We all have abstract elements that are parts of who we are in the workplace. We may have concrete skills such as bookkeeping experience, IT skills, or artistic skills such as painting or drawing. Those are easily identifiable qualities that we know we possess, but we also have abstract skills that are sometimes just a part of who we are. For instance, some people are just more comfortable around people. From personal experience, you can’t teach someone to be a “people person.” They either are or they aren’t. Some people really should just work behind the scenes, and there is nothing wrong with that. Some of us are not geared toward personal interactions with people all day long.
For this self-evaluation post, I considered something less concrete and more abstract about personality, and it is that I like a challenge. I like jigsaw puzzles, cryptograms, logic games, and complex projects. I sometimes wonder if that’s why certain jobs bore me. I like variety because variety is challenging, but if I’m doing the same thing all day long, my brain just isn’t in the process. There’s nothing wrong with a repetitive job because some of us love that. I like a repetitive system that works, but I want the information to constantly change within the system. That’s why writing and content creation appeal to me. The online platform looks the same, but the content is up to my brain. I can change what I write about any time I want. I can alter the website according to my imagination.
Writing is a challenge. How do I keep content fresh? How do I find relatable and/or timely topics? How do I learn about a topic so I can write competently about it? Writers aren’t always reinventing the wheel. We often just find different and personal ways to present a subject that clicks with some people, and we accept that it won’t click with everyone. So be it.
If I do go back into the workplace for someone else, I now recognize that I have an abstract skill that is marketable. I can tell an employer that I like solving problems because I enjoy a challenge, and there are opportunities in which that skill will be vital. I once heard someone call it having “stick-to-it-tiveness” when someone doesn’t give up. I don’t think I’ll use that in a resume, cover letter, or interview, but I can still communicate that I don’t mind a challenging project or job.
When conducting your own self-evaluation, what abstract skills do you bring to the table that employers will find valuable? If you plan on working for yourself, what abstract skills will help push your business along?
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Inspirational Verse for the Day:
Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27, CSB)
All Things Subject to Change 