The research found that these three skills are more valued by employers:
· Teamwork and collaboration
· Critical thinking and problem solving
· Attention to detail/thoroughness
What this research shows is that there are skills employers care about, but that job seekers might downplay when they apply for a job. Highlighting these skills, then, may help you stand out if you’re going for a role.
Below you will find how to highlight each of these top skills in your application and how to demonstrate them on the job.
Teamwork and collaboration
A third of employers’ value teamwork and collaboration, compared to only a fifth of candidates. It’s highly valued by employers because it enables a team to work together towards a common goal.
“Everything is about relationships, and relationships come down to communication. How you interact with your team, your clients and your management is critical to any business’ success.”
How to show you have this skill
In your job application: Give examples of your interactions with others and how you worked together to achieve successful outcomes. “Show how you work, think, communicate, problem solve and manage different personalities,”
“An employer is hiring you for how you work. By the time you get to an interview, they already know that you have the qualifications and experience to do the job, otherwise you wouldn’t be there.”
At work: Share the limelight with others and acknowledge others’ input. “Actively bring others into the meeting or conversation. If someone is not as natural at participating, use your human skills and bring them in.
“Bring people with you; inspire rather than tell, support rather than criticise. If you disagree with someone, recognise, and acknowledge their input first – this keeps the lines of communication open.”
Critical thinking and problem solving
Employers value critical thinking and problem-solving skills because they show you’re able to analyse, innovate, create, and find solutions when issues or challenges that arise.
“How you respond to challenges or change says a lot about how you will contribute to an organisation,”
How to show you have this skill
In your job application: Include short examples or brief project summaries in your resume or cover letter. “They are powerful, factual ways of showing what you can achieve for the hirer. Explain the specific outcomes or results you achieved and talk through any problems you overcame, as these do all the heavy lifting for you.”
At work: You can lead in any role at any time. Meetings are an excellent setting to showcase your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Try out these guiding rules in meetings:
· I will arrive with at least one or two ideas
· I will be open to strange or new ideas
· I won’t focus on being right, but will focus on the mutual goal
· I will listen
· I’ll join in where I can
· I won’t be passive
· I’ll ask questions.
These approaches help demonstrate that you’re willing to challenge existing ideas and find solutions to problems you or your team face.
Attention to detail or thoroughness!
Following through on everything you do with attention to detail shows employers your potential to grow with a business and impact everything you touch positively.
“Do you do what is just enough to get by, or do you think beyond that?”
How to show you have this skill
In your job application: It’s important to demonstrate this skill from the beginning by ensuring you have a strong resume and cover letter. Make sure both are formatted correctly and aren’t more than the required length. Check the spelling and grammar, and get it proof-read by someone else – it’s hard to check something that you wrote yourself.
At an interview: It might sound obvious, but preparation really is key. Because winging it rarely works, and if you assume anything, it may trip you up.
Research the business, the people, the contracts, clients, and competitors, and observe how the role you’re applying for impacts the rest of the business. You might use this information to help you ask questions in the interview, or respond in a way that shows you’ve done research. This helps to show your interest in the role when preparing.
At work: When you’re about to take on a new or important task, ask yourself: ‘Have I considered how my actions will impact the team, the customer, the way we do things, the bottom line, or the company values’?
“This sort of follow-through shows employers that you won’t miss anything, and you can be trusted.”
Whether you’re applying for a new role or want to make progress at work, it can be helpful to try and see things from an employer’s point of view. Keep in mind these three skill areas – teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving, and attention to detail.
These are things that employers value, so demonstrating that you’re skilled in these areas can help you make a great impression and stand out from the crowd.
