The world of work is changing at an amazing pace – and today’s employers are seeking employees who can change with it. When they assess job candidates, they look for those who can do the job today, with an eye toward what they also could contribute in the future.
Your success depends on a healthy blend of hard and soft skills. Incorporate both into every aspect of your job search – from your resume and cover letter to the dialogue you have during your interviews.
Among the most valuable job skills you can cultivate are:
Problem Solving
Employers want to know you can troubleshoot, think on your feet, assess problems early on, and then take sensible, decisive action to solve them.
- Cite specific examples from your past work history. If you’re just launching your career, consider times during course projects, internships or volunteer roles where you proved your strength as an effective problem solver.
Data Analysis
It’s a data-driven world – every day and in every industry. But numbers alone are useless. As a job candidate, you need to show you can interpret them in a way that addresses a prospective employer’s business needs and pain points.
- Offer some experience with data analytics and computational thinking. If necessary, take an online course in programming, coding or machine learning.
Social Media Literacy
Knowing how to get your message across on social media makes you a stronger candidate. Job seekers with strong online brands using content marketing have a clear advantage over their competition.
- During your interview, describe how you have successfully used social media. This includes sharing relevant content, interacting with influencers, and contributing to meaningful online conversations.
Creativity
Employers are always looking for people who can come up with fresh ways to approach their work. Show your creative mindset by describing innovative ways you’ve tackled projects and assignments.
- Use numbers and other details. Did you streamline an operating process, land new clients or cut departmental costs? If so, what new steps and calculated risks did you take? How much faster is that process as a result? How many clients and in what period of time? What dollar savings did you achieve?
Resiliency
Resiliency is a highly valued skill, as it indicates you can bounce back from failures, thrive in tough situations and learn from mistakes. When you show resiliency, you often also show humility – another key skill.
- While it’s similar to problem solving, resiliency is more focused on your ability to recover from setbacks and find ways to make the best of rocky situations.
Understanding of Business Principles
As more and more companies simplify their organizational structures – breaking down walls between departments and between executives and rank-and-file employees – it’s important to understand how an entire company operates.
- Do your homework. Learn as much as you can about every aspect of a company that interests you.
As you develop your job skills and take your career to the next level, work with the expert recruiters at PrideStaff Modesto. Don’t just search. Succeed. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.