Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - What is the Difference and is it Important?

Knowledge, skill and abilities are the three essentials to any employee, employer and organisation. Recruiters seek out specific knowledge, skills and abilities during the hiring process, managers consider the knowledge, skills and abilities of certain employees when suggesting individuals suitable for promotion and organisations are constantly referring back to the core knowledge, skills and abilities they believe are necessary to thrive and survive in the business environment.

These three important terms are often used interchangeably. Even though the difference between them can be subtle, it is imperative to know the difference in order to understand what you expect of your current and future employees.

Knowledge is the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. For example, an employee might have knowledge of a particular model used in instructional design. This doesn’t mean the employee knows how to be an instructional designer. It means they know the model.

Skills are the proficiencies developed through training or experience. Using the model design example, the employee has demonstrated skills in applying the model when designing training programs. Skills are usually something that has been learned. So, we can develop our skills through the transfer of knowledge.

Abilities are the qualities of being able to do something. There is a fine line between skills and abilities. Think of abilities such as organization and prioritization as attributes that can help an employee develop their instructional design skills.

In business we often refer to the ‘skills’ gap and if your organisation is trying to fill this gap, then we must be clear on what exactly needs a solution- is it employees knowledge about a particular product? Or do their skills in how they sell the product need fine tuning? Or do they need to work on their ability to prioritise and better manage their time?  

Understanding the subtle differences between the terms can make obvious improvements to your work force!

Cover Letters: Get their attention!

Creating a strong and accomplished resume is crucial in order for your job application to be successful.  However, many job seekers underestimate the importance of a well accompanied cover letter. Employers receive large numbers of applicant resumes and each are scanned through in a matter of seconds. In all cases they are swiftly examining whether your experience and skills match what they have outlined as requirements in the position description.

In order to maximise potential success it may be useful to consider these rudimentary yet often unheeded guidelines.

Customise and stylise

Your cover letter should be tailored for the specific position you are applying for rather than a generic recycled template. Explain why you are interested in that company and how your skills are applicable and relevant. If possible find a specific contact to address it to so you can avoid standard greetings such as “To whom it may concern.”

Mention referrals

If you were connected or introduced to the company through an employee at the company or mutual contact you should include this in your cover letter. Make sure, however, that you seek permission from that person before name dropping.

Don’t repeat your resume

While you should be referencing and highlighting applicable strengths on your resume it should not be a direct copy. Instead expand and discuss your experience to tie-in with what you believe to be the vision, strategy and operation needs of the organisation. 

 

Address potential weaknesses

Address any items on your resume that may be considered ‘red flags’ and give explanations to avoid any issues that may give potential employers pause in considering your application. For example, gaps in employment due to maternity leave.

 

Keep it brief & proof read

Employers  and professional recruiters are busy and often have many applications to filter through. Having a concise and succinct cover letter will increase the likelihood of it being read. As a general rule, keep cover letters to one A4 page.

It goes without saying that proof reading is essential, as poor spelling and grammar will deter any employer, no matter how skilled you might be. It demonstrates carelessness in that you didn’t proof-read the letter, nor do you know how to use Spellcheck. Beware of misspellings that will not be picked up by Spellcheck, such as “Exiting New Development." Take the time to read through your cover letter, edit as necessary and maybe ask a friend to review it before submitting!

From mediocre job to fulfilling career - Using LinkedIn to find a new vocation

LinkedIn is one of the leading methods used by job hunters to identify a role which will further their career,  as well as employers who need to track down skills and experience just right for their company However, it is rarely used efficiently as a means to move from one job to another. So if you are sitting in a job that you don’t enjoy, feeling stagnant and need to develop your career  , then you can follow some of the tips below to ensure that your LinkedIn profile is geared towards getting you to where you want to be.

Our first tip is also one of the most important; capturing the attention of your future employer/colleague with your Headline. Often, the only information someone will see of your profile is your name and your Headline, making it important to hook your reader from the get-go. You have only 120 characters to set yourself apart from every other job-seeker out there, but you can use the Headline to specify the role you are hoping to transition to.

For example, if you are a business consultant looking to move to a multimedia role in a smaller business, and have experience as a graphic designer, target your Headline toward graphic designers with their own small business. Split your headline into two ‘hits’, starting with the defining feature of your desired role (eg. Sally Brown – “Graphic Designer, Multimedia developer | Business consultant for small businesses”). In doing this, you have made your profile unique and more appealing to someone in the targeted field.

