Job Skills Checklist

Summary:
This handout provides a large skills inventory list that you can use to help build your resume and cover
letter.
Contributors:Purdue OWL
Last Edited: 2010-04-25 08:51:10

Purpose: The purpose of this skills inventory is to help you to be able to come up with different skills
that you may be having a hard time thinking of yourself.
How to use the Skills Inventory: The following is a sample list of skills found in a cross section of
careers. Circle every skill that applies to you. Jot down examples of situations in your working life that
demonstrate this skill. Then try to incorporate these skills into your resume and/or cover letter. Good
Luck!

administering programs

planning
agendas/meetings:
I plan several monthly
meetings including a staff
meeting and project
updating files
accounting committee. For
both of these meetings I
plan the agenda based on
the current needs of the
business.

advising people

planning organizational
needs

setting up demonstrations

analyzing data: I am a financial

controller so I do a lot of analyzing
data. That includes data on our
general ledger, financial statements
and revenue and expenses on
individual projects.

predicting futures

sketching charts or diagrams

assembling apparatus

rehabilitating people

writing reports

auditing financial reports

organizing tasks

writing for publication

budgeting expenses: Annually I have

to write a budget for the general and
administrative costs for our
company. This is reported to our
parent company.

prioritizing work: I
frequently have to
prioritize my own workload
and almost as often I have expressing feelings
to advise my staff as to the
urgency of tasks I have
asked them to complete.

calculating numerical data: I have to

prepare and review reports that
show our project revenue and
creating new ideas
expenses and from that calculate the
gross profit and margin of profit on
each project.

checking for accuracy: as financial

controller I have to review all
general ledger entries for accuracy
on posting date and amount of
transactions.

finding information

meeting people

classifying records

handling complaints

evaluating programs

coaching individuals

handling detail work

editing work

collecting money

imagining new solutions

tolerating interruptions: On
my job I am frequently
interrupted by staff when
compiling statistics
they ask questions about a
process or a task they are
performing.

interpreting languages

confronting other people

inventing new ideas

dispensing information

constructing buildings

proposing ideas

adapting new procedures: During

my time at our company we have
changed software several times and
each time we have to create new
processes that allow us to work with
the software as efficiently as
possible.

coping with deadlines

investigating problems

negotiating/arbitrating conflicts: As
a manager at my job I have had to
mediate a conflict between
employees a couple of times. It is
difficult to not choose sides and to
not let emotions run high.

promoting events

locating missing information

speaking to the public

raising funds

dramatizing ideas

writing letters/papers/proposals

questioning others

estimating physical space

reading volumes of material

being thorough

organizing files

remembering information

coordinating
schedules/times

managing people: I manage six

people in our office performing
office functions. I also manage
processes and reporting needs from
managers in other offices.

interviewing prospective employees

running meetings: I have

at least two meetings a
month that I schedule,
write an agenda for and do
selling products
the speaking. I always try
to be sure everyone has a
chance speak and add
comments.

listening to others

supervising employees

teaching/instructing/training
individuals

relating to the public

enduring long hours

inspecting physical objects

entertaining people

displaying artistic ideas

distributing products

deciding uses of money

managing an organization

delegating responsibility

measuring boundaries

serving individuals

mediating between people

counseling/consulting people

motivating others

persuading others

operating equipment

reporting information

summarizing information

supporting others

encouraging others

delegating responsibilities

determining a problem

defining a problem

comparing results

screening telephone calls

maintaining accurate
records

drafting reports

collaborating ideas

administering medication

comprehending ideas

overseeing operations

motivating others

generating accounts

teaching/instructing/training
individuals

thinking in a logical
manner

making decisions

becoming actively involved

defining performance
standards

resolving conflicts

analyzing problems: if we find a

project that has a low gross profit I
have to analyze the revenue and
recommending courses of
expenses to determine if there has
action
been something charged to the
incorrect project or an issue with our
software.

selling ideas

preparing written communications

expressing ideas orally to

individuals or groups

conducting interviews

performing numeric analysis

conducting meetings

setting priorities

setting work/committee goals

developing plans for

projects

gathering information

taking personal responsibility

thinking of creative ideas

providing discipline when necessary

maintaining a high level of activity

enforcing rules and

regulations

meeting new people: twice a year

I attend a management meeting
and get to meet other accounting
officers and presidents that are
employed by the same parent
company that we are.

developing a climate of enthusiasm,

teamwork, and cooperation

interacting with people at

different levels

picking out important information

creating meaningful and challenging

work

taking independent action

skillfully applying professional

knowledge

maintaining emotional control under

stress

knowledge of concepts and

providing customers with service
principles

knowledge of
community/government affairs