As professionals in this field, many of us are taught to focus on skills as the predominant, or even the ONLY consideration when developing jobs and considering employment opportunities. What other things might be important to consider? What are the advantages or disadvantages of focusing only or predominantly on skills?As professionals in this field, many of us are taught to focus on skills as the predominant, or even the ONLY consideration when developing jobs and considering employment opportunities. What other things might be important to consider? What are the advantages or disadvantages of focusing only or predominantly on skills?
It is impotant to look at more than just the skills the individual has. I agree that if you get the individual a job where they only use their skills they already have then they can get burn out on that skill. It is more important to look at the individuals likes/dislikes, interests and yes their skills. Its important to listen to them and what they want and work together to find the right job for them.
Interest and values are things to be considered besides skills. However, things we like to do as a hobby can be useful at work too. People gain "transferable skills" not only from work experiences but also from things they like or do in free time. Employment Specialist needs to gather more information about his/her interest and value from the circle of supports. Focusing on skills or only past work experiences would limit the person's career growth.
I agree with you, interest, values, and hobbies do need to be considered. Focusing on just dominent skills limits a person, and can cause burn out quickly.
Some of the other things to consider might be their hobbies or likes or dislike so the individual will not only be familar with one type of job skill but also having the option to enjoy their position. The advantages of knowing the skills and using them is that it gives you some guidance to what to look for within local employers. But disadvantages of focusing only on predominantly skills is that not utilizing the option to look outside the box, for the individual you are seeking employment for. As professionals we can be open to always learning new skills and developing new job skills to consider new types of employment opportunities.
Focusing only on what your current skills, interests are then there is very little room to grow or develop new skills that you could come to love. I think also communication, and having common interest with others around you also are huge keys in being in a successful environment. Being able to work well with your team is also important.
The skills a person has should not be the only determinant in what job is a good match. It is important to remember that people have the ability to learn all of their lives. For example if a person worked in supported employment as a dishwasher and did wonderfully but wants to work elsewhere, dishwashing may not be their choice. Perhaps with job shadowing they may want to try another type of job. Discovery should be encouraged so that person can learn a new skill set and expand their job experience.
I think someone else stated that just because you're good at something, doesn't mean that that's something you want to do for work. We have to get to know interests, and what someone wants to do in order to find them a job that they'd enjoy and want to go to every day. Sometimes things we're good at are also very niche, and it may not necessarily be attainable to find a position made for one specific type of skill, which would get more into a conversation about specialized employment.
Hello I am Linda Patrick with Millar Rich in Tennessee. I beleive that skills are important to know although they can not be the only thing we focus on. We have to look at each part of the whole person and employment. When an artist paints a picture there is a lot of prep work that goes into it. They look at the whole picture and then work on each of the details that make up the painting while still looking to the whole for the goal. I think we have to do that also. Each part is important to the finished goal.Thank you!
I agree Linda I like the analogy
hello yall, kimberly with caregiver of tennessee, i think if youre just focusing on skills then you dont get to learn new things, you dont broaden in anyway, that would be the negative of just focusing on skills you already possess i believe
Hello, everyone! My name is Meagan Garcia and I work for Progressive Directions, Inc. I believe that skills are an important part of becoming successful in the employment setting. However, you can know what you're doing all day long and not be truly successful because your heart isn't in it. So while I feel like skills are an important thing to look at, I do not believe they are the ONLY thing to look at because the client's interest should always take precedence.
Hello! Wanted to introduce myself. My name is Chara and I'm an independent consultant. I think interest of the employee should play a big part. They'll be more motivated and productive if they care about the job, as we all are.
Greetings everyone! My name is Cynthia Nwachukwu, and I work with Rainbow 66 Storehouse. I believe that skills are important; however, it should not be the only focus. Yes, the skill base will get you TO the door; however, there are other requirements/expectations that will get you IN the door. For example, your personality, your ability to interact with others, your pursuit to being a team player, etc. Also it is important to have a interest in the opportunity/task at hand. If we are only seeking a pay check, then there is a strong possibility that you will not enjoy the employment experience of being a stakeholder and/or making an impact.
Good afternoon everyone. I writing to introduce myself to the group. My name is Shantario Stephens, I work for Rainbow 66 Storehouse, Inc.
Skills are great to detirmine if a job seeker is right for the job. If they have the skills already they may be more likely to get hired. However, it is important to note that interest is also important, as skills can be build up over time with practice. If the job seeker has no interet in the job it will never be a good fit and not a viable long term career.
Knowing a person's genuine interst is always important. Sometimes people focus so much on a certain skill set that they fail to realize that their may be other components or factors to developing opportunities for employment which would hurt as person in the long run.
Sometime, just because I have a skill to do something does not mean I would enjoy doing it. If I don't enjoy using that skill, then I probably won't be doing as good a job as I would if I loved the job. As has been said, if you do what you love for a living, you'll never work a day in your life. I've found that to be true. But as others have mentioned, it also takes teamwork and good management as well as a number of other things to make a job enjoyable. It's a whole package -- not just a collection of skills -- that make a person successful.
In traditional job seeking, your resume has already passed muster with the hiring committee. To meet you in person isn't about whether you can do your job, it's about why you should be the one to do it. How will you fit in?For supported employment, employers may have wrong assumptions, so in a sense, from the beginning, their concern is not about can the job seeker do the job, it's about why they should be the one to do a job.So, as stated above, it's unique experiences, personality, and talents that "qualify" a person for a job.
Some things to focus on to be just as important as skills would be the person's communication style, personality, and interests. These are just as important as skills to be successful at any job. It's important for the employment specialist to know their clients so that they will know how to help not just the client but the employer and co-workers that will be part of the client's day-to-day work environment. It is important that the client has the needed skills to complete the job but how the client will be able to communicate with others on the job is also necessary to be successful. The client will need to be able to communicate with his/her co-workers and employer when needing extra instruction or to work within the team. Also, the interest in the job completion is highly important for the client's success as well. If the client has the skills but not much interest in the job, there will be little motiviation to complete the tasks necessary for the job. Providing employer and co-workers with natural cues and creative ways to help and motivate the client will be necessary for the success of the client and the needs of the company.
I feel like you should focus on more than skills. There are other things to consider such as personality and what is that persons interests. When you focus on one aspect you maybe missing out on what that person really want to do.
Building a relationship with the client to see how they learn. Researching businesses that will be supportive is also very important. If the client is interested and able, and has a supportive place of employment they will most likely will be successful. Building relationships on a professional level and networking with businesses is important to build a path for clients. It will allow more advantages and opportunities than simply focusing on the predominantly skill of the client.
IF we only focus on our strengths or the things that we are good at, we never get the opportunity to fine tune or strengthen the things we can improve on. it is always a good practice to utilize the skills,even the weaker ones we have with the support of those around us, who knows, the area you are weak in, may just be an area another is stronger in. By them sharing their insight and advice may help you.
I am so late in adding my name to the forum. I am Teresa Vaughn. I am the Vocational Ajustment Instructor for Progressive Directions, Inc. We are located in Clarksville TN. I love my job. I teach high school students in the morning, and adults in the afternoon. We teach life skills, job skills, and independent living skills.
I think we could also focus on communication, and interests. The reason being is that you may have a skill that you're good at but dont love. Everyone wants to do something that they love and are passionate about because this motivates an keeps your interest in the field that your in.
Social interaction is very important! Social behaviors are one thing thats going to determine if someone is successful in a job. I myself dont want to stay at a job if the social enviorment is hostile or nonexistant. Team work is key in most places. So being able to work well with others is also important.
