CAREER HEALTH
Key Career Skills and Attributes
Employers commonly look for the following when hiring or promoting staff:
Training and education, including ‘work skills’ training- Training that teaches practical work skills and skills that are used on the job is often preferred to highly academic education.
A proven work record - Something to show that you work hard, adapt to new tasks and are motivated to work even when the boss isn't about.
Maturity- Emotional maturity, which includes self-discipline, taking responsibility for one’s actions, considering others’ needs and perspectives without feeling threatened, flexibility
Basic communication skills -To be able to talk and write clearly and concisely.
Basic maths skills
Some computer experience - Not afraid to use new technology.
IF YOU WANT A JOB -GET INSIDE THE EMPLOYERS MIND
You may be chosen over someone else for any one of the following reasons; but more likely than not, a combination of different reasons:
1. Convenience.
2. What you know.
3. What you can do.
4. Your presentation (how you appear – impressions).
5. Who you know.
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Convenience - sometimes you may be chosen for no other reason than you are present, and other people are not.
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What you know and do - you may be selected because they see you can offer something that others cannot. This might be certain skills or knowledge that you have, including the scope, depth, quality and relevance to the job on offer. And what you can do and how this can be used or developed for specific roles.
Their decision might be partly affected by your past experience, references, studies and qualifications, registrations, licences or even testing you (perhaps within an interview or a trial period of employment).
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Your presentation - first impressions are the most powerful. Although you may have been told through your child to “not judge a book by its cover”, the reality is that people will judge you on how you look. Make sure when you meet your prospective employer for the first time that you present yourself appropriately. If you send an email or make a phone call to apply for a job; it needs to impress the recipient not just as being good, but also being appropriate. If you are judged as being an ideal supervisor, but the job advertised is for a subordinate, your presentation is inappropriate, and you may not be offered the job.
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Who you know - some people get offered jobs because they are known by the boss, either professionally or personally. Sometimes it may be a reference or endorsement by a third party that secures the job. It is also quite important to develop contacts within an industry. This is perhaps not as relevant for the first time employee, but once you have worked for a couple of years’ contacts within and outside of your industry can open up all sorts of opportunities. In today’s world of social media, some employers are influenced by your connections (e.g. within Facebook or Linked in) or rankings on such things as Klout.
What other things do employers look for?
Employers look for a range of attributes and skills when choosing an employee or considering one for promotion. Consider the following along with what we have covered to date:
Experience – past experience is always viewed favourably, of course not all jobs advertised require experience that is directly related to the position. Sometimes experience from one role can be transferable to another.
Credentials - formal qualifications, licenses, industry affiliations/memberships.
Ability to communicate – people with an inability to communicate effectively (whether it is through shyness or nervousness) will often miss out on jobs – being able to communicate well is a requirement to complete many job roles successfully, so an inability to communicate during an interview may mean not gaining employment. It can also be mistaken for a lack of interest or a lack of motivation. It also means that you go unnoticed once you are in a job so your prospects of advancement are lowered!
Momentum - are you continuing to develop in life, or are you stagnant?
Motivation – motivated people come across as confident and enthusiastic about life and work; a positive outlook gets you noticed.
Enthusiasm – however there is a difference between enthusiasm and over exuberance; although you must be enthusiastic to gain employment and to advance in your career, many experienced employers know that when a person is overly enthusiastic in an interview they may not be genuine. Or they might not last the distance once employed. Quite often people that are overly enthusiastic are ‘sprinters’ not ‘long distance runners’ i.e. they may not last long as they tend to run out of puff faster. Employers look for a controlled enthusiastic approach.
Presentation – further to what was discussed earlier, how you appear, grooming, body language etc. is very important to you securing a position. You should always dress according to the interview you are attending. If you are going for a job as a gardener then a suit would be inappropriate but if you are going for a role as a bookkeeper then jeans are inappropriate. In an interview make sure you have eye contact – people that avoid eye contact are difficult to evaluate for a job. Lack of eye contact sends many negative messages to your interviewer even if it is just because you are nervous. To give your interviewer a feeling that you are confident and serious about the job you should be well groomed, maintain eye contact, don’t fidget and sit or stand up straight.
Problem solving ability – this is a skill that some people are born with and others develop over time and with experience. Problem solving skills can also be learnt through education – but you need the right education! You are less likely to develop problem solving skills from courses focussed on competency based training than those based on experiential learning that actually develop problem solving skills.
