04/07/2014

The Skills Employers Want

Unemployment has fallen recently, but for many, getting a job as is hard as ever; with summer approaching and young people leaving school and university, the job market will become even more competitive over the coming weeks. Good grades aren't the only way of getting a good job though; there are many skills that employers look for in prospective employees. Work experience and vocational qualifications look great on a CV, (and Twin can help you get these through one of our programmes), but also remember to list some personal skills that you very likely already have and just need to showcase. Below, you can find out about some of the most important skills employers are looking for, which could give you an advantage over other applicants; sometimes even those more qualified. At Twin, through our variety of programmes, we can help you build on these skills and teach you how best to show them off.

Interpersonal Skills

In most jobs you will be required to interact with other people. You might need to be able to engage clients, sell over the phone, negotiate deals, or just make friendly conversation with a customer. This is quite hard to communicate through a CV, but once you're at an interview, you'll be able to demonstrate your interpersonal skills. Be polite and attentive, and remember a smile can go a long way! Even if you're not dealing with customers, you are likely to work with other people, so you'll need to be able to function in a team. You could impress an employer by discussing a particular job you worked at previously where you were part of a team, or a time where you worked in a team at school, a football team for example.

Communication Skills

Communication is also a very important skill to have when looking for a job. Interpersonal skills are about working well with others and building up good relationships - however, if you are not able to communicate effectively, this can lead to misunderstandings. It's important to be able to communicate well both in writing and verbally, and know how to adapt your style to certain situations, (for example, being formal or informal). You also need to be an 'active listener'. Don't let information you hear go straight over your head, make sure you understand, (ask questions if necessary), take the information on board, and use it.

Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is about solving problems and making decisions. In any job, it's highly likely that at some point you'll face a problem. However big or small it may be, you'll need to gather information and consider options, and come to a solution about how best to deal with a problem.

Personal Development

The world is changing every day, with technology developing and customer expectations heightening, companies have to work hard not to be left behind their competition, and when they hire new staff, they want to know that the staff are going to work hard for this too. They expect potential employees to be willing to learn and strive to be the best, and be able to adapt to changing situations. Personal development also involves having the best attitude possible towards work, and controlling negative traits such as stress and anger.

IT Skills

IT plays a role in the daily life of nearly every company in the country, so it's essential to be computer literate. Many jobs will need you to know how to use emails, how to use a Word Processor, (e.g. Microsoft Word), and you may also need to know how to use spreadsheets, (e.g. Microsoft Excel). If you're on one of our programmes, Twin can help you get training to improve your IT skills.

Whether you are looking to improve your skills or need advice on how to show them to employers,Twin's programmes can help you, making you a much more competitive applicant and more likely to get that job.