After finishing your study or course, the next thing that comes into the picture is getting the right job. We understand the fact that it is not easy to get your dream job, which is why we are here to help you out with it. Before stepping into the corporate world, there are certain employee skills that you should possess that will make you outshine the crowd and grab the attention of employers. The employment world is becoming more dynamic, and employers pay attention not only to hard skills but also to soft skills. The employees must keep pace with the employer's needs and upskill themselves. We believe that knowledge is contagious, and we would like to pass the ingenuity so that you keep tabs on the organisation you are entering.
This guide divides job skills employers look for into two major categories in the modern workplace.
A. Hard Skills
B. Soft Skills
While soft skills are intangible, hard skills, on other hand, are tangible skills. Hard skills are the technical skills or the skills you can acquire through training and courses and show on your certificate. Soft skills are non-technical skills and more of one’s personality traits. Hard skills come into the picture when you need to perform a task at the workplace, and soft skills will help you be functional and have an ideal workflow.
Hard Skills
In modern organisations, you must tackle and excel in your tasks. For this reason, hard skills are important and cannot be overlooked. The hard skills are for some technical tasks which need specific subject expertise. For example, C++ is used for developing browsers and operating systems.
1. Analytical Skills
Analytical skills refer to the employee's skills in analysing the data and resolving any technical malfunction related to the data. If you opt for a technical job and possess analytical skills, you are highly likely to be recruited by the employer.
Highlighting technical skills on your resume:
- Database management
- Research
- Data mining
- Reporting
- Theorising
- Resolving technical malfunction
2. Computer Skills
Computer skills refer to the candidate's ability to use a computer and computer-related technologies. In this fast-paced world, employers are looking for ones who are well versed in using computers and related technologies to maximise productivity. There are two types of computer skills, software skills and hardware skills.
Highlighting basic computer skills on the resume
- MS Office
- Presentations
- Database Management
- Advanced Excel
Highlighting hardware computer skills on the resume
- Cloud computing
- Technical support
- System Maintenance
- Server Maintenance
- IT Support
3. Marketing Skills
Marketing skills include knowledge of customer research, advertising, digital skills (technical), and sales. Marketing skills are employee skills which focus on communicating with the audience. This will be done by targeting the audience using effective marketing tools.
Highlighting marketing skills on your resume
- Funnel Management
- UX Design
- Google Ads
- Email marketing
- Social media advertising
- SEO: SEMRush, Majestic, Power Suite.
4. Project Management Skills
When you need to manage a particular project, project management skills come into the picture. Time and budget are crucial factors in project management job skills. Project management skills require managerial expertise.
Highlighting project management skills on your resume
- Scrum Management
- Business Forecasting
- Performance management
- Budgeting
- Project Lifecycle management
5. Design Skills
Design skills are the job skills used to develop and create creative copies for products, and new applications, including artistic skills. Design skills is an employee skill which is getting increasingly important in the modern workplace as the creative copies made by design experts. It is also one of the skills employers look for because it is important to grab customers’ attention towards the brand or the product.
Highlighting design skills on your resume.
- Figma
- Blender (3D)
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Typography
- Visual Communication
- Layout
- Visual Composition
6. Management skills
Management skill is very important for every organisation as management skill keeps the business going systematically. Sound management will result in a positive impact on the organisation and the business.
Highlighting management skills on your resume.
- Finance
- Logistics
- Budgeting
- Business development
- Planning
- Negotiating
7. Writing Skills
A good grasp of writing skills is one of the important employee skills for writers, ensuring you excel in your writing career. Some writing jobs are report writer, communication specialist, copywriter, and content writer. Employee skills needed for writing are good written communication and good grammar knowledge.
Highlighting writing skills on your resume.
- Copywriting
- Presentation writing
- Story writing
- Creative writing
- Email Marketing
Soft Skills
Soft skills are the characteristics or character traits of a person. It is the interpersonal employee skills and a person’s ability to maintain flow with others. Soft skills or interpersonal employee skills are also important, along with subject matter expertise or hard skill.
1. Planning and Research
Planning and research are among the crucial skills employers look for. To accomplish the tasks, there needs to be a proper plan. For making a set plan, there also needs to be informed, which you will gather from various sources. There goes research behind planning. Planning and Research are also among the many employee skills employers look for.
2. Time management
The organisational processes are dynamic, and if you want to keep up with the business, you must manage time and other employee skills. You should be able to manage your time effectively. Time management will help you to meet your deadlines and be more productive at work. You will also be able to develop better work in a given period of time.
3. Creativity
A degree or certificate will not distinguish you from other candidates. Creativity is one of the most overlooked employee skills among the candidates. You must emphasise what you can bring to the table to gain an advantage over other employees. Creativity is a highly valued skill because it gives you a unique perspective and approach to problems, enables you to create new products, and addresses trends.
4. Teamwork and Collaborative Skills
An organisation is run by many employees who work together to complete their tasks and deliverables. Employees must collaborate with their colleagues to achieve their goals, regardless of their designation or job role. Do you work well with others? Then don't forget to mention it because teamwork is one of the top skills employers look for in a resume.
5. Communication
Working in an organisation is a team effort. And communication is essential in any teamwork. You will need to communicate with clients, understand their needs, articulate them to your colleagues, communicate at every step, hand over the final product to the client, explain the deliverables, and so on. As a result, communication is critical, and a lack of it can undermine your other abilities.
6. Strong work ethic
Another excellent skill to emphasise when applying for jobs is a strong work ethic. Employers want employees they can rely on to do their jobs and meet deadlines without micromanaging. A strong work ethic ensures you can complete your tasks and manage your time effectively, even if no one is constantly monitoring your progress.
7. Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is the most important skill in predicting success. However, mid-career professionals looking for a change may be dissatisfied and disengaged. Reconnecting with someone they haven't spoken with in a while, learning something new online, even if it's just some new vocabulary or taking a quick trip to a new location, even if it's just locally, are all ways to remind yourself of your positive past and gain enthusiasm for what's ahead.
8. Authenticity
Authenticity is also among the skills employers look for. Authenticity is a skill defined by one’s personality, spirit and values. It is also an important employee skill because it lets the employee by himself and carry the task in his own unique way.
These were some of the most in-demand skills, and we hope this gave you a clear idea of what job skills employers look for in a candidate. Honing in the job or employee skills will make you stand out in the employer's eyes and help you greatly in your career growth. We wish you lots of success. Happy job hunting!