by Precious Alex-Toji | Jan 31, 2022 | Personal Growth
Landing your dream job depends not only on your college degree and your working experience. There are top skills employers are looking for when selecting the right candidate for the job.
Irrespective of the position you are applying for, employers are always on the lookout for these skills to make sure you are fit for the position. These skills are commonly referred to as soft skills.
Soft skills are those skills and attributes that are interpersonal in nature and influence how individuals relate to one another. On the flip side, hard skills are those technical skills required to function in the workplace such as computer literacy.
When applying for a job, you must show in your resume that you have these top skills employers are looking for. A combination of these skills with your technical ability makes you irresistible to employers.
The Top Skills Employers Are Looking For
1. Communication Skills
Communication takes place in the workplace every day and it is one of the top skills employers are looking for. In a world of technological advancement, employers are looking for individuals who can communicate effectively and pass messages across, verbally and written.
Effective communication is a very rare but essential skill needed in the workplace. Having strong communication skills makes you a valuable asset to your employers.
The key to communicating effectively is keeping your message simple and clear. You have to ensure your message can be understood immediately while passing information across. Compare these two scenarios:
Text A– “Good day, Agnes, can we go out later when you are done with work?”
Text B– “Good day, Agnes, I’m going to grab dinner at the Chicken Republic when we close from work. Would you like to join me? Bill’s on me.”
If you are the receiver, both sentences tell you that you would be going out in the evening after work. However, Text A does not give you much detail. Text B on the other hand tells you where you would be going, when you would be going, and what you would be doing. This way, you have more information and can either decline or accept the offer.
Improving your communication skills helps you become more efficient and effective in the workplace.
2. Teamwork
The ability to work well with a team is a top skill employers are looking for. Every organization is made up of individuals who need to work together to achieve maximum productivity. Irrespective of the position, it is always in the best interest of the organization when its employees can collaborate on tasks. Hence, employers are always looking for individuals who can work well in teams.
Some of the characteristics of a good team player include trust, honesty, accountability, and open communication. A good team player can be trusted with a task and can deliver at due time. He/she must be accountable and honest in the workplace as this goes a long way in strengthening team bonding.
3. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
In the workplace, situations arise that require in-depth analysis, evaluation, and the need to provide a solution to the problem at hand. Hence, employers are very particular about selecting candidates with the ability to think critically and solve problems.
Critical thinking goes hand in hand with problem-solving. It involves the ability to question assumptions, observe, analyze, and derive a conclusion from data. It also involves the step-by-step analysis of a problem to provide solutions.
Problems are bound to arise in the workplace, particularly work and people related. As an employee, it is expected that you should be able to deal with problems as they arise.
The good news is, like every other skill, you can develop your ability to think critically and solve problems. Actively paying attention to how experts, your colleagues, or experienced persons handle problems in the workplace can give you a blueprint to solving work-related problems.
Engage in internships, research, or field experience to collaborate with colleagues so you can develop these skills. If you shy away from tasks, you avoid the opportunity to put your skill into practice.
4. Interpersonal Skill
Interpersonal skills are skills that influence how you interact and work well with others. Because we interact with people every day, interpersonal skill is a top skill employers are looking for.
Also referred to as “people’s skill”, interpersonal skill refers to how well you can interact and engage with people. Even when you are not in a position that requires you to come in contact with customers, you would still need to interact with colleagues and managers at work.
Interpersonal skill is necessary for building relationships and networks. It involves how effective you are in communicating, your ability to maintain decorum and courtesy as well as having good emotional intelligence.
Employers are also looking for individuals who are flexible and can adapt to any given task to meet a particular objective.
5. Leadership Skill
Have you ever met a person with the ability to administrate and manage people while also bringing out the best in them? Northpad has one of the best editorial managers I have seen.
Employers are looking for individuals who can administer the affairs of the organization effectively. Whatever position you are applying for, having leadership skills gives you an edge over candidates.
Leadership is not limited to those applying for managerial positions. Nowadays, most organizations prefer to promote individuals from within who have exhibited strong leadership qualities.
A good leader listens and pays attention to complaints in the workplace, understands the strengths and weaknesses of each employee, and provides the opportunity for optimal productivity from each employee.
