Employer Evaluations: 3 Skill Sets

Employers are generally evaluating you on three skill sets during an interview. Those three skill sets can easily be broken down here...

Content Skills

These skills are directly related to performing a specific job in your profession. You acquire these skills by learning your craft in an accredited school through specialized training, work experience, attaining a degree, or internships. This shows an employer that you are have acquired all of the knowledge you will need to perform your job efficiently.

If you do not have this type of skill available, you can simply express that you are looking into specialized training, and/or would be willing to start. It may not be exactly what the employer is looking for, but it shows initiative.

Functional Skills

These are the skills that reflect your ability to work with others and how you incorporate data. This is where an employer decides whether or not you are a team player. You can display this skill by displaying your past employment record and accomplishments that are directly job related.

Generally an employer will get an idea of your ability to work with others based on your reasons for leaving previous jobs, whether or not you were fired before, etc. If you have been fired before, don’t lie about it, and do not act bitter about it when discussing the reason. This will not benefit you in the end. Be forthcoming and sincere. Express that it was a learning experience for you and tell them what you learned from it. It reflects well on your temperament.

Adaptive Skills

This is a general show of your personality and temperament. It also covers your self management skills. During your interview, the employer will be evaluating you on your general ability to get along with him/her. Your general personality traits are monitored at this time.

When faced with a difficult question, you do not want to get defensive or angry. Just take a few seconds to think about what you should say rather than say something you will regret. If you must, simply explain that you are little nervous so that you can buy a few extra seconds to answer.

You want to appear at ease, (or as much so as you can) during your interview. You want the employer to think that you anticipated everything that he/she is going to say. Even if you are terrified at your replies, do not let them see you sweat.