Getting a job takes more than just what’s on your resume. The way you present yourself is what will make you stand out and become extremely hirable. Regardless of what field you work in, there are key hirable skills that are in high demand. Mastering these three soft skills can set you up for success no matter where your career takes you.
Communication, Communication, Communication
Everyone is a communicator, but good communicators are hard to come by. Communication is not only an important skill for any job but it is also important in life. Effective communication helps people to express their needs and understand the world around them. So, what is effective communication? Effective communication is the ability to have a conversation with others that is engaged, focused, consistent, and offers value.
Why does being a good communicator matter in the workplace?
Employers search for professionals that can effectively communicate with co-workers, leadership, and clients. Effective communication can transform productivity and build stronger relationships with your peers. Communication has many benefits such as fewer misunderstandings, more motivation from team members, and better collaboration.
Here are some tips to develop stronger communication:
- Think things through: Before you say something always take a step back. Make sure you know what is important to say and what you are trying to accomplish.
- Keep things simple: Be clear and concise. The simpler you make your conversation the less room for misunderstanding.
- Be prepared: Know what you are going to say and how you are going to say it.
- Build your emotional intelligence: Check out these 4 tips for growing your emotional intelligence.
Teamwork
The ability to work well on a team is crucial. It creates a more collaborative and productive workplace. Employers look for candidates who work well with others and want to reach a common goal rather than just achieve things for themselves. They want their workplace to run smoothly, therefore having a team that can work well together helps accomplish that goal.
What teamwork skills are important?
In a team setting, it is important to possess a diverse range of skills. Having a diverse set of skills can help a team work together efficiently and effectively. In fact, having a variety of skills allows each team member to contribute to the team in different ways, ultimately leading to more successful outcomes. Some important skills to possess are:
- Accountability
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Conflict Resolution
- Flexibility
- Listening
- Problem-Solving
- Respectfulness
- Supportiveness
How to become a better team player
There are many ways you can start to improve your teamwork skills:
- Actively Listen: Listen and thoughtfully respond to what the speaker is saying. Try rephrasing and repeating what was said to you, showing that you heard and understand what was said.
- Celebrate the successes of others: If a team member succeeds, make sure to recognize and celebrate it. Also, show interest in their personal lives and take the time to celebrate personal milestones.
- Be a problem-solver: If there is a problem, take action to solve it by brainstorming solutions and asking for team feedback.
- Communicate: You should be in constant communication with your team. Therefore, you ensure that you’re all working towards the same goal. Check in on each other’s progress.
Problem-Solving
We already said that teamwork involves problem-solving skills, but what does that mean? Problem-solving skills demonstrate that you have the ability to handle difficult or complex situations. Employers want employees that can act quickly when situations arise and think creatively. Furthermore, they are not afraid of the unknown, which is invaluable to employers who lean on employees to find and solve problems.
How to show your problem-solving skills
What is the STAR method? This is an interviewing method that helps you explain a situation where you problem-solved effectively.
- Situation: Start by explaining what the situation was.
- Task: What was the task at hand. What was the goal?
- Action: What steps were taken to achieve that goal?
- Result: What were the results of your actions?
This is also a great tool to use when you need to solve a problem. Ask yourself those questions when a problem or conflict arises.
Building your problem-solving skills
Whether you’re a natural problem-solver or need to learn, there are a couple ways you can improve these skills:
- Brainstorm solutions with a team: Collaborating with others to gain insights on an issue provides a valuable opportunity to perceive alternative perspectives that might be challenging to discern in isolation.
- Visualize the problem: Expressing the situation through writing or drawing can facilitate a quicker and clearer understanding, enabling more efficient problem-solving.
How to build these hirable skills
In order to develop these skills and continue to work on them, you need to be intentional. Set goals for yourself aimed to be a better communicator, teammate, and problem-solver. Surround yourself with people who encourage you and want you to succeed. Lastly, when you are in the hiring process, seek out jobs that will help you grow and develop these skills further.
This blog was originally published on 07/01/2019. It has been updated to reflect current information.