What Am I Good At?

It’s normal to feel unsure about your greatest strengths and how you might want to utilize them in the future. Luckily, with a little introspection, you can easily figure out which skills and passions are most important to you! Try asking yourself the following questions and carefully considering your answer to each. You could even write your answers down on paper or in a journal if it helps you think more clearly!

What hard and soft skills do you have? Now it’s time to consider all of your skills. Don’t be picky or too hard on yourself here; write down a list of absolutely every skill you have, whether you consider yourself an expert at it or just “okay.” Include hard skills (skills based on technical knowledge) and soft skills (personal skills and habits that help you get along with others), and make the list as long as possible!

Hard skills include things like:

• Proficiency in a foreign language
• Musical ability
• Drawing skills
• Programming expertise
• Writing or editing skills
• Event planning skills
  
  

Soft skills include qualities like:

• Punctuality
• Teamwork
• Patience
• Conflict resolution skills
• Strong work ethic
• Open-mindedness
  
  

What are your hobbies?
Make a list of all your hobbies, even the ones that don’t feel very important or associated with any valuable skills. For example, you might think, “Playing video games as a hobby isn’t going to help me with a career, so why consider it?” The truth is, almost anything can be turned into a career! For example, you could become a game designer and make video games yourself, write about games, create guides and advice for other players, or stream your gameplay online.

So, write down every hobby you can think of—because chances are, you’re pretty good at your hobbies!

What’s one thing you do purely because you enjoy it?
You have a list of your hobbies—now, figure out which one is your absolute favorite! After all, you’re probably very good at doing whichever activity you love the most. It’s okay if it doesn’t feel like this activity is a “practical” skill—it’s your passion, and that’s enough. This could be absolutely anything, from writing poems or skiing to making experimental pizzas with unusual toppings.

What makes you feel truly excited?
Most people have at least one hobby or activity that makes them feel truly excited—so consider what that might be for you. When you know what excites you, you’ll also likely have a good idea of your greatest passions in life (and, by extension, what you’re good at).

What is one thing you spend money on?
When you’re willing to invest money in something without expecting any return on that investment, it probably means you’re pretty passionate about it! So, consider which activity you choose to invest money in—from buying tons of baking supplies to help you make elaborate cakes to buying books and miniatures to fuel your tabletop RPG obsession.

Do you do any activities in secret because you fear judgment?
It’s a completely normal thing to fear other people's judgment. That’s why many people have the tendency to hide or downplay the things that matter most to them—they don’t want their greatest passion to be spoiled by the judgment of others. For example, you might enjoy playing the guitar but be nervous about doing it in front of anybody else. It's likely that any hidden interests you have are also things you're really good at.

Do any current career trends fit your skillset and passions?
Take a look at all your answers so far and the most important skills you’ve identified for yourself. Do any of those skills match a possible career path for you, ideally one with plenty of opportunities and potential for growth right now? For example, if you really love playing around with the design and formatting of your blog on Tumblr, you might enjoy a career in web design—or, if you like using your computer, you might be interested in computer programming as a career.

Who could benefit from your skills?
This question isn’t about molding yourself to fit someone else’s expectations; rather, it’s about asking yourself if there’s an audience or customer base for what you want to do and who those people might be. For example, if you decided to start writing a blog, what kind of topics would you write about, and what kind of audience would be interested in the kind of content you plan to write?

As you look at all the answers you’ve jotted down, consider how you might use one (or several) of the skills you’re good at to make a living or establish career goals for the future!