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The Most Important Skills that Employers Look For When Hiring

by Jun 23, 2020Job Search Tips0 comments

The Most Important Skills that Employers Look For When Hiring
There are specific skills that employers look for in their new hires that they don’t list in the job ad, but you will need to show those skills through your answers to the job interview questions and also through the questions you ask your interviewer.

Here are the essential skills that employers look for in their new hires and motivate them to choose the candidates they hire.

Soft Skills

Employers seek specific skills and qualities in all their employees, regardless of the position. These skills, such as interpersonal skills and other attributes you need to be excellent in the workplace, are called soft skills. These skills help maintain a healthy working environment, so they are also commonly referred to as professional skills.

Hard Skills

Along with soft skills, most projects also require more tangible or technical skills called hard skills. Hard skills refer to the specific knowledge and abilities you need to do the job. Hard and soft skills are both required for any job, and it’s crucial to show employers when you’re applying and interviewing for jobs that you have the right combination of skills they need.

If you want your application to be noticed, be sure to incorporate in your resume and cover letter the relevant skills you have. It’s also important to highlight the skills you have that the job requires by providing real-life examples.

Top Skills Employers Look For

Here are some of the top skills that are most important when recruiting and hiring employees, according to employers.

Analytical Skills

Analytical skills refer to an employee’s ability to face a problem, give it careful thought, and boldly apply solutions. The level of analytical skills you need depends on the job and industry you are after. Along with analytical skills, employees are also expected to possess expertise in organization, planning, and prioritizing effectively.

Communication Skills

Being an effective communicator, both verbally and in writing, is a rare and essential trait. In every job or industry, there is a high demand for people with strong communication skills. Employees need to have the ability to communicate successfully with co-workers, managers, and customers either in person, online, in writing, and/or over the phone.

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills are the skills you use to interact and engage with others, and it is also commonly referred to as people skills. Job seekers who can connect to people easily get hired quickly. Sometimes, interpersonal skills can outdo other skills that employers look for, so make sure yours are impeccable.
Your interpersonal skills will be tested during job interviews, so be sure to come prepared for an interview.

Leadership Skills

When companies are hiring for leadership roles, they look for employees who can successfully interact with employees, colleagues, and customers. But even if you’re not applying for management roles, it will give you an edge to possess leadership skills. Most companies prefer to promote from within their workforce, so they often seek strong leadership qualities even when filling up entry-level roles.

Positive Attitude

While attitude is not everything, it is incredibly valuable. Employers want employees who stay positive even in the most stressful and challenging circumstances. Positivity reflects your level of resilience. Employers want to work with employees who possess a “can do” attitude and are flexible, dedicated, and willing to go the extra mile to accomplish the job even in the face of challenges.

Teamwork

Regardless of the job, employers want to work with team players — cooperative people who can work well with others. During your job interview, be sure to share your experiences of working well on a team. Your level of teamwork shows how much you can collaborate effectively with different people.

Technical

The specific technical skills you need will depend on the job you’re applying for, but most positions require a few technical skills. This includes knowledge and experience in using industry software, completing higher-level education, or having a good background in highly-specific tasks.

More Important Skills

Nowadays, technology shapes the society we live in, so employers naturally want their employees to possess certain skills in technology when they enter the company.

If you look at job postings online, you’ll most likely notice how crucial technological skills are regardless of the job or industry. If you lack the required technological skills for your industry, you’ll benefit from learning the following skills:

More Important Skills

Social media skills: If you’re after an industry that involves communications, it’s essential to sharpen your social media skills. You should know how to use platforms and how to use them to your company’s advantage. Employers will most likely ask you to demonstrate your ability to use a particular social media channel effectively. The ability to get your message across on social media will help you become an attractive candidate.

Computer skills: Having basic computer skills is a given in almost any job. Most jobs out there now require computer literacy, like using Word, Excel, or more advanced software. If the company uses a specific kind of software, like content management systems or data entry tools, they’ll probably train you on how to use it. If you do not have a background in all the software programs required for the job, it will help to demonstrate to the employer that you can learn how to use new software quickly.

Problem-solving skills: Problem-solving skills may seem similar to analytical or interpersonal skills, but it is often considered a separate skill. You may have to confront problems that need a quick response and resolution. The ability to think on your feet and solve problems at a moment’s notice is a vital asset that every employer wants to see in their employees.

Showcase Your Skills

Showcase Your Skills

To effectively showcase your top skills during your job search, list down your best skills and qualities, and incorporate them into your resume and cover letters.

Also, try to think of your real-life experiences where you applied these skills to achieve success in an endeavor. Share these examples on your job interview so the interviewer knows how much of an asset you will be when they hire you. Don’t be embarrassed or shy about sharing your ‘non-business’ experiences, especially if it’s one that showed your best skills and character.

If you’re in the search for your dream job, Watkins & Associates is here to help you. We are an executive search firm based in Houston, Texas, providing different job opportunities in various industries. We also help companies hire the best talents. If you want to know more about our job openings, please contact us at 713.334.4342 or send us an email at [email protected].

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