management, Auburn University
For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 0, 191, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn
University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.
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Job Search: Marketable Skills