Email
Print
Forget WPM, these skills can get any job done
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: October 1, 2008
Parents, it's time to update your resumes. I don't care if you work outside the home, in the home, or very often wish you could be any where but home.
You may not be job hunting, but it's always good to polish your resume from time to time. If you carry the title of parent — and the joyously exhausting duties that come with it — get out your pen and notebook (or more likely Crayola and construction paper) and let's get started.
Specifically, we're going to focus on skills. Employers want to know what skills you can offer and examples of how you've utilized such skills. In my career counseling days, I would ask clients to write down tasks, projects and goals they had accomplished, and we would brainstorm what skills were used in each. I'll offer six of my developed skills sets as examples.
Ability to multi-task: I've checked e-mail, spoken to a lawyer about representing me in court for a speeding violation, argued with my daughter about potty-training and wrestled a pull-up onto her bottom all at once.
Effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills: My son and daughter know that when I've (a) said "this conversation is over" or (b) simultaneously lowered my jaw and raised my eyebrow, whatever case they were trying to plead has exceeded the point of annoyance, and it's time to walk away. The combination is very effective.
Problem solving skills: The couch has become a battleground in our house, both kids fighting over the coveted spot and arguing if even one toenail touches the other person's knee. My ability to handle this situation is uncanny. Both are now banned from the couch. Problem solved.
Ability to be in two places at once: See speeding ticket reference above.
Organizational skills: I can organize a bedroom, playroom or living room in record time, and users of all three will find their items with ease, as everything is shelved strategically. However, if you want me to organize a thought or sentence, catch me at the beginning of the week, because by Friday my brain tends to liquefy.
Mediation skills: The opportunities to resolve "he said/she said" differences are unlimited. So are the "she pinched me/he looked at me funny," "he laughed at me/she hurt my feelings," and "she copied me/he burped in my face" opportunities as well. Mediation is all about listening and empathy. Cursing to yourself is effective, too.
This exercise can serve another purpose. If you don't need a resume right now, send out this skills list with your holiday cards to let friends and family know what you've been up to this past year.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
