• Gain Marketable Skills Checklist

 Occupation Research

Review occupation descriptions and skills associated with occupations you are interested in.

• Career Assessments will help you identify your current skill set(s) and find jobs that match them.
• Occupational Mobility Explorer – This tool helps people identify how current skills can transfer into another field which is similar but higher paying.
• Occupation Research webpage 
• Job Posting Research – Review the qualifications employers included in job postings on:
  • HandshakeGCC
  • Other job search engines

MassCIS is free for all Massachusetts residents and highly recommended for:

• Career Assessments
• Occupation Research
• Education Research

If you are not a GCC student, use the “Massachusetts Resident” tab to log in.

If you are a GCC student, use these initial login credentials the first time you access the MassCIS site.

Username: greenfieldcommc
Password: greenfieldcommc

Take 3 minutes to set up your own MassCIS ‘My Portfolio’ account, so you will be able to save useful information.

• HOW: Go to the “My Portfolio” tab and fill in the short form.
• When prompted, click “yes,” so GCC will be better able to support you, as well as other students, in the future.
• Save assessment results, occupation profiles, and education information, so you will be able to find this information in the “My Portfolio” tab in the “Favorites” section.

MassCIS login

Create a MassCIS account

• Gain Marketable Skills Checklist
• The Competencies Employers Want
• Skills Set Definition and Examples
• Robot-Proof/Humanics Skills
• Resilience Skills
• Hybrid Skills Needed Most
• Business Intelligence Skills
• Social Media Skills
• Microsoft Office Skills
• Top Computer Coding Skills
• Hard Skills
• Soft/Employability Skills
• Transferable Skills

Soft / Employability Skills

Soft skills are a skill set, which employers value tremendously and that employees need to develop, in order to get hired, meet basic workplace expectations, and succeed in the world of work.  Some people refer to them as soft skills, but they can also be referred to as foundational skills, employability skills, and essential skills.

Hard / Technical Skills

• The Top Hard Skills Employers Seek

Career assessments will help you identify your current skill set(s) and find jobs that match them.

However, don’t limit yourself to the jobs you are currently ready for – if they do not represent your end goal. Instead, look for jobs that you could get now, which would help you gain the skills and experience needed to qualify for more aspirational jobs later. Having relevant skills and experience opens the path to more satisfying and supportive job opportunities.

Taking assessments and reflecting on what you have done likely helped you become aware of skills you haven’t documented before. Whenever we remember or gain a skill, taking a moment to write it down is a great way to do your future self a favor.

Handshake

Make your GCC Handshake Student Profile even stronger by listing all of your skills and keeping this section of your profile up to date.  The more skills you list, the better your chances are of showing up in an employer search. Log in to Handshake with your GCC username and password.

Resumes

Continually update your resume (and attach it to your Handshake Student Profile) to help the world see what you currently have to offer. In the future, you will be very glad to have these details on file – especially when you are applying for jobs or a college/university.

Linkedin

LinkedIn is the most widely used social media platform for professional networking, exploring career options, and staying at the cutting edge of your profession. Develop your Linkedin profile and start networking your way to opportunities!

• Career Planning – Tips and graphic organizers
• Reality Checking – Do current qualifications and financial/life-style goals match career aspirations?
• Occupational Research – What do occupations involve and which is the best fit for you?
• Labor Market Information Research (LMI) – How can work-related data and analysis inform career choices?
• Experiential Research – What hands-on and real-world experiences will reveal which jobs are the best “fit”?
• Education Research – What education options will inform and help you achieve your career/life goals?