When seeking potential candidates to fill a position at work, most employers are willing to go to great lengths to ensure they get the right candidate. This could mean investing in a human resource department that screens potential employees or enlisting the services of a recruitment agency. Therefore, potential employees need to understand what employers are looking for and align themselves accordingly.
What do employers look for in a potential employee? The answer is employability skills. These are essentially the qualities and attitudes that are needed to succeed at work. That said, this article shares a list of employability skills that employers look for.
Communication Skills
The ability to communicate effectively is usually a top consideration for any employer. Most employers want an employee who can communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Considering that communication is two-way traffic, any employer wants an employee who can do the following:
- Expresses themselves clearly
- Listen effectively
- Act upon instructions
- Give and receive constructive feedback
Problem Solving Skills
Problems are a norm in any working environment. Therefore, any employer takes a keen eye on a potential employee’s ability to handle difficult situations and solve problems. You have to be good at solving problems to succeed in any career. One of the best things you can do is to work on your critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence. To solve any problem at work, you should be in a position to do the following:
- Plan activities
- Adapt to changing situations
- Manage your time
- Set priorities
- Stay calm under pressure
Negotiation Skills
Your ability to empathize and cut through problems with tact is essential in any working environment. Negotiation skills are needed in almost every workplace situation, whether you are just having a simple conversation or pitching an idea to a potential customer. To be a good negotiator, you should be able to do the following:
- Make compromises
- Influence and convince others
- Listen and communicate with clarity
Success in any career is anchored on your ability to demonstrate employability skills. Of course, you also need to meet the basic qualifications. Other important traits that you should have include discipline, a positive attitude, time consciousness, and grooming. If you find that you fall short in any area, there is always room to work on yourself. You might consider listening to online videos, enrolling in a mentoring class, and continuously working on yourself.…