6. Digital Literacy
The world today is run by technology and having a basic understanding of the usage of computers and the internet is a requirement by most employers.
Most organizations make use of computers in their daily operations. Thus, having basic knowledge of how to use a computer is top skill employers are looking for.
Some positions require that you have in-depth knowledge of advanced computer skills. Furthermore, it’s only wise to ensure that you are learned in such a field. For example, a data scientist would need to have an understanding of the use of Excel.
However, some basic computer literacy skill includes knowing how to use word processors like Ms Word or Google docs, spreadsheets such as Excel or Google sheets, the use of the internet, and social media.
7. Flexibility and Adaptability
The ability to be flexible and adapt to changes in the workplace is an essential skill needed in an employee.
Innovations are constantly introduced in the working environment and employers expect you to be able to learn and adapt to these changes.
For example, you can be a social media manager and your employer may ask you to head the communications department. Your ability to adapt quickly to these changes is a skill you can develop.
Being flexible and able to adapt quickly is a quality that sets you apart from other candidates. It shows you’re eager to learn and change when needed.
8. Professional Work Ethics
When building yourself for job applications, you should consider learning the ethics required in a professional environment as it is a top skill employers are looking for.
Work ethics refers to the manner in which you conduct yourself in the workplace. It includes traits such as honesty, decency, respect, promptness to mention a few.
Having a strong work ethic enables you to manage your time and get things done promptly and properly. It also means you conduct yourself professionally in the workplace by respecting the privacy and boundaries of your colleagues.
Conclusion
Whatever position you are applying for, these top skills employers are looking for would give you an edge during the application process. You must begin developing these skills as they are the distinguishing factor when selecting candidates for a position.
In addition, make sure you highlight these skills and how you have applied them in the workplace on your resume and cover letter. You would also want to make sure you are being honest because that’s what interviews are meant for; verifying the contents of your resume.
Is there any skill you would want to develop or put more effort into developing? Let me know in the comment section and I would show you how!
by Precious Alex-Toji | Aug 18, 2021 | Personal Growth
Writing a professionally looking CV could prove tasking. With the constantly changing requirements of employers, crafting a CV that sparks their interest is vital. Whatever format you chose to write yours, there are 10 things to put on your CV.
Your CV is your selling point. It is a short document listing who you are, your education, skills, achievement, and working experience. Considering, it’s the first contact employers have with you, these 10 things must be present in your resume.
Writing a good CV speaks a lot about you, professionally. A meticulously written CV can get you closer to an appointment. The more brilliant your CV is, the closer your chances are of reaching the interview stage.
10 Things to Put Your CV
1. Your Contact Information Should Be In Your CV
The first thing to put on a CV is your contact information. Your contact information should be included at the top of your CV. It includes your name, your job title, your phone number, and email address. Placing it at the top makes it easy for employers to identify and contact you.
Your name should be accompanied by your job title so that employers can know what you do, closely followed by your active number and your email address. Make sure your email address is a professional one without weird nicknames attached to it. For example, [email protected] is better than [email protected].
Your address can be limited to your state and the country you live in. You can also include your online portfolio, Linkedin profile, and your relevant social media handle only if you discuss matters relevant to the job you’re applying for.
2. A Profile/ Personal Statement is Needed in Your Resume
Your CV is meant to introduce you to your potential employer. Considering that they review tons of resumes, you must impress them quickly and your profile statement can help you achieve that.
Your profile statement is usually a short paragraph at the top of your CV that gives a brief overview of your career qualities, your goals, and your relevance to the organization.
It should include a statement on who you are, what you do, the skills you possess, and how suitable they are to that organization.
Remember that your profile says a lot about you. It is vital that you professionally outline your qualities to leave a good impression.
If your CV doesn’t contain one of these 10 things to put on a CV, then consider rewriting it.
3. Your Work Experience is an Important Section of Your CV
Your work experience is a required section you must include in your CV.
This section should include where you worked, starting from your most recent. It should also contain the position you held, the company’s name, the time frame of employment, and bullet points explaining your skills, your role, and what you achieved while working there. It should look something like this-
Digital Content Creator.
Techpro Institute, Abuja, Nigeria
2015-2021
•Created engaging advertising content for 10 different brands ranging from food, technology, and Business.
