OrderMyCareer
There are no skill levels.
Right now, are you thinking something like…
“In no way does me processing payments match with working in a corporate job in a financial office. That is WAY more advanced than what I do!”
I also thought that! Until I saw a friend of mine go from working a basic “resetting password” IT job (who only hires no-skill workers and trains them) to working for a huge company – in just two years. She’s using less skills at her new company than she did at the no-skill job!
We outrageously over-estimate company’s skill needs.
Then we outrageously UNDER-estimate ourselves!
At age 30, you are most likely skilled enough for 30-40% of the jobs listed on Indeed. Even if you have been stuck in retail jobs for 10 years.
Even if you’ve been in one job only…because that job has been your world and we all get good at what we do in our worlds.
Skill Levels 101
Skills do not have levels innately. No “Skill level 1 – Basic, Skill level 2 – Competant, Skill level 3 – Advanced” system exists. Instead, all of the skills listed are what inform the recruiter/hirer of your approximate level. This allows them to match you better.
Example:
“- Taking and sorting money in cash drawers.”
Ah, you’re a standard retail worker with other standard retail worker skills.
VS
“- Taking and sorting money in cash drawers.”
“- Processing payroll for employees”
Ah, NOW you’re most likely in a managerial role or basic accounting role! That’s a higher level, job wise. You now qualify for managerial or payroll processing/accounting jobs.
Your surrounding skills notify others of your skill level, not the skill itself.
Think about the jobs you might want to go into.
How do your current skills already fit that job?
Your skills list is now beautiful and clear and understandable! Those nice, field-less skills can now be used for your resume with a bit of tweaking, which we will get into during the Skillseeker Call. More on that later.
For now…
Jobs have a list of their own, too! A job titles/duties list.
YOUR resume is also probably job titles/duties style – and since every job’s duties are different…that’s why the jobs have always looked so out of reach.
It would be a lot easier if jobs used a similar skills list! In the meantime…we need to read between their lines and find the skills they NEED…skills you probably have!
This lesson is called "Reading between their lines"
Let’s look at a few jobs that are on Indeed as I type this…
Care Coordinator
Job Duties:
- Liaison for the team for financial information. Educates team regarding patient financial benefits.
- Serves as primary information and assures that special needs are met.
- Has knowledge of patient/family and team goals and oversees ordering of patient equipment DME and supplies.
- Monitors resource utilization.
Initiates and maintains communication with external case managers, referring primary care physician and acts as a resource regarding available services at -. - Initiates and maintains communication with external case managers and primary care physicians to obtain pre-authorization for ongoing rehabilitation needs and advocate for the patient to receive appropriate rehabilitation services.
- Communicates in the format defined by the third party payor.
- Negotiates any conflict arising with a third party payor representative on behalf of the patient and Institute during their rehabilitation program.
- Assists clinical manager in the oversight of worklists, chart audits, program development activities and other duties as assigned.
- Perform all other duties that may be assigned in the best interest of -.
Job Requirements:
- Work requires a professional level of knowledge in a specialized field of rehabilitation with a minimum of 2 years experience working directly in rehabilitation services.
- State license or certification in one’s own profession.
- Analytical and interpersonal skills necessary to effectively instruct patients and family members on treatment programs.
- Knowledgeable of community resources, health care system and interdisciplinary functioning.
- Interpersonal communication and advocacy skills to work with patients and families, and various medical professionals within and outside of the -.
- Ability to learn and utilize PC software to collect and analyze data and prepare and aggregate reports.
Machine operator
Job Duties:
- Perform pre-operational inspection of all parts and machines
- Assemble and dissemble machines
- Operate machinery/equipment
- Monitor the safe operation of all production machinery
- Load materials onto machines
- Perform routine setup of fixtures, tools and machines according to work instructions
- Perform inspection of parts and machines according to the machine specifications, examine and test assembled units in order to detect defects and ensure conformance to specifications
- Maintain necessary pace for a high speed production line
- Complete all required paperwork
Job Requirements:
- Handling of 50 plus pounds
- Stand throughout entire shift
- Produce/Handle product as established from product specifications, delivering product which meets both quality and time standards
- Ability to follow instructions and willingness to learn new skills and work on a variety of projects
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written
- Basic mathematical skills
- Ability to follow product specific instructions and work closely with team members
- Ability to work in a refrigerated environment
- Willingness to adapt to changes in production schedule as needed
- Respect your fellow team members
Qualifications:
- Requires a high school diploma, vocational training and/or on the job training
- Minimum of 1-2 years of food manufacturing and machinery experience
- Experienced with GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices), and lock-out/tag-out procedures
Lab Technician
Job Duties:
- Retrieve samples from the Operators.
