Ten Critical Skills Employers Are Looking For, Seek Them

BY CAMI EZENWA

Ten crricial skills

Even with the best degrees from the best schools in the world, you may still pound the streets on end, without getting hired, if you do not possess some critical skills.

Or more still, you may be invited to interviews back to back, only to sit at home afterwards waiting for literal eternity without any second call.

The problem is that you do not possess the basic and critical skills employers of labour need and are looking for.

In fact, when and where they get it, they would be willing to pay more, because their own survival and success depend on its.

Do yourself therefore, a world of good by going through our listing and internalizing the points therein. And when you eventually hit it, do not forget to share with us; happy reading.

 1.         First things first

By first things first, we mean that how you present yourself before a potential employer is important. Sit at home and do an appraisal of the organisation, and the position you are appearing for. Your outlook must defer to the role you seek.

You must package yourself impeccably and appropriately going for a job hunt. There is an old saying that first impression matters, and this goes for any job seeker who desires to hit it right the first time.

That in fact is a critical skill. Some people go the length of borrowing or hiring wears if they can’t trust their wardrobe for the time. And it does make all the difference.

Long days and weeks you had left the panel, or boardroom, the grand picture of your first appearance would remain in the psyche of the panel.

It is the same, if you entered the interview room like a harassed lady.

2.         Communication Skills

This is another critical skill. When you see people sit or catwalk before a standing mirror and rehearsing when seemingly there is nothing at stake, don’t take it for a joke. It is always good to prepare for the D’day  ahead. Only very experienced people, and professionals at it, can appear at the spur of the moment and still make the mark.

Learn to drill yourself in communication. There are general questions and conversation expectations from any applicant irrespective of the post, so go master them.

Then, think up issues relating to your specialty because eventually, the questions would dovetail towards those.

Note also, that there isn’t really what you could call the ultimate answer to certain specific questions, given the dynamism in the work place from office to office, but good communication skill helps you to make the difference. you could crisscross fields

As a matter of fact, if you have all the knowledge, you would need to put this across in an impeccable and convincing manner; good communication  skills make it easy.

It is not also about knowing all the grammar, but picking words according to their relevance per time..

Poise, elocution, word level, pace are all part of the consideration. And be sure to watch the mien of the panelists. It is easier to know when to stop or fire on, if you could correctly read body language.

Note that good communication skill is not just about speaking, it has also to do with writing; it has to do with articulation, presentation.

3.         Leadership skills

Leadership is a critical skill. Many people may be qualified, but sometimes, it is difficult to find real leaders.  People who could slip into taking charge especially when there are difficulties are usually treasured. Some people seem to have that inert ability to steer others, but the dynamism of today’s world has shown that leadership could also be learned. Personal drilling long before there is any call for application, does help.

Imaging crisis and seeing yourself as the set man to solving it may help. Take time also and list work place heads who are doing well as leaders of their respective divisions; what is it that stand them out? Where did they school, which trainings have they attended? What generally are they doing that have turned decisive on their positions? Employers need leaders whether or not they are part of the day-to-day running of their enterprise.

4.         Problem solving skills

This is related to the above but not in a specific way. Problem solving skill is a critical leadership skill in the workplace. A friend attended a job interview once, carrying with him the general and old mindset and has not forgiven himself ever since. What was his sin? He expected to be asked all the questions and prepared for just answers, but the interview panel went otherwise. They asked the question:: what is that problem in our firm in our enterprise that you have discovered; what is that value you have come to add? What is our shortcoming that if hired, you would tackle?  He blabbed all through and never got a change for a second question. 

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Sometimes, it is not about preparing to blend into roles that have been defined already, ability to see, and have the answer to problems make the difference.

-To be continued