•Trained over 30+ content interns.
•Developed a step-by-step content course for beginners in digital content creation.
Achievements- Awarded best Tech Content Creator at the Digital Content Awards 2017 and 2020.
Detailing your work experience enables employers to know what you did where you worked. It also shows how competent and relevant you’re for the job you’re applying for.
4. Your Education Details are Another Important Part of Your CV
How detailed the education section of your CV depends on your level of experience.
If you have substantial work experience, your education section should begin with your recent degree, the name of the institution, your year of graduation. With this experience, emphasis should be more on your skills and work experience.
However, if you’re writing an entry-level CV or just starting your career, your education is an important selling point of your CV. In addition to the basic details of your education, you should include bullet points detailing your achievements, projects you worked on, relevant coursework, and assignments.
5. Your Skills Set Must Be Included in Your CV
This is one of the 10 things to put on a CV. Employers are always on the lookout for skilful persons that are fitting for the job requirements.
In this section, you should identify your core skills using bullet points and tailoring them to the job you’re applying for. Your soft skills should also be included as they speak of how resourceful you’re. Assuming you’re applying for a Content Creation post, your skills section could look like,
MS Office Suite Specialist
SEO- expert
Advanced Photography skills
Team player
You may have countless skills to your name, but remember to only list those related to the job you’re applying for.
6. Your Certifications Can Improve Your CV Outlook
Adding your certifications to your CV can boost your CV outlook.
Certifications are credentials you earn which affirm your competence and ability to handle a task. It is usually professional, stating that you’ve been tutored, tested, and certified to perform a particular role.
The benefit of certifications to your CV is that it asserts your ability to undertake a task or role. Earning certifications shows recruiters your dedication to your profession and shows your commitment to self-development.
When writing your certifications in your CV, write the official title of the certificate, the body awarding the certificate, and the date it was obtained. For example, “TechHub Technical Certification Course 2021”.
7. An Outline of Your Awards is Vital in Your Resume
A good way of improving your CV’s outlook is by including your awards.
Awards are an official recognition of your accomplishments. It could be an academic, work, or voluntary award that can be given by the company you work for, the school you attended, or a professional outfit that relates to your profession.
To include your awards in your CV, write the name of the award, the hear it was awarded, who gave the award, and the purpose of the award. For example, 2021 Storyteller Of the year for ” The Nigerian Culture”, a synopsis of Nigerian History.
8. Your Volunteering Experience is a Good Feature in Your CV
This section of your CV is essential, especially if it suits the role you’re applying for. It is very important if your CV is an entry-level CV.
It is that part of your resume where you include any volunteering work you participated in. You can create a separate section for volunteering experience or you can add it to your work experience.
To include your volunteer experience, add your role, the name of the organization, the time frame of participation, and bullet points identifying your main duties and achievements. Remember, that whatever volunteer experience you’re including, make sure you tailor it to the job you’re applying for.
9. Outlining Your Professional Network and Affiliations Is Recommended in Your CV
This is also one of the 10 things to put on a CV.
If you’re a member of any professional body, you must indicate it in your CV. It helps highlight your commitment and dedication to your profession.
Being a member of recognized bodies illustrates your professionalism in the field of your choice. Include the name of your organization and the type of membership that you have. This could be student, fellow, associate, or professional membership. For example, you may be a member of the Young Africa Leadership Initiative which you could write as “Young Africa Leaders Initiative(YALI), Member”.
10. A-List Of Your Hobbies and Interests Can Add to The Viability of Your CV
Your hobbies and interest is an optional section in your CV. It is best considered in an entry-level CV.
Identifying a hobby that is related to the job you’re applying for is highly recommended. For example, if you love travelling, you can include it in your CV if you’re applying for the post of Air Hostess.
Conclusion
Having a well-crafted CV has the potential of leaving a good impression about you to recruiters.
When writing your resume, your profile statement is key to grabbing the attention of recruiters. Highlight the headings of each section in bold so that they can be easily identified. Your profile should be followed up with a skills section to create a view of your ability.
Finally, include your work experience, education, and any relevant section that is tailored to the job you’re applying for. When next you are applying for a job, make sure these 10 things are included in your CV.
