Knowing where you currently have strong skills can help you find good career path options for you and it can help you identify where you need to grow skills if you are changing career paths. Select the skill level that best matches your current skills for each of the 40 skill areas in the skills matcher. Think about whether you have successfully done any of the example activities, or similar activities, for each of the 40 areas. If your level of skill is between the beginner example and the skilled example, select basic. If your level of skill is between the skilled example and the expert example, select advanced. This exercise will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. You can save your results if you have a free account on CareerForceMN.com.
Skill
Beginner
Basic
Skilled
Advanced
Expert
1
1. Administration and Management

How much do you know about business planning and leadership?

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

2
2. Biology

How much do you know about plant, animal and cell functions?

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

3
3. Body Coordination

How well can you coordinate moving your arms, legs, and torso together?

Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.

4
4. Building and Construction

How much do you know about construction materials, methods, and tools?

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

5
5. Chemistry

How well do you know chemistry?

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

6
6. Clerical

How much do you know about administrative tasks and processes?

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

7
7. Complex Problem Solving

How good are you at figuring out the best way to solve a problem?

Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

8
8. Computers and Electronics

How effective are you at using electronic equipment?

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

9
9. Customer and Personal Service

How well do you know how to handle customer needs and resolve service problems?

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

10
10. Economics and Accounting

How well do you know banking and financial systems?

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

11
11. Fine Arts

How well do you know the theory and techniques of an art form such as music, painting, drama, or other?

Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

12
12. Foreign Language

How well do you know a foreign language?

Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

13
13. Helping People

How good are you at understanding how to help people?

Looking for ways to help people.

14
14. Instructing

How skilled are you at teaching people how to do something?

Teaching people how to do something.

15
15. Management of Financial Resources

What level of financial decision-maker are you?

Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.

16
16. Mathematics

What is your level of math skill?

Using math to solve problems.

17
17. Mechanical

How well can you design, use, repair, and maintain machines?

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

18
18. Medicine and Dentistry

How well do you know how to provide health care?

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

19
19. Memorization

How good is your memory?

Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.

20
20. Monitoring

How well can you assess your or others’ work?

Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.

21
21. Negotiation

How well do you persuade others to see different points of view or compromise?

Bringing people together to solve differences.

22
22. Operations Analysis

How well can you analyze needs and requirements, then make a plan that meets them?

Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.

23
23. Personnel and Human Resources

How well do you know the principles and procedures for recruiting, hiring, and training employees?

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

24
24. Production and Processing

How well can you oversee manufacturing and distribution processes?

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

25
25. Programming

How well can you write computer programs?

Writing computer programs.

26
26. Psychology

How well do you know the methods of research, assessment, and treatment of human behavior?

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

27
27. Public Safety and Security

How well do you know the equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies used to promote security operations?

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

28
28. Quality Control Analysis

How well can you develop and use testing processes?

Testing how well a product or service works.

29
29. Repairing

How well can you repair machines or systems using the needed tools?

Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.

30
30. Sales and Marketing

How well can you perform marketing strategies and tactics?

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

31
31. Science

How well can you use scientific rules and methods to solve problems?

Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

32
32. Sociology and Anthropology

How well do you know the theories of group behavior, societal trends and influences, and human culture?

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

33
33. Speaking

How well do you convey information when you speak?

Talking to others.

34
34. Systems Analysis

How well can you analyze systems?

Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

35
35. Teaching and Course Design

How well do you know the principles and methods of instruction?

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

36
36. Telecommunications

How well do you understand telecom systems?

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

37
37. Therapy and Counseling

How well do you know the principles and methods used in counseling?

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

38
38. Time Management

How well do you manage your and others' time?

Managing your time and the time of other people.

39
39. Troubleshooting

How well can you identify and fix problems in machines or technology?

Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.

40
40. Writing

How well does your writing effectively communicate to an audience's particular need?

Writing things for co-workers or customers.