Daily Career Connection

If you have lost your job, knowing which skills employers want will help you target your jobsearch and find a new job more quickly.

Many so called soft skills are lacking in the workplace and if you have these, you will find they are required in just about any industry . The more skills you have, the more flexible you will be and flexibility is the key to surviving the coming recession.

Communication Skills

These are in big demand in any career, yet employers often cite these as lacking in the workplace. This is a little surprising, since we all communicate with other people on a daily basis.

However, we communicate with different people in different ways and knowing the appropriate forms of communication in a work environment is what matters when it comes to finding a job.

Young people use abbreviations when texting or emailing each other, which is fine, but becomes a problem if they don’t know how to spell and construct sentences properly as well as understanding text-speak.

So, if you are good at spelling and have a decent grasp of basic grammar you are at an advantage in the job market. And if you can’t spell and haven’t got a clue about grammar, don’t despair – it’s not too difficult to learn. You will find everything you need is free online. All you have to do is a simple search. Or if you prefer to use a book, you’ll find plenty of resources at your local library. Fifteen to twenty minutes a day should soon get your written communication up to scratch.

Computer Skills

IT is used in just about every career and most people are computer literate these days. Young people, having grown up with computers are at an advantage here. However, whatever age you are, spending a bit of time becoming highly proficient in computer skills is well worth it. You don’t have to become an expert in everything. Choose an aspect of computing which is in demand and which you enjoy and then work at it until you become very, very good.

Research Skills

These are also in demand in many fields and if you have been a student or used the internet extensively, particularly as part of your job or a college project, you will have quite a few of this to tap into.

People Skills

This covers quite a range and includes the ability to get on with people from all walks of life and to work in a team and to take instructions from your supervisors. Interpersonal skills are gained in just about every part of life from school and college to work and social occasions. So these are truly transferable skills and even if you don’t have much work experience, you should have plenty of examples to call upon.

Being Conscientious

Paying attention to detail, working hard and showing up on time are all important qualities which an employer will want to see.

Adaptability

Being able to adapt to changing circumstances, emergencies and any of the other unpredictable events which occur in the workplace is a critical skill in the current climate.

These soft skills are all also transferable skills and so there is a strong likelihood that you will be able to draw upon many of your life experiences if you have not used them in the workplace. Be sure to highlight these skills in your CV or résumé to boost your chances of getting an interview.