Linda Eroke writes that employers of
labour are searching for skills that go beyond qualifications and experience
In today’s labour market, competition for new jobs has risen to an all-time high as more and more young people are unable to find jobs.
A recent survey revealed that the unemployment rate in Nigeria is growing at 16 percent per annum with the youths impacted the most, and accounted for three times the general unemployment.
In today’s labour market, competition for new jobs has risen to an all-time high as more and more young people are unable to find jobs.
A recent survey revealed that the unemployment rate in Nigeria is growing at 16 percent per annum with the youths impacted the most, and accounted for three times the general unemployment.
Given this scenario, the employment market has become so
competitive that employees must possess the necessary skills that employers are
targeting, for them to secure good jobs.
According to workplace experts, the things employers look for
are not just the classes you have taken or the grade you received; but more
importantly, employers are looking for specific skills that they value, which
can predict how well an employee will actually do on a job when hired.
In today’s fast-paced, technologically advanced workplace,
employers are not just looking for employees with work experience; they are
equally interested in job applicants with “softer skills” such as ability to
communicate effectively, willingness to wear multiple hats and ability to solve
problems.
Thus for job seekers to get employed,
they will need to exhibit a mix of ‘employability skills’ that go beyond
qualification and experience. These are what workplace experts refer to as
‘soft skills’- skills' that can be transferred between different jobs and
different employment sectors. Employability skills are those skills that are
necessary for getting, keeping and being successful in a job. Employers, they
pointed out, seek employees with variety of skills.
So, given the current unemployment situation, employers have more choices of applicants and will often favour those with well-rounded employability skills.
The good news however, is that, young people with no job experience at all, stand the chances of securing gainful employment if they possess, at least, some of the required skills.
So, given the current unemployment situation, employers have more choices of applicants and will often favour those with well-rounded employability skills.
The good news however, is that, young people with no job experience at all, stand the chances of securing gainful employment if they possess, at least, some of the required skills.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILL
One of the most important skills required to excel in any career
is strong communication skills. International Labour Organisation ‘s (ILO’s)
specialist in skills for youth employment, Laura Brewer said effective
communication skills are crucial to most careers, stressing that “employers
want people who can listen and observe to gain understanding, relate their
ideas effectively, and devise strategies for working together.”
According to the co-founder and
partner at Polachi Access Executive Search, Charley Polachi, communication is
the skill of utmost importance. "You must have communication skills that
allow you to succinctly and effectively contribute your thoughts," Polachi
said. He added that “an effective communicator leaves no room for error and can
exhibit thoughts in a direct manner."
FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY
This has to do with an employee’s ability to manage multiple priorities at any given time. According to experts, things are changing so rapidly in today’s job market that anyone who cannot change course in mid-stream is bound to be left behind.
“Chances are, your job will change substantially over the course of your career, even if you stay in the same field. Employers want people who can adapt to change quickly, juggle multiple tasks and work with a variety of people. You can show this on your résumé by noting any skills or languages that you’ve had to learn, time that you’ve spent abroad or situations when you’ve had to manage a variety of different commitments,” Brewer said.
Problem solving
Brewer noted that in order to succeed in the workplace (and life in general) you need to be able to evaluate situations, break them down, consider ways of resolving them and decide which is the most appropriate.
This, she noted, includes recognising long-term consequences and taking personal responsibility for them.
“Quantifiable results can help you demonstrate this. One example would be if you’d turned around the finances of a struggling student organisation or saved time or money by making a process more efficient,” she added.
CREATIVITY
This is the ability to solve problems through a logical thought process. Brewer believes that every employee must be innovative, intuitive and imaginative as this will make the employee a very valuable staff.
According to her, employers want recruits with fresh ideas that will help to expand their businesses.
“Here’s another skill that you can convey with a real-world example of a time you found a new way to approach something that other people hadn’t thought of,” she added.
INTERPERSONAL skills
This generally has to do with an employee's ability to get along with others while getting the job done. Interpersonal skills, experts say include everything from communication and listening skills to attitude and deportment. Good interpersonal skills, they emphasise are a prerequisite for many positions in an organisation.
“You probably already knew that employers want people who are dedicated, hard-working and reliable,” Brewer said, adding that “your job is to convince them that you have got what it takes”.
Teamwork
Many jobs require people to effectively work in teams in order to get work done efficiently. One of the things that employers look for when hiring new people is previous examples of working on teams. Teamwork, Brewer further explained, is all about being able to operate smoothly and efficiently within a group. That, she said, requires leadership and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to follow instructions and play one’s role in a group.
