Interests, Abilities/ Skills

     There are many reasons why people choose one job over another. As you get near the end of your school years, it becomes important to begin to think about your future job. Young men and women must begin to think about what they would like to do and what they are able to do. Looking at your interests, skills and abilities will help you make these decisions.
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     An interest is what one likes to do. It is a feeling of wanting to do or share something. People might enjoy music, but they may not be able to play a musical instrument. We say they have an interest in music. A young person might like football, but does not play on a professional team. This is an interest.
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     A skill is the ability to do a job on your own. It is the ability to do it well. Skill is the ability that is gained by practice and knowledge. The amount of skill that a person can develop depends upon the aptitude or the ability to develop the skill.    An aptitude is a natural talent or ability that a person has. Aptitude determines how easily or difficult it will be for you to develop a skill. It may also depend on the person's interest in the job. Without an interest in the job, one may never practice or train long enough to develop the skill. Carpentry is a skill. It is developed in people who have ability to do the work after months of training and practice.
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     A worker doing a simple job on an assembly line in a factory, may not need the same skills that the carpenter needs. The factory job may require less time to learn, but it may also pays less.
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     It is important to understand your interests and skills before looking for employment. Sometimes the only way to develop a skill is to find a job and work your way up to the goal you have set for yourself. For example, you may wish to become a carpenter working for a building firm. You might start out on the job carrying lumber for other carpenters. After awhile, by moving up the ladder from one job to another, you become a carpenter. This is know as on-the-job training.
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     A person might also develop a skill by attending a class or school. A person might develop a skill in auto mechanics by attending a vocational or technical school. Some employers and the military service may also provide training to develop skills.