Many people embark on a course and then hope to find a job that matches their qualifications. However, they could enjoy more success by considering the skills employers will look for in a candidate and then gain the necessary skills to match their requirements.
If you want to enjoy career flexibility, a fantastic salary, and compete with many candidates, check out the eight skills and qualities all employers want.
- Good Verbal and Written Communication
As you will need to communicate with different people at work, employers will want to hire a candidate with good written and verbal communication skills. You will not only need the gift of the gab, but you must listen to others, negotiate well, and be able to build a rapport with your colleagues, clients, and vendors.
Impress a hiring manager by taking the time to create a well-written, error-free resume and cover letter. For example, you must avoid spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and incorrect information. Plus, you must review and redraft every email before you hit send to ensure you appear friendly, professional, and articulate.
Don’t underestimate the importance of the interview process, either. It will provide a hiring manager with a first impression of your communication skills. So, shake their hand at the start and end of an interview, look them in the eye when talking, and appear polite and friendly to prove you would be a good fit for the company.
- Leadership and Management Skills
Even if you aren’t applying for a management position at a company, an employer will want to hire a candidate who can lead and motivate others. It is for this reason why many businesses will not consider applicants who don’t have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
An online MBA program from a respected university will help you master critical business skills, improve your soft skills, and lead a team to success. Of course, the quality of the program and a university’s reputation is an important factor. A prestigious university could convince a hiring manager that you have exceptional leadership and management skills. Read these tips on what to look for in an MBA program.
- Teamwork
Employers will look to hire staff who will make individual contributions to a team’s goals. Therefore, they will look for qualified applicants who can work well with others and are team players. Impress a hiring manager by providing teamwork examples in a past job, at university, or on a work placement.
For example, you might have worked with various departments to deliver an important project, or you may have provided a helping hand when a colleague struggled with a time-sensitive task.
- Resilience
As no business is immune to mistakes, setbacks, and failures, owners will want to hire employees with great resilience. They will want to know how well you will cope under pressure or when a problem strikes. If you have been invited to an interview, think about the different ways to prove how resilient you have been throughout your career.
For example, you might have experienced issues on a project or needed to find a new job after redundancy. An employer could admire your hard work ethic, creativity, or determination, which might convince them to offer you a role at their company.
- Analytical Skills
Resilience and analytical skills are a match made in heaven. If you can calmly confront a potential problem, identify causes, and apply a solution, you could become a business asset. As obstacles are part and parcel of business, analytical skills could help you stand out from many applicants.
There are different analytical skills employers will look for in a candidate, such as:
- Critical thinking – the ability to use data and judgment when making decisions
- Creativity – spotting trends others might not find
- Research – e.g., investigating, collecting data, and reviewing the accuracy
If you can solve a company’s problems in a quick manner, you will be worth your weight in gold to an organization.
- A Positive Attitude
While your qualifications and career experience could impress an employer, a negative attitude could encourage them to hire a less qualified applicant. For a business to thrive, it needs to create a friendly, collaborative company culture.
If you display a negative attitude, reject people’s opinions, and aren’t open to new ideas, you might not fit in with many organizations. Also, a positive attitude will be viewed as a valuable quality, as it can prove you will remain calm and optimistic during a challenging or stressful situation.
- Commercial Awareness
Many graduates often struggle to secure a role initially due to a lack of commercial awareness. To convince a hiring manager to offer you a job, you must have a firm understanding of the business and how an industry works.
Most employers will test your knowledge by asking industry-related questions or what you know about their business. If you struggle with a response or provide generic answers, they will pick an applicant with better commercial awareness. Thoroughly research a brand before an interview and know an industry like the back of your hand.
- Confidence
A manager will want to have confidence in your ability when delegating various tasks. If they don’t believe you could work independently in a role, they will be less willing to offer you a position.
Many professionals struggle with self-doubt and anxiety, which can prevent them from reaching their potential. If you fear you might appear shy or unconfident, you must work on this skill to increase trust in your ability.
It is important to be aware that there is a difference between confidence and arrogance. You must learn to promote yourself without appearing boastful.
Conclusion
Employees will consider various factors when choosing a candidate for a vacancy. For example, they will consider their qualifications, education, soft skills, and attitude to determine whether they are a good fit for a role and the company culture.
If you browse different job descriptions across industries, you will likely spot a need for various transferable skills, such as a positive attitude, good communication skills, and the ability to lead a team.
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