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
According to the Managing Director of the Workforce Consultants, Lynda Zugec, “time and time again, conscientiousness proves itself to be among the top indicators of job performance”. She advised potential employees to "make sure you pay attention to the details."
She said “spelling and grammatical errors, lost and misplaced files, or general disorganisation have the potential to make or break you."
ORGANISED
"Employees should be always adding value, and the easiest way to destroy value, so to speak, is to not have your own work organised,” founder of Skilledup.com, Nick Gidwani said.
This, he explained could mean simple ideas like naming files or folders properly, or more substantial tasks like writing high-quality meeting recaps.
According to Gidwani, in today's fast-moving business world, the worst thing an employee can be is a drain on their boss' time.
The Extra Mile “In order to gain a boss' confidence, employees must be willing to go above and beyond what is typically required of them on the job,” a senior district president for Robert Half International, Brett Good said.
According to him, employees who take on projects that fall outside their normal responsibilities can expand their skill set and explore new avenues for professional growth.
He posited: "While you may not always have the time to volunteer for an extra assignment, passing on every opportunity will prevent you from being viewed by your manager as a go-to person in the department.”
FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY
This has to do with an employee’s ability to manage multiple priorities at any given time. According to experts, things are changing so rapidly in today’s job market that anyone who cannot change course in mid-stream is bound to be left behind.
“Chances are, your job will change substantially over the course of your career, even if you stay in the same field. Employers want people who can adapt to change quickly, juggle multiple tasks and work with a variety of people. You can show this on your résumé by noting any skills or languages that you’ve had to learn, time that you’ve spent abroad or situations when you’ve had to manage a variety of different commitments,” Brewer said.
Problem solving
Brewer noted that in order to succeed in the workplace (and life in general) you need to be able to evaluate situations, break them down, consider ways of resolving them and decide which is the most appropriate.
This, she noted, includes recognising long-term consequences and taking personal responsibility for them.
“Quantifiable results can help you demonstrate this. One example would be if you’d turned around the finances of a struggling student organisation or saved time or money by making a process more efficient,” she added.
CREATIVITY
This is the ability to solve problems through a logical thought process. Brewer believes that every employee must be innovative, intuitive and imaginative as this will make the employee a very valuable staff.
According to her, employers want recruits with fresh ideas that will help to expand their businesses.
“Here’s another skill that you can convey with a real-world example of a time you found a new way to approach something that other people hadn’t thought of,” she added.
INTERPERSONAL skills
This generally has to do with an employee's ability to get along with others while getting the job done. Interpersonal skills, experts say include everything from communication and listening skills to attitude and deportment. Good interpersonal skills, they emphasise are a prerequisite for many positions in an organisation.
“You probably already knew that employers want people who are dedicated, hard-working and reliable,” Brewer said, adding that “your job is to convince them that you have got what it takes”.
Teamwork
Many jobs require people to effectively work in teams in order to get work done efficiently. One of the things that employers look for when hiring new people is previous examples of working on teams. Teamwork, Brewer further explained, is all about being able to operate smoothly and efficiently within a group. That, she said, requires leadership and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to follow instructions and play one’s role in a group.
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
According to the Managing Director of the Workforce Consultants, Lynda Zugec, “time and time again, conscientiousness proves itself to be among the top indicators of job performance”. She advised potential employees to "make sure you pay attention to the details."
She said “spelling and grammatical errors, lost and misplaced files, or general disorganisation have the potential to make or break you."
ORGANISED
"Employees should be always adding value, and the easiest way to destroy value, so to speak, is to not have your own work organised,” founder of Skilledup.com, Nick Gidwani said.
This, he explained could mean simple ideas like naming files or folders properly, or more substantial tasks like writing high-quality meeting recaps.
According to Gidwani, in today's fast-moving business world, the worst thing an employee can be is a drain on their boss' time.
The Extra Mile “In order to gain a boss' confidence, employees must be willing to go above and beyond what is typically required of them on the job,” a senior district president for Robert Half International, Brett Good said.
According to him, employees who take on projects that fall outside their normal responsibilities can expand their skill set and explore new avenues for professional growth.
He posited: "While you may not always have the time to volunteer for an extra assignment, passing on every opportunity will prevent you from being viewed by your manager as a go-to person in the department.”
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