[原创]我之所以能够成为优秀咨询师的典型技能（英文）

什么是技能skill？Skill可以被简单理解成是能够做好一件事情的能力，而区别于ability之处在于技能skill通常需要经过一些锻炼与重复。技能通常可以被区分为硬技能与软技能，硬技能hard skill也就是通常所指的与工作内容相关的能力，这些与工作内容相关能力一般来自于学习与培训；软技能soft skill也通常被理解为是一个人的特质，也就是我们从小习得并经过反复锻炼所所养成习惯，比如，口才，解决问题，组织协调能力，分析能力，空间想象能力等等。成为优秀的职业咨询师的确需要具备类似职业知识，咨询技巧，心理测评这些与职业相关的技能，但是，这些硬技能充其量也就是必要条件，而真正重要的，确是如何发展并有效实施软技能。在本文中，我概述了我之所以能够成为优秀咨询师的典型技能，并基于美国国家职业数据库O*net有关skill描述的相关资料进行了自我分析，希望能够给予从事职业辅导的咨询师以一个简单审视自我的框架。

 

            Knowdell (2008) argued that “a skill means an ability to perform in a competent manner, to be proficient in some activity” (p. 2). Personal skill set can normally be categorized into hard skill set and soft skill set. Hard skills are also known as work-related skills that are generally acquired through formal education or training, while soft skills are individual’s personality traits or a natural way of working, living, relating and socializing. I would like to underline the importance of soft skills because they are constant factors I can rely on to enter, redirect, or change careers (Knowdell, 2008). Of all the soft skills that I can find in the O*Net data base, I rate Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening, System Analysis, and Persuasion my top five skills which can help me to be an effective career counselor.

            Active Listening. Active listening refers to “giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times” (O*Net, n.d.). As an introvert and thinking type of person, I naturally adopt a passive way of delivering career counseling services to clients. I believe, in career counseling, active listening and asking proper questions are more important than giving advices or teaching clichés. Career counseling is meant to inspire and encourage clients to actively engage in their own career exploration, and by listening to clients’ narrative and asking probing questions, I can help clients to search their life pattern, learn from their failures and successes, understand their decision-making model, grasp the problem-solving method gradually, and be their own career development agent.

            Complex Problem Solving. Complex problem solving refers to “identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions” (O*Net, n.d.). During my early career years, I had been working as a project manager and a management consultant for years, and one thing I learned from this period is don’t re-invent new wheels. I naturally tend to think and solve problems in a systematic and organized way, and this personality trait was reinforced through training and practices. I love to solve problems and new challenges because I believe there ought to be models or methodologies that I can _counton. I also regard career counseling as a problem solving process, where life patterns could be identified; dysfunctional thoughts could be remedied; decision-making process could be mapped; and successes could be replicated.

            Active Learning. Active learning refers to “understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making” (O*Net, n.d.). Career counseling is an evolving field of study that needs constant _updateof the knowledge and professional skills. Continuous learning is one of my life themes, and I feel I am embedded with the born talent to quickly learn new things and put them into practice. I was majored in engineering and worked as an engineer for years before I started my career in counseling. The field of study is totally different, however, I was self motivated to apply for graduate study in general counseling and various accreditation courses. Most important of all, the practical side of my personality encourages me to put what I learned to real practices to test the application and market response. For example, I designed career planning models for high school students, college students and employees respectively, and I created corresponding booklets to support the implementation. I constantly collect feedback from students and consultants who use my booklets, which drives me again to learn new things and keep my work most up-to-date.

            Systems Analysis. System analysis refers to “determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes” (O*Net, n.d.). This skill is very much related with the problem solving skill in that analyzing the system is a pre-requisite of solving a complex problem. I admire logic and cause-effect methodology. I see every career counseling case a unique system for me to analyze and pinpoint. Nowadays, clients’ career related challenges are more and more involved with family issues, workplace tension, psychological state, cognition processing and so forth, which requires career counselors to be able to understand the inter-relationships and identify the root problem so that the challenges could be dealt with correctly. I tend to listen and think carefully instead of diving into the details; and I want to see the big pictures instead of wondering around the bushes. This unique skill helps me deal with any case holistically instead of scratching an itch from outside client's boot.

            Persuasion. Persuasion refers to “persuading others to change their minds or behavior” (O*Net, n.d.). Persuasion is seen as a key skill a career counselor should possess in order to be effective and successful. I see that persuasion is manifested in two types of forms: some counselors can influence the clients through active verbal persuasions mainly in one direction from counselor to client; however, some counselors can influence the clients through question and answer sessions so that clients get to the solution by themselves and thus are persuaded to make a sound decision or change their mind or behavior, and I belong to the latter. My persuasion skill directs me to adopt a soft skill in interacting with my clients. I ask probing questions, and challenge clients irrational thoughts or beliefs. I help clients to map their own success stories so that they could be aware of the factors that contribute to their successes, and therefore, be firm and passionate to pursue new challenges. I believe that the clients’ representation of persuasion is not yes but I will.

 

References
 

Knowdell, R. L. (2008). Motivated skills: Card sort career planning kit. Unpublished manuscript.

O*NET OnLine. (n.d.). Browse by O*NET Data. Retrieved February 3, 2012, from http://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/Skills/

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