- Perform analytical testing on various process and final product samples.
- Record analytical data in various data bases (SAP,DLRS,MIMS).
- Sample retention and storage.
- Calibrate lab equipment.
- Coordinate equipment maintenance activities with outside services.
- Maintain lab supplies in assigned lab. Perform safety inspections and train operators.
- Follow Quality Control guidelines for our quality program.
- Maintain a clean, safe, and secure environment within the laboratory.
- Conduct internal ISO audits once trained.
- Support Continuous Improvement and Manufacturing Excellence efforts in the lab.
Minimum Qualifications
- Two years laboratory experience or relevant job experience.
- High School Diploma or equivalent.
- Excellent computer, communication and organizational skills.
- Working knowledge of basic algebra and statistics.
- Ability to follow written procedures.
- Ability to work a 5 day Monday Friday 8 hour schedule.
- Ability to take callouts and work some weekends as needed.
- Ability to interact and communicate with a wide range of professional, managerial, technical and production personnel.
What skills are they looking for?
Compare each sentence above with the same sentence below, apples to apples.
Care Coordinator
Job Duties:
- Tells team about patient financial info and benefits.
- Be the main contact for patient.
- Knows patient goals and orders supplies.
- Watches materials, for resupply and use. Is point of contact for doctors and other resources.
- Talks to case managers and doctors to get permission for patient rehabilitation services.
- Talks to payer of everyone.
- Solves disputes with payer and this job’s program.
- Helps clinical manager to make worklists, activities.
- Do other stuff the patient might need that we didn’t think to list here or don’t know they need.
Job Requirements:
- You need 2 years experience working directly in rehabilitation services because this job does need some experience prior.
- State license or certification.
- Need to be able to talk to people and think through things well.
- Knowledgeable of community resources, health care system and other teams functioning. (I’m keeping this mostly the same on purpose.)
- Gotta be able to talk and fight for your patient as needed, to inside and outside forces.
- Use a computer because some data collection is necessary.
…Basically, be trained a bit in this area, and be very social and a bit of a fighter.
Machine operator
Job Duties:
- Check machines
- Repair and replace parts
- Operate machinery/equipment
- Watch the machines
- Load materials onto machines
- Set up machines
- Test mchines
- Go fast at doing this
- Do paperwork
Job Requirements:
- Handling of 50 plus pounds
- Stand throughout entire shift
- Produce/Handle, deliver good product.
- Follow instructions and learn new skills and work on a variety of projects
- Be able to talk to people well and write ok.
- Basic mathematical skills
- Work with others on team
- Ability to work in a refrigerated environment
- Willingness to adapt to changes in production schedule as needed
- Respect others
Qualifications:
- Requires a high school diploma, a bit of extra school or previous job experience in some way
- Skills you can get working in a restaurant and having repaired your own car or similar.
- Stuff you can learn from Youtube.
….And you only need 60% of these three things.
Lab Technician
Job Duties:
- Take out samples from machine
- Test samples
- Record data on computer programs.
- Store samples.
- Calibrate lab equipment.
- Call Maintenance about machine issues.
- Make sure supplies are on hand. Perform safety inspections and train operators.
- Follow Quality Control guidelines.
- Maintain a clean, safe, and secure environment within the laboratory.
- Audit things.
- Keep learning
Minimum Qualifications
- Two years laboratory experience or relevant job experience.
- High School Diploma or equivalent.
- Ability to use a computer and organize files.
- Basic algebra and statistics knowledge.
- Can follow directions.
- Can work 40 hour weeks.
- Can sub for workers who call out.
- Can talk to people.
Change the fancy words to skills...
then change the skills to fancy words!
Do you see how the fancy words are nothing but basic skills? That’s what you’ll need to look for, reading between the lines…and then making it clear in your resume that your skills match THEIR job’s fancy words!
Some companies use ATS tracker systems and to get to the front of those, all you have to do is change those basic skills back to fancy words, sprinkle them liberally throughout your resume and cover letter…
I wish I could give an example of that, but it depends on your skill and the job in question a little too much. However, don’t worry – we’ll be going into that in your CAMP 1:1 Chat. Which….by the way…
You're now ready for the CAMP 1:1 Chat.
Go ahead and set up a chat, then go on to Module 5!