Employability skills OR employability in a work profile and a sector is defined by the ability of theoretical understanding and empirical validation of the knowledge; utilization of cognitive skills and domain expertise in order to be capable of getting and keeping fulfilling work.
Employers want some general skills apart from job-specific skills; these skills are called soft skills or employability skills. These work skills fit into any workplace and these are often called as soft skills.
Employability skills or job skills allow you to work well with others; help you to apply problem-solving methodologies; enable you to use effective communication, and let you apply creativity or innovation in your workplace.
While applying for any kind of job profile, you can add these skills to your resume, and you can describe these skills using the keyword in your work history.
You can also add these skills to your cover letter while applying for any job and finally, you can use these skills during your interviews, make sure that you demonstrate these skills whenever necessary.
Read below the list of employability skills, here you will find how to improve these skills and you can also put these skills on your resume while applying for a new job.
Communication
Writing, speaking, listening, reading and observation of body-language are some of the communication skills you must have.
Being an effective communicator doesn’t mean you should have only good oratory skills or writing skills; you need to be a good listener and you need the enormous practice of listening; you also need to master the art of non-verbal communication.
Communication skills are the foundation of convincing skills, where a job applicant has to convince the employers, customers or co-workers; also you have to convince the interviewer to get that job.
And to convince effectively, you need to listen and understand the need, interest or concern of the people you want to convince.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is none other than the reflection of effective cognitive development, where you should have the ability to understand, analyze, interpret, perceive, and apply the information to solve real-world problems.
To be a good critical thinker, you should develop your rational thinking, judgmental capacity, problem-solving skills and analytical skills.
Knowledge workers require critical thinking in all types of jobs, employment means you have to solve problems of the people or organization you serve; and critical thinking is the foundation of all problem-solving skills.
Planning & Organization
Planning and organization skills are a set of skills that include time management, self-management, defining priorities, analyzing performance and setting goals.
You need these skills to manage your goals, managing your subordinates and managing the task you have been provided.
Employers look for these skills for any kind of job profile starting from a clerk to top-level management.
Collaboration
Collaboration or teamwork is the action behind any organizational performance, outcome, and business.
Most of the employees or self-employed people have to work within a team, even the job profile doesn’t involve teamwork. You need to collaborate with colleague or subordinates for knowledge sharing, goal setting and working SMART to achieve organizational goals.
Some of the collaboration skills are listening, negotiation, taking responsibilities, motivating others and expressing empathy.
Ethical
Ethics is based on trust, principles, honesty, and integrity; all employers want the employees to understand organizational principles & rules, and want you to follow the organizational ethics.
Most of the companies often ask the employees to sign on Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) as a part of keeping intellectual property (IP) and company’s internal policy secure and safe.
Digital Awareness
Due to increasing demand for digital equipment in office automation; employers look for employees having proficiency in Microsoft word, excel, power point, and other related internet applications.
Having additional digital experiences is a plus in any workplace. For job profiles like computer programmer, manager employers demand knowledge of programming skills, ERP, MIS, or other applications such as CRM, SAP, or JMP.
Willing To Learn
Learning is indispensable to any working environment; it is a part of ongoing organizational process, procedures, and policies.
Learning is not limited to employee training and commercial awareness, learning is required for gaining experience & expertise, updating with company policies & procedures, adapting to changes in technology and business environs.
Stress Management
Employers don’t prefer a candidate with lacking confidence & courage to take responsibility, immature professionalism and having difficulties with stress.
Stress is a part of an organization working environment, employees often need to solve difficulties, work with conflicts and complete time-bound goals while in stress or responsibility.
Time Management
It is an art of setting priorities or goals and working according to the scheduled priorities.
Time is the most valuable asset for any kind of organization and all employer demand candidates with adequate time management skills. Start working with scheduled priorities and goals to become a good time manager.
Numeracy
Having numeracy skills doesn’t require you to become an expert in algebra or calculus. Solving basic numerical problems like percentage calculation, interest calculation, doing simple arithmetic operation is a part of all kinds of organization.
These are the only few employability skills you should have, start improving your domain-specific employability skills from today; and don’t forget to improve the essential cognitive skills & communication skills.
Ashim, the Founder of MindWiper, loves to learn, share, and educate various dimensions of life skills development. After graduating with an engineering degree, he worked with major ICT industries in India and finally he followed his dream to integrate technology for Cognitive Skills & Life Skills Development.