Understanding Your Skills: The First Step in Your Career Journey.

By Jordan McAdam (JMC Career Coach)

If you’re starting to think about your next career move, one of the first and crucial steps is to understand your skills — to know your professional value and what you bring to the table.

It may sound simple, but many of the individuals I work with, when beginning to write a CV or prepare for interviews, struggle to clearly articulate their key skills and competencies. Without that foundation, the rest of the job search can lack focus, clarity, and direction — often leading to frustration or missed opportunities.

Why Skills and Competencies Matter

Many organisations now hire against a competency framework, assessing how closely candidates align with the skills required for success in a particular role. Competencies are often the softer skills — the attributes and behaviours that determine how you work, lead, and collaborate.

Each of us has a unique combination of these skills, shaped by our experiences and personal strengths. Taking the time to understand yours is a powerful way to position yourself with confidence and purpose.

Identifying Your Core Skills

Start by asking yourself:

• What am I naturally good at?
• What kind of work energises me?
• When have I felt most successful or fulfilled in my career?

For example, if you enjoy working closely with others and thrive in a team environment, your strengths might include teamwork and communication. If you gain satisfaction from mentoring others or shaping business strategy using data, you might highlight leadership, strategic thinking, and analytical ability.

Once you’ve identified your skills, think about specific examples that demonstrate each one. The best way to do this is by using the STAR method — outlining the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This approach will help you tell clear, results-oriented stories in interviews or on application. (we’ll cover this in more detail in a future article.)

Why This Step Matters

Completing this exercise before you begin your job search will help you to:

• Define your ideal next step
• Create a non-negotiables list for your next opportunity
• Understand and articulate your professional value

When you have clarity on your key strengths and examples to illustrate them, you can then craft a strong Professional Value Statement — a concise summary of who you are, what you offer, and how you lead. This statement can be used effectively in interviews, particularly when asked: “Tell me a bit about yourself.”

Example of a Professional Value Statement

As a Managing Director, I am driven by a commitment to purposeful leadership, fostering high-performing teams, and delivering sustainable business growth. I believe that strong leadership is built on integrity, clear vision, and an unwavering focus on people — empowering others to reach their full potential while achieving strategic objectives.

Analytical by nature and commercially astute, I bring a disciplined, evidence-based approach to decision-making and long-term planning. I take pride in identifying opportunities for growth, optimising performance, and guiding organisations through complex change with clarity and confidence.

As a mentor and leader, I invest in developing talent, building trust, and creating cultures where collaboration, accountability, and innovation thrive. My goal is to continue shaping organisations that deliver meaningful, lasting impact.

If you would like help in identifying your skills and beginning your job search, please reach out to me for a confidential discussion – 073 9477 7582 / jmccareercoach@gmail.com.