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	Business School Section

Skill Areas

Skill Areas & Required Proficiency Explanation

Learn what skills are most important in the selected profession. Do you need to be able to tackle complex problems or juggle a number of activities? Will you be required to repair and maintain machines or teach others how to do a given task?

Each skill is given two scores of 0-100. The first score indicates how important a given skill is for success in the profession. The second score indicates the level of skill needed. The second score is accompanied by a scale that helps you interpret the score.

Skill Area Scores

Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Take a customer's order	Answer inquiries regarding credit references	Preside as judge in a complex legal disagreement

Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form	Read a memo from management describing new personnel policies	Read a scientific journal article describing surgical procedures

Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Take a telephone message	Write a memo to staff outlining new directives	Write a novel for publication

Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Schedule appointments for a medical clinic	Work with others to put a new roof on a house	Work as director of a consulting project calling for interaction with multiple subcontractors

Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.

Ask customers if they would like cups of coffee	"Make flight reservations for customers, using airline reservation system"	Direct relief agency operations in a disaster area

Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long	Be aware of how a coworker's promotion will affect a work group	Counsel depressive patients during a crisis period

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Proofread and correct a letter	Monitor a meeting's progress and revise the agenda to ensure that important topics are discussed	Review corporate productivity and develop a plan to increase productivity

Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.

Instruct a new employee in the use of a time clock	Instruct a coworker in how to operate a software program	Demonstrate surgical procedure to interns in a teaching hospital