The Gifts That You Have Been Given
This blog reflection should be posted by my trusted Virtual Assistant, Crystal, on December 24, 2025. That means tomorrow is Christmas Day. Christmas is seen as the “Season of Giving.” Many of us have been hustling around the last few weeks looking to get just the right gift for those in our life. However, there are times that the gifts we receive are not material in nature. They may come under the headings of “experiences,” “thoughts” and “considerations” shown to us by others. And, some may have been imparted on us at our birth, as those skills and talents that we are blessed to have in providing to others.
I was speaking to a professional I had met through a Career Fair conference during November at a local diner. It was obvious from her resume and Linked In background this woman is extremely talented and has been involved in helping many a person. She is at a point in her career where she is looking to move on from the type of work she is doing, and finding her next opportunity to provide for others. An item that had her flustered was she was having a difficult time in coming up with how to explain to others what she wanted to do next.
As a Career and Job Search Strategy coach, I have faced this situation with clients that I work with frequently. The client is anxious to be able to define themselves. They want to see how they are seen in the job market and want to apply right away. However, as I explained to the professional to whom I was speaking, there is nothing wrong with at the start of the search process to take a step back and evaluate what may be paths that one wants to pursue. Those steps would include, looking at past work, and identifying one’s accomplishments where they solved problems, took actions, and brought value to their employer or clients. The key thing to be identifying is “what skills and talents” they had used in addressing those problems. I continued to express how the professional should identify several stories in her career. Did it seem to show that similar skills were used in solving other issues and problems?
Once starting to get some answers to these questions, the next logical step is to identify roles and positions that need these talents and skills. Which industries seem to be made up of individuals with those skills? What job functions and types? In the beginning one might identify many industries and particular job functions. As one continued to explore, (by book research, by conversations with individuals in those disciplines, with individuals that may have taken career paths into a particular profession), one begins to identify, which possibilities they may want to pursue, and which they want to forego.
One question that I asked my colleague was, “Do you find the skills at which you excel, ones that you were good at, even before you started working? Perhaps you used those skills when you were back in school. Are they ones you use in your personal life, as family and friends come to expect you will be the one to resolve problems and issues that come up in everyday life.” My networking acquaintance smiled and agreed that I was on to something in how I was explaining to her how to evaluate what might be next for her. She indicated, she had things backwards. She felt that she had to be able to explain the role that she was seeking, when instead it was about being able to explain how the skills and talents with which we are blessed are used to help others.
Are you able to identify the skills and talents with which you have been blessed? Have you ever given thanks to God for those talents? Do you feel you are using your talents and skills to your optimal ability? If not, do you have a plan on how you may want to do so?
Be thankful as you celebrate this holiday season that you have skills and talents. Some have been with you since birth. Others you helped enhance through education classes and experiences in your life. The better you can get to know yourself, BEFORE, plunging into the job market, the better off you will be. And, also be open to the fact that you may need to use those skills in a way that you never thought of before, or as a springboard to an even later opportunity that comes into your career path.
