1. Oral/spoken communication skills: Both one-on-one and in groups (e.g., presentations). Do you just listen, or do you get invited to speak at gatherings?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
2. Written communication skills:
Both printed and online written work, including reports, letters and
email. Do you always use the phone, or has your work been published?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
3. Honesty:
Being truthful and having integrity. Do you always tell people, "I
never lie," or do your friends entrust you with their keys and money at
parties?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
4. Teamwork/collaboration skills: Working with others to accomplish tasks. Do you think working in groups wastes your time or encourages your best work?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
5. Self-motivation/initiative:
Doing things without needing to be told or persuaded. Are your projects
always due last week, or did your class project go public already?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
6. Work ethic/dependability:
Being thorough and accurate so colleagues can count on you. Do you
think someone else can fix it, or do your friends ask you to balance
their checkbooks?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
7. Critical thinking:
Challenging things when appropriate and proposing alternatives to
consider. Do you think everything you see or hear is true, or do
policymakers call you for advice?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
8. Risk-taking skills:
Taking a considered chance on something new, different or unknown. Do
you think taking risks is too risky, or do your friends earn great
returns on your investment advice?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
9. Flexibility/adaptability:
Going with the flow and adjusting with unforeseen circumstances. Do you
keep the rulebook on your bedside table, or do your friends admire the
way you handled both traffic court and the Royal Court?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
10. Leadership skills:
Guiding and supporting others in order to accomplish something. Do you
think leaders are megalomaniacs, or are you asked to chair committee
meetings?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
11. Interpersonal skills:
Relating with other people and communicating with them in everyday
interactions. Do you like to be alone, or do you aspire to be the next
Oprah Winfrey or Jay Leno?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
12. Working under pressure:
Handling the stress that accompanies deadlines and other limitations or
constraints. Do you handle deadlines by ignoring them or by doing your
most creative work under pressure?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
13. Questioning skills:
Asking questions in order to learn or clarify something. Do you already
know all the answers, or is your nickname Detective Colombo?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
14. Creativity:
Having the imagination to come up with new or off-the-beaten-path
ideas. Do think it's all been done before, or did you earn a patent and
win an art prize in grade school?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
15. Influencing skills:
Persuading others to think about or adopt a different point of view.
Would you rather die than sell, or do you want the air conditioner
franchise in Nome?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
16. Research skills:
Gathering information in order to study or answer questions. Are your
papers based on what you see on FOX News, or did you wear out your
library card?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
17. Organization skills:
Being organized and methodical, especially in work-related situations.
Do you celebrate random actions all day every day, or did NASA ask you
to help plan the Mars missions?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
18. Problem-solving skills:
Analyzing the potential causes of a problem and coming up with a
solution. Do people ask you to leave the problem to them or to help
them find the solution?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
19. Multicultural skills:
Understanding and relating to people who are different from you,
perhaps by using a second language. Are all your friends just like you,
or when someone says, "hello," do you need to think for a moment about
what language to reply in?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
20. Computer skills:
Using basic word-processing, spreadsheet and presentation software as
well as the Internet. Do you always get someone to help you, or are you
the one providing the help and advice?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
21. Academic/learning skills:
Learning new things quickly and thoroughly, and being willing to learn
continuously. Are you taking basic geology for the third time, or did
you start taking post-grad courses sophomore year?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
22. Detail orientation:
Making sure that even the little things are done and done correctly. Do
you specialize in big-picture thinking, or do your friends ask you to
plan their weddings?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
23. Quantitative skills: Compiling and using numbers to study an issue or answer a question. "Numbers are for geeks," or "Metrics are my life"?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
24. Teaching/training skills:
Showing other people how to do something in a way that allows them to
learn quickly and thoroughly. Do you think everyone should figure
things out for themselves, or do you get asked to help teach your
friends?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
25. Time management skills:
Using your time wisely and consistently staying on schedule and meeting
deadlines. Did you take this quiz instead of finishing your assignment,
or are you taking this while checking email between classes?
Nonexistent Poor Average Good Excellent
