Through the study of the liberal arts, Middlebury students develop the professional competencies most valued by employers and graduate schools. Critical thinking, working in teams, managing projects, scientific and research competency, quantitative/analytical skills, creativity, and the extremely important skills of communicating effectively in speaking and writing all play key roles in the career pursuits of a well-educated person. The list that follows is a tool you can use to begin to identify those competencies that you already possess and those you wish to develop through further study and "real world experience" (internships, volunteer service learning, student activities, etc.).
Artistic and Design Skills
Visual and spatial designingArtistic talentIllustratingMappingDrafting/mechanical drawingDesigning comfortable living spacesDesigning and/or using audio-visual aidsPhotographingStrong need for beauty in the environmentExecellent tasteCreative imagingOperates well in a free environmentFashioning/shaping thingsMakingRedesigningAware of value of symbolismCreates poetry or poetic imagesWritingPlaywritingOrganizing and staging theatrical productionsExpressiveAbility to use the body to express feelingsMusical knowledge and taste
Communication Skills--Reading, Speaking, Writing
Communicating effectivelyAbility to explain difficult conceptsSummarizing, reporting accuratelyVery explicit and concise writingAdept at translating jargon to diverse audiencesVerbal and lingusitic skills in other languagesOutstanding writing skillsAble to describe so that others can visualizePromotional writing for funding purposesImaginative advertising and publicity programsFlair for writing reportsSkilled speech-writingComposing lettersProofreading, editingLove of readingRelentlessly curious
Creativity
ArtisticLiteraryInnovation Critical Thinking
Identify ProblemsGather evidence through researchEvaluate options & derive conclusionsQuantitative Follow Through/Detail
ExecutingFollow detailed instructionsApply what others have developedExplicit, systematic manipulation of dataTroubleshootingChecking work of othersClassification and retrieval of data
Human Relations Skills/Helping Others
Works well on a team basisMotivates fellow workersExpresses appreciation faithfullyReady willingness to share credit with othersExpertise in interpersonal contactKeen ability to put self in someone else's shoesEffective in dealing with many different peopleExpert in liaison rolesUnusual ability to represent othersTreating people fairlyShaping the atmosphere of a particular placeSensitive to people's feelings in social situationsHelping people with their personal problemsTakes human failings/limitations into acountHandles difficult people wellCaring for/nursingUnderstands family relationships and problems
Influencing/Persuading Skills
Persuading, influencing the attitudes of othersDebatingDeveloping targets,building marketsPromotingSelling ideas or productsSelling to decision makersRecruiting talentMotivating othersAdept at conflict managementGetting diverse groups to work togetherArbitrating/mediatingInspiring trustEncouraging peopleHelping people identify what their interests
Innovating and Intuitional Skills
Able to see commercial possibilties of conceptsApplying theory, researchCreating productsInnovatingWilling to experiment with new approachesStrongly committed to experimental approachesContinually developing and generating ideasForecastingIntegrate diverse elements into clear coherenceConnect seemingly unrelated issuesAbility to improvise on the spur of the momentDeriving things from others' ideasModel developingPossessing imagination and the ability to use itSpatial memoryMemory for designMemory for faces
Leadership Skills
No fear of taking manageable risksAble to make hard decisionsAble to move into new situations independentlyAble to take initiate and develope relationshipsUnusual ability to work without supervisionKeen perception of things as they could bePlanning for/and effecting/initiating changeAble to see and seize opportunitiesDealing with the unexpected or criticalSearching for more responsibilityAdept and confronting difficult personal mattersInspiring, motivating and leading othersDeft in directing cretive talents
Machine or Manual Skills
Operating Tools, machinery vehicles, equip.Designing, shaping, composingPrecision workShowing dexterity or speedBuilding, assembling, setting, installing
Management/Supervisory Skills
Planning and developing plansOrganizational analysisDesigning projectsProgram developmentContracting, delegating, scheduling, assigningDirecting the skills of othersBringing people together in cooperative effortsEvaluating people's effectiveness
Numerical/ Financial/Accounting/Financial Management Skills
Budget planning and preparationAdministration, analysis and reviewManaging MoneyFinancial planning and managementEconomic research and analysisCost analyses, estimate, projectionsHigh accuracy in computing/countingUsing numbers as a reasoning toolEffective at solving statistical problemsPreparing financial reportsLearning/remembering numbers and statistics
Observational/Learning Skills
AppraisingScreening applicantsAssessing people's needs/public's moodSizing up situationsIntelligence tempered by common senseAlert at observing human behaviorPerceptive in identifying the potential of othersObservant of people/data/things/surroundingPerpetual curiosity/discoverySeeking new experiencesHearing accuratelyKeen sense of smellSensitive sense of tasting
Personal Management
Risk takingAdapt to changeWork independentlyCope with failure Platform Skills
Addressing large or small groupsResponsive to audiences moods or ideasConducting public affairs and ceremoniesPoise in public appearancesA strong theatrical senseDemonstratingModelingMaking radio and TV presentationsAppearing in filmsActingMaking people laughPlaying musicSingingPublic SportsDancingConducting music
Research Skills
Creating hypothesesFormulating research designsSystematizingConducting researchExecutingAnalyzing research findings
Social Responsibility
Respect differencesDemonstrate ethical behaviorResponsible citizenship Teamwork
Initiate ideas within a teamCooperation-NegotiationResolve Conflict Technical/Scientific
Lab ScienceSoftwareSystems ManagementInternet Training/Educational Skills
Training someone to do somethingDesigning educational eventsOrganization and administration of trainingFosters stimulating learning environmentConveys tremendous enthusiasmExplaining, instructing, teachingGroup facilitatingEnabling/facilitating personal growthHelping people to develop their own insightsCounselingAbility to hear and answer questions perceptivelyAcceptance of differering opinionsAdvising/aiding people in making decisionsHaving a commitment to life-long learning
Traveling/Athletic/Outdoor Skills
Ease with travelingDrawing samples from the earthOceanic interestsPhysical coordination and agilityHorticultural skillsSkilled at general sportsFarming, ranchingWorking with animals