SELF ANALYSIS

Figure 1- Adopted from:

https://www.netclipart.com/isee/JToh
J_ruler-clipart-assessment-survey-
form-clip-art/

“Most people think they know what they’re good at. They are usually wrong.”
― Peter Drucker

Self – Analysis is a systematic attempt by an individual to understand his or her own

personality.

Self-analysis can also be called introspection, self-contemplation, self-examination, and

self-concept. It consists of both our own evaluation as well as others' assessment of your
adequacy. To be specific, self-ideals are what we thought about ourselves. But the true self is
what others see. In a word, your analysis should include personality, behavior, thoughts and
desires objectively.

The Importance of Conducting a Self–Analysis

Before beginning your job search it is important to evaluate and understand your
transferrable skills, strengths, weaknesses, values, priorities, interests and passions. A self-
analysis exercise will help you to gain clarity and focus by exploring where you have been
and creating a pathway to where you are going.

Conducting Self-Analysis
• Create your own “Essentials and Desirables”

Employers will often give you a list of essential and desirable criteria on a job
description. You can treat your self-analysis in a similar way by writing your own list of
essential and desirable criteria. By listing your essential and desirable criteria you can
ensure that you conduct a focused job search and only apply for suitable positions, for
example:

Examples of Essentials:
I would like to work with _______________________.
I would like to work as ________________________.
Located within/in ____________________________.
Salary range between __________________.
Full time hours

Examples of Desirables:
Flexi-time and opportunity to work from home 1 day a week
Bonus structure
Social company culture
On–site parking
Employee benefits/healthcare package
Internationally focused organization

• List all your Hard and Soft Skills

Figure 2- Retrieved from: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/hard-skills-vs-

soft-skills-2063780

During the job application and interview process, employers look for applicants
with hard skills and soft skills.
Hard Skills

Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Typically, you'll
learn hard skills in the classroom, through books or other training materials, or on the job,
workshop,s and training. These hard skills are often listed in your cover letter and on your
resume and are easy for an employer or recruiter to recognize. Hard skills include:

• Proficiency in a foreign language

• A degree or certificate
• Typing speed
• Machine operation
 • Computer programming
• Management

Soft Skills

Soft skills, on the other hand, are subjective skills that are much harder to quantify. Also
known as "people skills" or "interpersonal skills," soft skills relate to the way you relate to
and interact with other people. Soft skills include:

• Communication
• Flexibility
• Leadership
• Motivation
• Patience
• Persuasion
• Problem solving abilities
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Work ethic

Analyze also your Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are talents and abilities that can be used in many different jobs and career
paths. They can be acquired through employment, school, internships, hobbies, and
volunteer experiences.

Analyzing your skills will help you identify what you want to do, and what you are able to do.
It will help with your Career Development Plan, assist in identifying your transferrable skills,
build your confidence and allow you to sell yourself and your skill set to potential employers
in an interview.

Examples of Transferable Skills

General Skills

General skills are basic job skills that are essential to most positions. These include:

• Listening skills
• Understanding and carrying out written instructions
• Observing and assessing your own and others' performances
• Written communication skills
• Basic math skills
• Public speaking
• Punctuality
Interpersonal Skills

Most positions involve working with others. You might be working with colleagues,
managing other employees, or interacting with the public. Transferable people skills include:

• Providing and accepting constructive criticism

• Motivating others
• Handling customer complaints
• Training new employees
• Delegating
• Counseling employees
• Building strong customer relationships
• Developing positive relationships with suppliers
• Gaining the confidence of clients or customers

Management Skills

Management is also its own skillset. It takes a range of skills to manage a store, department,
or branch, including:

• Developing and overseeing a budget

• Recruiting personnel
• Selecting new hires
• Supervising employees
• Scheduling personnel
• Leading productive meetings
• Negotiating contracts
• Evaluating employees
• Identifying and presenting problems to upper management

Clerical Skills

Clerical and administrative skills are needed in most fields. Transferable skills in this area
include:

• Designing and maintaining correspondence and reports

• Managing records
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office programs
• Performing data entry
• Keeping track of accounts receivable, accounts payable, billing, and other
bookkeeping tasks
• Screening and transferring telephone calls
• Greeting visitors
• Using office equipment such as printers, copiers, and fax machines
Computer and Technical Skills

It's difficult to understate the importance of computer and technical skills in today's job
market. Being able to master one program shows you can master other programs.
Transferable computer and technical skills include:

• Using job-related software

• Using job-related equipment and machinery
• Maintaining equipment
• Inspecting equipment to identify problems
• Designing and maintaining websites

• Get the Opinion of Others About You

Asking for feedback and input from your family, friends and professional network can
be a useful way of generating ideas and assessing how people view you in your social and
professional life.

Some questions you could ask include:

• What would you say my strengths are/what is unique about me?

• What possible behaviors do you believe I may have to change so that I may be more
effective or efficient in my job?