Christopher Frederick & Associates recently ran an interesting article “The Most Important Career Skills You Didn’t Study in College” which highlighted the difference in what employers are looking for in candidates versus what the candidates think employers are hoping to find. The article discussed a study that showed that 93% of employers put soft skills higher on the list than academic credentials while just 16% of candidates viewed these skills as important. With our focus on finding people who are a great fit for our culture, Venterra is no different! Here are a few of the important traits that employers in general find critical to the success of its strongest employees:
Critical Thinking
“This is a classic example of an extremely valuable skill set that’s rarely reflected in resume bullet points or job titles. Yet the higher up the job ladder you climb, the more an employer expects you to make competent decisions that affect the company. Leading real estate firms don’t just look for executives who can hire employees and ensure things get done on time. They need people at all levels with the capacity to reason their way through unexpected problems and opportunities. This makes it even more crucial to point out specific decisions you’ve made and problems you’ve solved in past jobs when courting potential employers.” (CFrederick.com)
Communication
“A great idea is useless if people can’t quite wrap their heads around what you’re talking about. Companies don’t expect their employees to be English scholars with half-finished novels in their desk drawers. But they do need people who can get their ideas across in a way that doesn’t seed confusion and misunderstandings. Practices that demonstrate this skill set can be as simple as giving a second read to emails to be sure your intentions are clear and the text is free of basic errors. Respect language and seek continuous improvement in how you use it. This might seem rudimentary, but just consider how many times you’ve seen “excellent communication skills” required in a job description. Keep in mind that effective communication now goes beyond traditional inter-office messages. The ability to convey ideas succinctly through texting and social media has also become invaluable. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and the like may have changed the format of our communication in the last five years, but keep in mind that their effective use requires more writing than ever. Regardless of the medium, persuasive written communication will set you apart.” (CFrederick.com)
Humility
“It’s not enough, though, to be a smooth talker. I don’t know how many construction-related positions I’ve filled where employers emphasized the ability to communicate well, not just with executives, but also with site foremen, subcontractors, tradesmen and municipal officials. Hiring managers know first hand that you can’t manage a large team unless you feel at ease with its members at all levels. That requires not just confidence, but a sense of humility as well.” (CFrederick.com)
To read the full article, visit http://www.cfrederick.com/important-career-skills-didnt-study-college/