Read What Color Is Your Parachute? Online
Authors: Richard N. Bolles
What Color Is Your Parachute? (44 page)
Now that you know what transferable skills technically
are
, the problem that awaits you now, is figuring out your own. If you are one of the few lucky people who already know what your transferable skills are, blessed are you. Write them down, and put them in the order of preference, for you, on the Flower Diagram
here
.
If, however, you don’t know what your skills are (and 95 percent of all workers
don’t
), then you will need some help. Fortunately, there is an exercise to help.
It involves the following steps:
1. Write a Story (The First of Seven)
Yes, I know, I know. You can’t do this exercise because you don’t like to write.
Writers are a very rare breed
. That’s what thousands of job-hunters have told me, over the years. And for years I kind of believed them—until “blogging” came along. (“Blog” is shorthand, of course, for “we
b log
.”) Let’s face it: we human beings are “a writing people,” and we only need a topic we have a real passion for, or interest in, for the writing genie to spring forth from within each of us, pen or keyboard in hand.
So, call the
Seven Stories
you’re about to write your personal
offline blog
, if you prefer. But start writing. Please.
Here is a specific example:
“A number of years ago, I wanted to be able to take a summer trip with my wife and four children. I had a very limited budget, and could not afford to put my family up in motels. I decided to rig our station wagon as a camper.
“First I went to the library to get some books on campers. I read those books. Next I designed a plan of what I had to build, so that I could outfit the inside of the station wagon, as well as topside. Then I went and purchased the necessary wood. On weekends, over a period of six weeks, I first constructed, in my driveway, the shell for the ‘second story’ on my station wagon. Then I cut doors, windows, and placed a six-drawer bureau within that shell. I mounted it on top of the wagon, and pinioned it in place by driving two-by-fours under the station wagon’s rack on top. I then outfitted the inside of the station wagon, back in the wheel-well, with a table and a bench on either side, that I made.
“The result was a complete homemade camper, which I put together when we were about to start our trip, and then disassembled after we got back home. When we went on our summer
trip, we were able to be on the road for four weeks, yet stayed within our budget, since we didn’t have to stay at motels.
“I estimate I saved $1,900 on motel bills, during that summer’s vacation.”
Ideally, each story you write should have the following parts, as illustrated above:
I.
Your goal: what you wanted to accomplish:
“I wanted to be able to take a summer trip with my wife and four children.”
II.
Some kind of hurdle, obstacle, or constraint that you faced
(self-imposed or otherwise):
“I had a very limited budget, and could not afford to put my family up in motels.”
III.
A description of what you did, step by step
(how you set about to ultimately achieve your goal, above, in spite of this hurdle or constraint):
“I decided to rig our station wagon as a camper. First I went to the library to get some books on campers. I read those books. Next I designed a plan of what I had to build, so that I could outfit the inside of the station wagon, as well as topside. Then I went and purchased the necessary wood. On weekends, over a period of six weeks, I…” etc., etc.
IV.
A description of the outcome or result:
“When we went on our summer trip, we were able to be on the road for four weeks, yet stayed within our budget, since we didn’t have to stay at motels.”
V.
Any measurable/quantifiable statement of that outcome, that you can think of:
“I estimate I saved $1,900 on motel bills, during that summer’s vacation.”
Now write
your
story, using “My Life Stories” as a guide.
Don’t
pick a story where you achieved something
big.
At least to begin with, write a story about a time when you had fun!
Do not try to be too brief. This isn’t Twitter.
If you absolutely can’t think of any experiences you’ve had where you enjoyed yourself, and accomplished something, then try this: describe the seven most enjoyable jobs that you’ve had; or seven roles you’ve had so far in your life, such as: wife, mother, cook, homemaker, volunteer in the community, citizen, dressmaker, student, etc. Tell us something you did or accomplished, in each role.
Click
here
to view a PDF version of My Life Stories.
2. Analyze Your Story, to See What Transferable Skills You Used
On the facing page, write the title of your first story
above
the number 1. Then work your way down the column
below
that number 1, asking yourself in each case: “Did I use this skill in
this story
?”
If the answer is “Yes,” color the little square in, with a red pen or whatever you choose.
Example: “Did I use my hands, assembling something, in
this
story?” If so, color in the square under Column 1, and opposite A, 1. If not, leave it blank.
Next: “Did I use my hands constructing something, in
this
story?” If so, color in the square under Column 1, and opposite A, 2. If not, leave it blank.
Work your way through the entire Transferable Skills Inventory that way, with your first story.
Click
here
to view a PDF version of the Transferable Skills Inventory.
Click
here
to view a PDF version of the Transferable Skills Inventory.
Click
here
to view a PDF version of the Transferable Skills Inventory.
