In a world where jobs seem harder and harder find, we need to ask ourselves, what is it that employers are actually looking for? To be different and separate yourself from the countless others that share your qualifications, it’s important to understand what skills and traits people want in their organisations. You may be shocked, but what they are looking for is not further education, although it may be necessary to be considered for certain roles, it is not the be all and end all.
Organisations want people they can show off, with specific skills, personal traits and interests. If you want to know what employers are really looking for, you should read on.
1. Work in a team structure.
Employers now more than ever are looking for people that won’t poison their companies’ team structure. They want someone that can walk in and be a part of the team from the get go. An organisations team structure is extremely important and is necessary to the survival of any business. Teams are becoming more prevalent in recent times, with some staff members belonging to numerous teams in the same organisation.
With such a large focus being placed on team structure, companies will recruit people for their roles based on the ability of candidates to work in a team environment. If working and communicating with others is an area you struggle, take some time to sharpen your communication skills to make this a strength rather than a weakness.
2. Make Decisions and Solve Problems.
The business world is becoming more fast-paced and at times it can be brutal. Employers want people they can count on and people they don’t have to micro manage. With busy schedules, employers don’t have the time to hear out your every request, you need to be able to make decisions and solve problems.
A great way to set you apart from the hundreds of thousands of graduates each year, is to be confident and make decisions in the work place. If you can show potential employers that you can make decisions, solve problems and do it all without being shadowed, it will go a long way to helping you get a job.
3. Ability to Communicate.
Communication is probably not a shocking skill that employers are looking for, but it certainly needs to be said. As I touched on earlier, communication skill can be a make or break when it comes to securing a job. Often it can be difficult to even proceed pass the phone interview if you struggle communicating effectively.
Improving your communication skills should always be at the top of your list, especially if you’re searching for employment. The most effective way to improve your communications skills is to communicate and you can do this by getting out to networking events, being more social or even chatting to your local bank teller.
4. Plan, Organise and Prioritise.
Employers are always looking for individuals with the ability to plan, organise and prioritise their workload. With companies working hard to lower their costs, it’s only inevitable that employees have a heavier workload and the ability to plan, organise and prioritise becomes tremendously important.
Handling an influx of paper work, then finding time for phone calls and any other tasks you have is tough, and the need to prioritise is imperative success. Learning to differentiate between urgent and not so urgent task is a great skill and one you should show off. If you are struggling to find that perfect job, try adding into your resume how you successfully managed your priorities during your University life. This will be highly regarded and a skill that can set you apart.
5. Obtain and Process Information.
Unlike at University, the links and location of information is not given to you, it’s expected that you can divulge information on your own. There are so many people out there that need everything given to them and only very few that are willing to go the few extra yards to get it themselves. When you are given a task in the workplace, you won’t be told where to find information, you will be told to find information that supports the documentation. If you are able to locate important information independently and process the information effectively, you will go a long way.
People are always under the impression that it’s all about aptitude when it comes to being successful, but it really comes down to the individual and how badly they want it. Employers don’t care if you scored 85 or 65 on your last exam if you can demonstrate the skills that will help their businesses. If you work on refining your skills in all these areas, you will find that more opportunities will come your way and ultimately help you find whatever it is you are looking for.