For becoming an effective psychologists, following competences are essential: 

(а) General Skills (b) Observational Skills(c) Specific Skills 

(a) General Skills: 

• General skills are essential for all professional psychologists. 

• These skills include personal as well as intellectual skills. 

• Once ensuring that a student has these skills subsequent training in his/her area of specializations to him/her intellectual and personal skill are as follows: 

Interpersonal Skills: Ability to listen and be empathic. It may be verbal or non-verbal. 

• Cognitive: 

— Ability to solve problems — Having curiosity and flexibility 

• Affective Skills: 

— Openness to ideas — Agreeableness — Honesty 

• Expressive skills: Ability to communicate in verbal and non-verbal form. 

• Reflective Skills: — Intrapersonal intelligence —Ability to examine own motives,attitude and behaviour. 

• Personal skills: 

— Personal hygiene — Time management 

(b) Observational Skills: 

Psychologists should have training in objectives and systematic observation. 

• They should have skill to observe various aspects of surrounding including people and varying events. 

• Psychologists should engage in observing people and their actions with following precautions: 

— Patience. — Optimistic curiosity.

— Respecting clients privacy. 

— Awareness of people reactions, emotions and motivation. 

— Training good questions which could be answered during observation.

(c) If the psychologist wants to work in a specialized field then professional training in specific skill development is essential. 

The main specific skills are as follows: 

(a) communication skills 

(b) Psychological testing skill  

(c) Interviewing skill 

(d) Counselling skill