6 Career Skills That Every Employee Needs

What skills do employers look for in potential employees? This was the question recently posed on an online career discussion forum. Obviously, the specific answers to that query would differ depending on the position being filled. However, there are some general skills sought by employers in all employees, whether they be a network engineer or fry cook.

Here are 6 Career Skills That Every Employee Needs :

1. Basic skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic are essential for high school graduates (and some college graduates) who wish to be employed. Many employers require their employees to be able to read well, write coherently, and calculate mathematics in a business environment (fractions, percentages, etc.). In addition to these basic skills, modern employers also often require their employees to have keyboarding skills, basic computer knowledge, and the ability to use most computerized tools (e.g., fax machines and word processing programs).
2. .Can a potential employee speak well? Can he or she answer questions of customers in a positive, informative manner? Can the prospect provide good customer service? While not everyone has an outgoing sales personality, successful employees can communicate in a non-confrontational, positive manner with their coworkers, team members, subordinates, management and customers. Being able to work well with others is a vital skill for success in all jobs.
3. Job search is a process that requires dedication and attention to be conducted successfully. It follows the old principal that many veteran programmers refer to as GIGO ‘ Garbage In, Garbage Out. If you put lousy effort in, you will receive lousy results. Employers are seeking employees who know how to present themselves in a positive manner and who display enthusiasm and knowledge about the companies they approach. Not only do candidates get evaluated on their skills and experience, but also on how they are approaching the job search. Enthusiastic candidates with fewer skills have an even chance of getting the job as dull candidates with better skills.
4. Nowadays, layoffs are a hot topic. Who gets the axe and who doesn’t is often a matter of numbers, but it is also often a matter of performance. Employees who have consistently demonstrated their worth, taken initiative, and made themselves a valuable asset to the company have lower incidences of being downsized than employees who put forth mediocre or average effort in their jobs. Surviving within a company through layoffs or moving up the career ladder is success skill that is learned and consciously cultivated among successful professionals.
5. As all high tech and engineering professionals know, it is essential to learn new skills or risk being left behind in today’s work environment. Constantly attending seminars, taking classes, and receiving training on new products or releases helps successful people stay marketable throughout their careers. Lifelong learning is something that employers value when looking for employees to fill their needs.
6. Career development is a planning and goal-setting process that differs from professional development. Professional development is learning while career development is focused on planning and setting goals. Successful individuals design a career plan with written goals for short-term and long-term success. They lay out the steps needed to move their careers forward within a specific time frame and plan how they are going to achieve those steps. Successful people have someone to whom they are accountable for their progress and who will monitor their success in achieving their goals. Employers are seeking candidates who wish to commit to the company for a long period of time, which is seen as good career progression.

 

Tips to Create an Effective Resume

Your resume is your salesperson. It will be fighting your corner on your behalf long before you get to meet a potential employer or have an interview. Therefore, it is essential that you create an effective resume. Yours will be one of hundreds, if not thousands, that employers see so make sure it really stands out and promotes your services. The exact approach depends on you and your circumstances.

If you are a school leaver or graduate with little to no work experience, your academic achievements should be the focus of your resume. Any other relevant information from your time in school or outside of school can also be included. If you have successfully completed any work experience placements, include these too and provide details of the tasks you performed.

If you have gained your experience in the workplace and lack formal qualifications, then use your employment history to your advantage. Talk about the roles you had in more detail and describe the tasks you undertook. The more advanced or trusted a particular role was, draw upon that more in your description.

A resume that includes an accomplishment section with each qualification or job section relevant to the position is highly effective. Graduation, as well as particular work-related accomplishments, can be included in this section. Even if someone else has equal skills or qualifications, using accomplishments as your main benefit will make you stand out and leave a positive impression. Along with your covering letter, your resume is the most important thing you have in securing a job.