Know your skills, Kia mōhio ki ō pūkenga

Technical skills are skills you need for a specific job, like being able to use a nail hammer to build a shed, or knowing how to decorate a birthday cake in a bakery.

Some examples of technical skills are:

• the ability to use a special computer program
• having a heavy vehicle licence
• training in first aid and CPR.

You can add to your kete of technical skills through study, training and work or volunteer experience. When you learn something new, add it to your skills list. You might be surprised at how quickly your list grows.

Personal skills are qualities and attitudes you bring to your work. They are sometimes called transferable skills or employability skills because they’re skills that can be useful in many types of jobs.

For example, you could be good at:

• motivating and leading other people
• planning and organising
• customer service
• teamwork.

Some personal skills will come naturally to you. You may need to learn or practise others to get better at them.

There are many ways to get better at personal skills you can use in your work and life. Just like technical skills, you can gain them from study and work experience. For example, you could do a free online course, or volunteer to fundraise at your local school or kura.

You can also learn personal skills in your daily life. For example, you can learn how to communicate better while you’re caring for your whānau. And coaching a rangatahi sports team can improve your leadership skills.

Your blend of skills is unique. Understanding what you’re good at and enjoy doing will help you get a job you love.

There are 7 key skills that employers value and may look for when they’re hiring new employees. These are called employability skills.

• Skills employers are looking for

Understanding your values, skills and interests can help you decide which job or career might suit you.

You may want to explore your values first before looking at your skills and interests. You can use our worksheets to guide you.

• How to find your career path