What do we mean by “skills and attributes”?

A skill is the “ability to perform a particular mental or physical activity which may be developed by training or practice.” (from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research glossary - Click Here ). An attribute is a personal characteristic or attitude, like reliability or adaptability.

• Why do you need to know yours?
  

Knowing your skills and attributes is important in planning your career path, but also crucial to getting a job. Throughout the recruitment process – in networking, developing your resume, application and interviews – you will need to know your skills and strengths and how to communicate them effectively to potential employers.

• See our fact sheet for more information on:
• The difference between “Technical” and “Employability” skills
• The kinds of skills and attributes employers are looking for
• Getting started on identifying your skills and attributes

• What do employers want?
  

It’s not enough to have just the technical skills for a job. Employers will also judge your suitability and capacity for a job through your employability skills and personal attributes. These skills and attributes were identified through a major Federal Government funded survey in 2002. To see a summary of these skills and attributes click here.