Professor Smedley's Virtual Entrepreneurship Site

Skills Assessment

The following two-part skills assessment is from the Virtual Entrepreneurship book.

Do you know if you have what it takes to become a virtual entrepreneur? Complete the following self-assessment to see how you rank in terms of the skills that you currently possess. This assessment is based on what practicing virtual entrepreneurs view as desirable skills.

Rank how well you agree with the following statements on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 meaning strongly disagree and 5 meaning strongly agree. Once you have ranked all statements, total your score and write it where indicated at the bottom of the table. Compare your score to the ratings that appear below the table to determine your possible readiness to be a virtual entrepreneur.

Soft Skills Assessment (Part 1 of 2)	1	2	3	4	5
1. I am able to assess a problem, determine a solution, and see the solution through to its completion.
2. I believe that every problem has a solution that is waiting to be discovered.
3. I am able to prioritize my tasks to meet deadlines.
4. I have marketable skills or abilities in one or more areas.
5. I am a creative person.
6. I know how to set realistic deadlines for myself.
7. I am dedicated to getting the job done.
8. I am passionate about the things in which I believe.
9. I am able to adapt easily to new situations.
10. I have a high degree of professionalism.
11. I am proficient at the things I do.
12. I am a patient person.
13. If I do not know something or know how to do something, I will find a way to get the answers.
14. I am not afraid of being rejected by others.
15. I am able to manage my time on my own.
16. I enjoy learning new things.
17. I am able to take what seems like a large problem and break it down into smaller pieces.
18. I enjoy working alone.
19. I am able to say good things about myself to strangers.
20. I like it when people depend on me.
Your Total Score

Score = 90-100: You have excellent soft skills and should be successful at anything you set your mind to do.

Score = 80-89: You have good soft skills, but need to work on a few areas, as you already know. With time and effort, you could develop excellent soft skills.

Score = 70-79: You have fair soft skills; however, a virtual entrepreneurship is probably not a good idea for you at this time. If you want to pursue this type of venture, you have some work to do to develop your soft skills. That is not to say that it cannot be done, but it would require some work on your part.

Score = 69 or below: Your soft skills need improvement. A virtual entrepreneurship requires dedication, passion, adaptability to change, professionalism, high proficiency, patience, specialization, and time management. If you were to create a virtual business at this time, it is likely that you would struggle a great deal. However, by improving your soft skills, it might be something for you to reconsider in the future.

Complete the following self-assessment to see how you rank in terms of the technical skills that you currently possess. This assessment is based on what practicing virtual entrepreneurs view as desirable skills.

Rank how well you agree with the following statements on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 meaning little to no skills and 5 meaning highest skill level. Total your score once you have ranked all statements. Compare your technical skills rating with your soft skills rating to determine overall readiness to pursue a virtual entrepreneurship. Remember that most virtual businesses require a combination of soft skills and technical skills.

Technical Skills Assessment (Part 2 of 2)	1	2	3	4	5
1. I like working on the computer.
2. I know how to use the latest version of Microsoft Office.
3. I have good computer keyboarding skills.
4. I know how to manage files and folders on the computer.
5. I know how to save documents in different file formats.
6. I know how to search for documents on a hard disk drive or digital storage device.
7. I know how to find help when I have software or technical questions or problems.
8. I have purchased things online.
9. I know how to use Boolean operators (e.g., and, or, and not) to search for things on the Internet.
10. I know how to evaluate Web sites for usefulness and validity.
11. I can create a simple Web page.
12. I know how to use Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).
13. I am familiar with the elements of good Web page design.
14. I know how to use graphics programs.
15. I enjoy learning new computer programs.
16. I know how to use office equipment such as a fax machine, a scanner, and a photocopier.
17. I am familiar with basic accounting principles.
18. I enjoy working with numbers.
19. I know how to use proper English grammar.
20. I can communicate efficiently in at least one foreign language.
Your Total Score

Score = 90-100: You have excellent technical skills and should be ready to pursue a virtual career.

Score = 80-89: You have good technical skills, but you should seek some training in order to be more proficient in the areas in which you are lacking. With a little time and effort, you should be able to develop excellent technical skills.

Score = 70-79: You have fair technical skills. A virtual entrepreneurship is probably not a good idea for you at this time. If you want to pursue this type of venture, you have some work to do to develop your technical skills. You can obtain training by taking college-level classes in your community or online.

Score = 69 or below: Your technical skills need improvement. A successful virtual entrepreneur should know how to use the latest version of Microsoft Office, find information on the Internet, design a simple Web page, troubleshoot hardware and software issues, use graphics applications, perform basic accounting functions, and use proper English grammar. Speaking a foreign language is a plus. Fortunately, all of these skills can be learned. If you were to create a virtual business at this time, it is likely that you would struggle a great deal. However, you should reconsider creating a virtual business after you have learned these skills.

No part of the skills assessment or anything else on this site may be copied or reproduced in any format without the express written consent of Professor Smedley. For permission to copy or reproduce any of the contents on this site, please contact Professor Smedley through the Contact page.

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Skills Assessment