Lecturette

Our knowledge about self and of our skills and ways

of doing things are important elements in choosing a
career. When we know our interests and the skills we
possess, we are better able to identify the kind of
profession we want to pursue. Personal skills are things we
are good at―our strengths, abilities, and attributes.
Knowledge refers to learning concepts, principles, and
information regarding a particular subject(s) by a person
through books, media, encyclopedias, academic
institutions and other sources (Boulet, 2011).
(http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-
between-knowledge-and-skill/).
Skill refers to the ability of using that information and
applying it in a context. In other words, knowledge refers to
theory and skill refers to successfully applying that theory
in practice and getting expected results. For instance, a
sales person armed with an MBA degree may have learned
all the principles of marketing and selling in his business
school. Going forward, in his work he would know more
about his company in the arena of its product line, target
market, competitors, etc. All of the above is knowledge.
When the individual transfers this knowledge to create a
successful sales strategy and pitch and work to achieve
those sales targets, is the sales person’s skill. Trial and
error methods are a great way of adding to your skills.
Sometimes, certain skills are inherent in a person. For
instance, some people are born carpenters. But skills can
take a person only to a certain level. To move ahead, it is
necessary that a person has the requisite knowledge as
well. For instance, while a person may have a good hand in
carpentry, acquiring an engineering degree can do wonders
for the person’s skills. In the same manner, some people
may have theoretical knowledge but may just not be able to
use it while performing a task.
Knowledge is the things we know while skill is the ability to
apply what we know.
Each of us possesses different skills. Each of us vary in the
strengths and weaknesses that we possess. This makes us
unique. Because we are unique, we differ in the way we do
things. Since no two individuals are the same, we need to
complement each other. In like manner, different
professions require different skill sets and abilities. Skills
are divided according to the following categories (Santa
Maria, 2006):
People Skills―work with, help, entertain, service, or
influence the actions or thinking of people.
Data Skills―handle details, facts, numbers, records or files
in a quick and accurate way.
Thing Skills―operate, maintain, or build machinery or
regulate or process equipment; understand and work with
physical, chemical, or biological functions.
Idea Skills―solve abstract problems and express thoughts
or feelings in a creative or ingenious way.
Skills can also be categorized as employability skills or
skills you need for a job.
(http://www.skillsyouneed.com/general/employability-
skills.html). These are:
Interpersonal Skills―these are important when seeking
employment and may be the single most important factor
for many recruiters.
Communication Skills―Employers look for people who
communicate well both verbally and in writing.
Critical Thinking Skills―The ability to solve problems and
make decisions can be a huge asset to your employer and
these are therefore desirable skills to develop.
Personal Development―This is all about having the right
attitude towards work and the organization you work for.
Employers look for people who are keen to develop and
learn.
Presentation Skills―Presenting information clearly and
effectively is a key skill in the workplace and presentation
skills are required in almost every modern employment
area.
Leadership Skills―Leadership is the ability to influence
others toward the achievement of a goal.
Numeracy or Number Skills―Numeracy involves an
understanding of numerical data, statistics and graphs,
and is also part of making decisions and reasoning.
Information Technology Skills―Most people need some
information technology (IT) skills to find work today.
Acquiring basic IT skills and being familiar with using a
computer may open up a wide range of employment
opportunities and increase your marketability in the
workplace.