When first asked, most undergraduate majors have difficulty listing concrete skills other than language or computers.

But after reviewing specialty courses (statistics), and other course related to the major (archaeology field methods) most students realize they have many skills to offer. The following list was gathered from IUP student résumés. To begin constructing your list of skills, think about some of the following: understanding of multiculturalism, cultural patterns and problems, writing, statistical (qualitative and quantitative) analysis, nutrition, health care delivery, etc. It is important that your list does not oversell you or list skills you don't really have. Still, many students underestimate their abilities. Also, remember not to abbreviate job skills on your résumé as some employers will not recognize that particular skill. The skills below might not be congruent with yours but are meant as a stimulus for items that you might want to include:

General

Writing ability: organization, report preparation, gathering and presentation of data, APA and MLA style

Ability to synthesize (e.g., population, housing, environmental concerns)

Ability to understand and produce maps: identifying and gathering data, turning it into map form, and present it

Ability to understand and produce charts, graphs, tables

Ability to use the internet to research information

Ability to meet a variety of overlapping deadlines

Specific (taken from various IUP anthropology major's résumés)

Computer software: word processing, spreadsheet management, file and database management, basic html, Microsoft Office, Windows 95, 98, 2000XP

SPSSX statistical software

Descriptive and inferential statistics

Language skills: good reading, speaking comprehension in Spanish

Chinese: four semesters, intermediate comprehension

GIS design and analysis

Census data analysis

Graphics communications

Research skills: bibliographic skills; data identification, analysis

Presentation

Qualitative and quantitative interview/survey skills

Statistics: probability, correlations, and regression analysis

General archaeology excavation techniques

Set up units, record information (on forms and in journals)

STP (shovel test pits)

Mapping, stratigraphy, soil sampling, laying out a Grid of Units

Ability to use theodolite and statia rod (archaeology surveying)

Some anthropometrics background

Central American archeological field work experience

(the website resume.com can be valuable in helping you organize a vita or résumé and list important skills)