Used by permission.

Exercises collected as is in the TRACK manual (Training and Raising Awareness in

Career Knowledge). Dunkel, Wofford, & Bray. Copyright: 1989. Second Edition. UF Division of Housing.

Exercises to complete for Developing a 4+ Year Action Plan

Appendix B

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS AND TRAITS

During your time spent as a student employed at UF or a student employed in the
community, you will be exposed to training, in-service, and day-to-day experiences.
These experiences will enable you to acquire new skills and refine skills you previously
acquired. These skills acquired from your positions may be translated or transferred into
the career you have selected. This exercise will enable you to identify key skills and traits
applicable from your positions to your career. Those identified skills and traits may then
be transferred to resumes, interviews, or daily practice in a new position. First review
Sidney Fines Definition of Skills and then complete the exercise.

SIDNEY A. FINES DEFINITION OF SKILLS*

Adaptive Functional Specific/Work Content
Self-Management Instrumental or Transferable Particular Job Conditions
Skills Vocabulary & Artifacts

Adaptive Skills: Related to environments, and particularly to the requirements or demands for conformity
and continuity vs. risk and discretion and change.
Examples: management of oneself, in relation to: authority, space and time direction, self-pacing,
punctuality, dress, care of property, impulse control

Functional Skills: Acquired either as natural born talent, refined by experience or education, or by specific
educational, vocational or a-vocational special training. Related to People, Data, & Things, in transferable
fashion (from one field, profession, occupation or job to another).
Examples: trending and operating machines; comparing, compiling or analyzing data; exchanging
information with, or consulting; supervising people.

Specific/Work Content: Acquired by private reading, apprenticeship, technical training institute, school, or
(often) on the job. Related to performing a job in a particular field, profession, or occupation, according to
the specifications and conditions of a particular employer.
Examples: detailed knowledge of the various parts of a car; knowing the names of all the muscles in the
human body; understanding the psychology of human motivation.
*As adapted by the National Career Development Project

SELF-ASSESSMENT OF TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Review the following list of adaptive, functional, and work/content skills. Check those
skills you have used in your positions.

Physical Communication
__athletic ability __reading
__motor coordination __clerical skills
__competitiveness __lecturing
__perseverance __public speaking
__endurance __briefing
__scheduling
Programming __debating
__financial planning __informing
__project designing and programming __spelling
__arranging social events __arbitrating and mediating
__hosting __influencing and persuading
__organizing conferences __proof reading
__creative publicity __summarizing
__energetic __speech-writing and delivery
__enterprising __interviewing
__resourceful __foreign language
__productive __tact
__educational __articulation
__ability to achieve substantial results __translating
with limited funds __editing
__explaining concepts
Creative __listening intently & accurately
__performing __critiquing
__musical ability __telephoning
__showmanship __negotiating
__composing __business correspondence
__landscaping __writing, creative/humorous
__drawing
__creative visual displays Mathematical & Scientific
__interior decorating __sophisticated math abilities
__photographing __follow detailed instructions
__illustrating __administer budget
__culinary talent __rapid manipulation of numbers
__imaginative __tolerance for repetition
__inventing
Logic __laboratory skills
__decision-making __accounting
__applying others work __accuracy
__trouble shooting
__problem-solving Leadership
__coordinating details & administrative tasks __adapt to conflict management
__understanding legal concepts __supervising
__rational thinking __chairing meetings
__perceiving & defining cause/effect relationships __policy making
__thinking quickly and clearly __leadership
__forecasting __motivating others
__diagnosing __coaching
__problem identification __delegating responsibility
Self-Management __self-confidence
__works well under stress __promoting, planning &
__self-directing implementing change
__organizing time __implementing decisions
__prioritizing tasks __team building
__self-disciplined __organizing
__modeling __group facilitating
__traveling __teaching
__follow through __managing people/programs
__systematic goal setting __directing
__risk taking __businesslike
__adapting to new environments __self-motivated
__assertive
__ambitious Researching & Data Collecting
__dependable __observing
__easy-going nature __technical reading & interpretation
__calm __scientific writing
__realistic __testing
__mature __investigation
__able to handle wide variety of tasks __analyzing quantitative data
simultaneously __organizing data
__ability to move into new environments __retrieving data
on ones own __adapt at precision work
__developing a budget
Interpersonal Relationships __keen memory for detail
__facilitating personal growth __researching data
__conveying enthusiasm __classifying/organizing data
__recognizing and using others skills __information processing
__making and efficient use of contacts __scientific investigating
__poise and public appearance __record keeping
__personable __information gathering
__directing creative talent
__inspiring trust/trustworthy
__developing rapport
__recruiting talent
__counseling
__sensitive to others
__crisis intervention
__genuine
__positive mental attitude
__helping and serving others
__training
__fosters a stimulating learning environment
__perceiving the needs of others
__warmth
__advising
__liaison skills
__conveying understanding and patience

Review the skills you have checked. Identify the twenty-five most applicable to your
current position and record below.
1) 14)
2) 15)
3) 16)
4) 17)
5) 18)
6) 19)
7) 20)
8) 21)
9) 22)
10) 23)
11) 24)
12) 25)
13)

Again, review Sidney A. Fines Definition of Skills and then identify whether each of
your twenty-five skills are adaptive, functional, specific/work content. List each of these
skills under the appropriate column below.

Adaptive Functional Specific/Work Content

Your twenty-five skills will be most valuable to you as you compose your resume and
prepare for interviews. Review this list on an annual basis and make revisions as you
remain in your staff position or change positions.