You then need to hone your entire profile by focusing on the career you want, not the career you have. This means developing the rest of your profile in a smart and succinct way, to make sure that the person whose interest was piqued by your Headline is going to keep reading. Some tips on making your profile more attractive include:

• Writing in first-person throughout your profile to keep things consistent.
• Creating a narrative, making your experiences seem cohesive instead of fragmented.
• Avoid listing all current responsibilities (as you may in a resume) and instead,
• Focus on achievements/experiences that are relevant to the type of job you want to move into.
• Include relevant images and samples of your experience, but only relevant to the accomplishments/roles connected to the career you are seeking (eg. A business card concept for your graphic design work)

Lastly, do not forget to talk to the people who are recommending you for the type of position you are aiming for. This will help them when contacted by your potential employer.

If you are looking to change your career to one you are passionate about, or you are looking for the next step in your career, then using the tips here will help you to fine-tune your LinkedIn profile to become a magnet for new opportunities in the career of your dreams.

Career Comparison – Reasons why job hunting while employed is essential

Searching for potential job opportunities whilst working can seem like an unnecessary activity at times. It requires you to be thinking about many different factors - your current position, financial change and employment availability within your profession among other stressors. You need to use your personal time to be on the lookout for job opportunities. This is one of the reasons individuals become accustomed to their work lives as it begins to develop into an established routine. It is very easy to find yourself in the same position for many years without knowing what other opportunities are out there. However, being on the lookout puts you at an advantage over your colleagues, and indeed everyone within your industry as work trends show that we move jobs more often and several professions become more competitive than before. For these reasons and more it’s important to stay ahead of the game and keep hunting, and we will show you the best way to balance a work life and a keen job seeking eye!

1.    Being aware of your industry employment status 

Every industry differs in terms of job availability. If your industry is facing low job demand this could suggest that there are limited positions available for your current role. On the positive side your position may be more valuable to your current employer. Alternatively, that if something were to happen and you lost your position, it may be more difficult to obtain another role quickly.
 
It is always worthwhile to conduct a search on available roles in your current industry (or an industry you are hoping to make your way into). How frequently do roles come up? What is the general scope of remuneration against experience? Are most roles full time, part time or contract? By doing so, you can determine the job demand and job security within your desired industry giving you the benefit of planning your career ahead of time. Better yet, such scoping of emerging roles provides you with a competitive advantage over other employees as it allows you to assess the value and worth of your current position in the industry by comparing it to alternatives.

2.    Planning ahead for something better

Reality is that there may always be a position that is better than the one that you currently have. This is OK, however, as it gives you something to work towards. It can be hard to think of another job as you may be comfortable where you are now, but comfortable is not a term successful people use. Thinking ahead in terms of where you want to be and how you are going to get there puts you at an advantage over your colleagues. Scoping your potential next big move could be the best exercise you have undertaken.

This does not mean you have to stress out constantly looking for jobs, but rather look over advertisements within your desired field, and occasionally have a preliminary chat with a potential employer or recruiter, or send your resume out. Be very careful to explicitly state that you want your interest to remain completely confidential and not be placed into a database without your consent. Overall, consider planning ahead, networking, and spending time thinking of what your next job could potentially be.

3.    Networking

Networking is arguably the strongest factor that decides who gets the next available job. Knowing the right people could get you through doors that you would never have believed possible.

Aim at increasing your network. This could mean requesting that your contacts keep their eyes open for job opportunities as they arise. Or attending conferences, workshops and other professional events as well as buying a few coffees for people in order to build your network. Remember, people would rather hire those who they know rather than those they don’t know.

Hopefully these tips will allow you to move away from the comfortable ‘steady as you go’ space that you have fallen into and allow you to expand your network, look beyond your current position, and plan ahead for what job opportunities lie out there. Who knows, your dream job could be around the corner!

Wanting to look for other job opportunities...

Career Exchange is an online Allied Health Career Portal that has been developed to meet the needs of job seekers and advertisers within the Allied Health community. Career Exchange provides job seekers with a platform where they can connect with industry professionals and new employment opportunities. Career Exchange allows you to search for employment opportunities through cutting edge web design and usability. There is always relevant information pertaining to job seekers and you have the ability to upload a copy of your resume through your Applicant Account for free. 

Career Exchange: Active Job Seeking, networking and industry information all in the one place.