Top 15 Skills Employers Look For While Hiring

After finishing your study or course, the next thing that comes into the picture is getting the right job. We understand 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 skills that jobs look for that you should possess that will make you outshine the crowd and grab the attention of employers. 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 top skills employers look for into two major categories in the modern workplace.

1. Hard Skills
2. Soft Skills

While soft skills are intangible, hard skills, on the other hand, are tangible, both of which are skills that employers look for. 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. 

A. Hard Skills

In modern organisations, you must tackle and excel in your tasks. For this reason, hard skills one of the major skills employers look for 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. You can acquire more knowledge and a diverse skill set through upskilling and stand out during any standard hiring process. 

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, the employer will likely recruit you. 

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. Employers seek those well-versed in using computers and related technologies to maximise productivity in this fast-paced world. There are two types of computer skills, software and hardware skills. Here are some important machine learning engineer skills employers look for.

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 skills jobs look for that 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 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 are the top skills employers look for, which are getting increasingly important in the modern workplace as design experts make creative copies. It is also one of the top skills employers look for because it is important to grab customers’ attention towards the brand or the product. Here are some Tips and Tricks to Enhance Your Design Skills

Highlighting design skills on your resume. 

• Figma 
• Blender (3D)
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Typography
• Visual Communication
• Layout 
• Visual Composition 

6. Management Skills

Management skills are very important for every organisation as management skills keep 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 skills employers look for, ensuring you excel in your writing career. Some writing jobs are report writer, communication specialist, copywriter, and content writer. These skills jobs look for need good written communication and good grammar knowledge. Here are some tips and tricks to improve your writing skills

Highlighting writing skills on your resume. 

• Copywriting
• Presentation writing
• Story writing
• Creative writing
• Email Marketing

How to Build Your Hard Skills

Hard skills are important as they are skills employers look for when hiring candidates. Improving and working on building your hard skills makes you more employable in companies. There are three main ways you can build your hard skills:

1. Take online courses.
2. Enroll in certificate programs.
3. Learn from industry webinars.
4. Seek mentorship from experts.
5. Practice regularly.
6. Work on small projects.
7. Join skill-specific workshops.

How to Include Hard Skills In Your Resume

When you have already worked on building your hard skills and want better job opportunities, including your skills on your resume in the proper way that attracts potential employers is very important. Here are some ways to do that: 

1. Decide what skills to highlight.
2. Add the hard skills to a skills section.
3. Show your utilisation of hard skills.
4. Use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to your advantage.
5. Mention tools or software you’ve mastered.
6. Add certifications to boost credibility.
7. Highlight measurable achievements tied to hard skills.

B. 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 skills. Soft skills are learned during internships. Here are some soft skills learned during the internship. 

1. Planning and Research 

Planning and research are among the top 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 information which you will gather from various sources. Planning and research are also among the many 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. 

3. Creativity

A degree or certificate will not distinguish you from other candidates. Creativity is one of the qualities that employers look for 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 employers look for 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 that 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

A strong work ethic is another excellent skills employers looks for to emphasise when applying for jobs. 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 top 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 unique way. 

How to Build Your Soft Skills

Everyone needs a boost to improve their soft skills, which are always used, so having a one-up on your peers will help you. Good soft skills are one of the top things employers look for. Here are some ways you can improve your soft skills: 

1. Prioritise skill development.
2. Self-reflect and accept feedback.
3. Work on your writing skills.
4. Take some online courses.
5. Accept a leadership role.
6. Collaborate with diverse teams.
7. Practice active listening in conversations.

How to Include Soft Skills In Your Resume

Once you know what soft skills are and how to build on them, the next step is figuring out how to put them on your resume properly. Employers respond more to resumes with their format or skills listed in a particular way. Here is how you can do that:

1. Know what soft skills the employers want.
2. Compare your skills to the job requirements.
3. Add the skills used in the experience section.
4. Add your soft skills to the skills section.
5. Use specific examples to showcase soft skills.
6. Quantify achievements involving soft skills.
7. Tailor your resume for every job application.

These were some of the most in-demand skills, and we hope this gave you a clear idea of what job top skills employers look for in a candidate. Honing in the job or upskilling 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!