Employers are on the lookout for evidence of important key skills during interviews, and it’s vitally important for candidates to be aware of them.
When it comes to applying for office jobs such as receptionists, pa’s or data entry jobs, the ability to crunch numbers into and out of a computer is not enough. Organisational skills and strong communication abilities play a very large role too.
Experienced recruiters have been in the game a long time and can offer candidates advice about what a prospective employer is looking for.
Here are ten of those key skills employers will strongly favour:
1. Communication and interpersonal skills
These involve being clear and focused in the way one speaks and in how one reads and writes. Most employers want amiable staff who can build a good rapport with colleagues and customers.
2. Problem solving
If candidates can show that they can be flexible, analytical and logical when encountering everyday problems, they will almost certainly impress a prospective employer. Effective problem solving often involves good teamwork, too.
3. Organisational and project management skills
These involve an ability to plan work clearly and methodically, identify targets and meet deadlines. Being able to prioritise exactly which work tasks are most pressing also comes under this heading, as does an aptitude for effective multi-tasking.
4. Teamwork
The ability to be a collaborative and reliable team player is prized by all employers. It’s also good to be able to delegate to others graciously and take responsibility for delegated work. This skill set is all about fostering positive work relationships and overlaps with communication and interpersonal skills.
5. Leadership
Even if one isn’t applying for a management role, an aptitude for leadership, for motivating colleagues, for delegating tasks appropriately and for leading by example will be noticed and valued.
6. Working under pressure
All jobs are stressful from time to time; employers like staff who can stay calm in a crisis and who can avoid getting “stressed out” or overwhelmed.
7. Motivation and perseverance
Candidates with a dash of get-up-and-go usually appeal to employers, who appreciate the presence of personal initiative and a willingness to rise to challenges. They like people who can stick at challenging tasks and find a way through.
8. Negotiation skills
This involves being able to express a view about a potential way forward without antagonising others by disregarding or deprecating their contributions. It means listening and understanding as well as offering ideas.
9. Confidence
Never confuse this with arrogance. Self-confident people are often generous and positive about others but they’re also capable of tactfully advancing a line of argument that may on occasions go against “groupthink”.
10. Company or organisation awareness
Being clear about what makes an employer’s firm or department tick is invaluable. Demonstrating knowledge about what a company is aiming to achieve with its services or products will unfailingly impress at interview and on the job.
Image: laus.la.psu.edu
Article publié pour la première fois le 05/09/2015