Interests and skills

Choosing a degree is easier when you can answer two questions with some clarity: what things interest you and what things you know how to do well or could learn to do well. They are related concepts, but they do not mean the same thing. Your interests speak of the topics, activities and problems that spark your curiosity. Your skills describe abilities you use to perform certain tasks and that may have been developed through experience, education and practice.

Understanding this difference avoids two fairly common mistakes: choosing a degree only because you like something or choosing it solely because you have a facility for a certain activity. The most useful thing appears when you start combining interests, skills, preferences and the way you would like to work.

Interests and skills

They are fundamental concepts in the psychology of personal and professional development.

Here is a basic explanation of each one:

Interests

Interests are the preferences or inclinations a person has toward certain activities, topics or areas of knowledge. These are aspects that attract us and motivate us to learn more or to get involved in activities related to them. For example, a person may be interested in music, science, literature or sports. Interests are important because they are usually a source of enjoyment and personal satisfaction. When people engage in activities that interest them, they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged.

What are interests?

Interests are those activities, topics or areas of knowledge to which you direct your attention because you find them appealing, interesting or stimulating. They can relate to music, science, literature, sports, technology, animals, business, art, health or practically any other field.

However, to choose a degree it is not enough to identify a general interest. Two people can say they are interested in technology and be thinking about completely different activities. One may want to understand how computer systems work, another to work with artificial intelligence, another to design digital products and another to use technology to improve processes within a company.

Something similar happens with someone who says they like animals. They may enjoy caring for them, observing their behavior, researching species, studying diseases, or working with ecosystems. The general interest is the same, but the related degrees can be very different.

That is why it is worth going a little further and asking yourself which specific part of what interests you is the one you really enjoy.

An interest does not need to be a passion

You do not need to have felt an extraordinary calling since childhood to find a suitable degree. Many interests simply begin as curiosity.

Perhaps you look up information about a topic without anyone asking you to, enjoy certain documentaries, use part of your free time to learn something, ask questions when a specific topic comes up, or feel like trying an activity even though you do not know how to do it yet.

That curiosity can grow as you get to know a field better. The opposite can also happen: something that seemed fascinating from the outside can lose its appeal when you discover what studying it is like or what the work is really like.

Exploring is part of the process. It is hard to become deeply interested in careers whose existence you do not know about yet.

Skills

Skills, on the other hand, are the abilities or competencies a person has to perform specific tasks. These can be technical skills, such as the ability to play a musical instrument, program software, or soft skills, such as effective communication, leadership, or problem solving. Skills can be innate or can be developed and perfected through education, practice, and experience. Skills are important in the professional and personal sphere, since they allow people to perform tasks efficiently and successfully.

In the context of vocational guidance and career planning, the combination of a person's interests and skills is crucial. Aligning interests (what we like to do) with skills (what we are good at) can lead to a more satisfying and successful career choice. For example, if someone is interested in computers and also has programming skills, they are likely to feel satisfied and succeed in a career in the field of computing or software development.

What are skills?

Skills are abilities that allow you to perform certain tasks with a certain level of effectiveness. Some may appear with relative ease and others require years of practice.

Knowing how to play an instrument, program, write, work with numbers, draw or use certain tools are examples of more specific skills. There are also abilities applicable to many contexts, such as communicating clearly, organizing, leading, listening, analyzing information, negotiating, solving problems or working as a team.

Many skills go unnoticed because we use them regularly. If in group work you are the one who organizes tasks, coordinates timelines and gets the team to a deadline, you are using planning and organization abilities. If your classmates often ask you to explain a topic to them, you probably have a knack for communicating information in an understandable way.

It can also happen that you enjoy finding the source of a problem when something stops working, that you notice details others don't see, or that you have a knack for getting different people to work together. All are abilities that can acquire professional importance.

Skills can be developed

Being good at something does not necessarily mean having been born with that ability. Education, practice and experience allow you to develop skills throughout life.

You can learn to program, improve your writing, train your public speaking ability, develop leadership, work better with data or learn to organize complex projects.

A degree not only uses what you already know how to do. It also teaches you to do things you still don't master today.

Introduction to self-exploration

Discovering your interests and skills is a fundamental step in the process of self-exploration and self-discovery. Knowing your unique talents allows you to make informed decisions about your career, your hobbies and your personal goals. 

Importance of knowing your interests and skills

Knowing your interests and skills gives you the opportunity to align your activities and choices with what you are truly passionate about and what you are good at. This can lead to greater satisfaction at work, in your hobbies and in your life in general. It also allows you to make more informed decisions about your education, professional career and personal development.

Why is it important to know your interests and skills?

Getting to know yourself better lets you narrow down a huge universe of degrees and start researching options with greater purpose.

Identifying your interests helps you recognize what types of problems, activities, or environments could hold your attention. Recognizing your skills lets you understand what abilities you could leverage and which ones you would like to keep developing.

It also helps you avoid decisions built solely around external expectations. A degree can have prestige, good opportunities, or be recommended by others and still have little connection to what you want to do.

This does not mean that there is a perfect combination that guarantees satisfaction or professional success. It means that you have more information to compare alternatives and make a reasoned decision.

Benefits of identifying your unique talents

Identifying your unique talents allows you to stand out in specific areas, which can open doors in your professional career and in your personal relationships. It also gives you the opportunity to develop your skills and expand your knowledge in areas you are passionate about, which can lead to greater personal and professional fulfillment.

What happens when an interest matches a skill?

When you enjoy an activity and also have a knack for performing related tasks, it is worth researching that field in more depth.

Imagine you are interested in numbers and you are also good at analyzing information and organizing. You could explore options like Industrial Engineering, Economics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, or Data Science. Not all of them lead to the same type of job, so later you will have to compare what problems each career solves.

If you are interested in communication and have a knack for expressing yourself, explaining, or writing, Communication, Journalism, teaching, Announcing, Advertising, or other fields may come up.

The combination does not automatically determine a degree. Its purpose is to help you go from thousands of alternatives to a smaller set that makes sense to research.

Some examples that illustrate how interests and skills can combine in different contexts:

Interest in Music and Skill in Musical Performance:

Example: A person with a strong interest in music and skills in playing the piano. This combination can lead them to pursue a career as a professional pianist, music teacher, or composer.

Interest in Technology and Programming Skills:

Example: Someone passionate about technology and with skills in software coding. This person could become a software developer, systems engineer, or computer security specialist.

Interest in Sports and Athletic Skills:

Example: An individual who loves sports and has remarkable athletic skills. They can succeed as a professional athlete, sports coach, or sports physical therapist.

Interest in Art and Artistic Skills:

Example: A person with a deep interest in art and skills in painting or sculpture. This combination could lead them to become a professional artist, art curator, or fine arts educator.

Interest in Helping Others and Communication and Empathy Skills:

Example: Someone with a passion for helping others and effective communication skills and empathy. They could find satisfaction and success in degrees such as counseling, social work, psychology or nursing.

Interest in Science and Analytical Skills:

Example: A person fascinated by scientific research and with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. They could pursue a career as a laboratory scientist, researcher, or engineer.

These examples show how the combination of personal interests and skills can guide people toward degrees that are not only suitable for their abilities, but also provide them with satisfaction and motivation.