For graduates entering into the employment market or those wishing to change direction, it can be a daunting experience preparing for the job interview process.
Preparation is key to being able to present yourself in a positive manner that tells a prospective employer that you possess a range of skills.
Typically the top 10 skills recruiters want to see are:-
1. Commercial awareness (or business acumen): Showing that you have an understanding of what the organisation wants to achieve through its products and services, and how it competes in its marketplace.
2. Effective Communication: It’s about being clear, concise and focused in your verbal and non-verbal communication, being able to adjust your style of communication to suit the audience and also have excellent listening skills to hear the views and opinions of others.
3. Negotiation/Persuasion: This is about being able to put forward your ideas but also being able to understand where the other person is coming from so that you can both get what you want or need.
4. Problem solving: The ability to take a logical and analytical approach to solving problems and resolving issues.
5. Teamwork: You’ll need to prove that you’re a team player but also have the ability to manage and delegate to others and take on responsibility. It’s about building positive working relationships that help everyone to achieve goals and business objectives.
6. Leadership: You may not be a manager straight away, but graduates need to show potential to motivate teams and other colleagues that may work for them. It’s about assigning and delegating tasks well, setting deadlines and leading by good example.
7. Organisation: This is about showing that you can prioritise, work efficiently and productively, and manage yourself effectively. Showing how you decide what’s important and when it’s appropriate to seek support and assistance from others.
8. Ability to work under pressure: This is about keeping calm in a crisis and not becoming too overwhelmed or stressed.
9. Confidence: In the job interview you need to demonstrate that you are confident and comfortable with who you are, your strengths and your limitations.
10. Motivation and Spirit: Employers want people to have a bit of get-up-and-go, can face a challenge and be the kind of person who will find a way through, even when the going gets tough.
Employers not only want to see that an applicant has the knowledge to do the job but more importantly do they have essential skills and behaviours to fit into the organisation!
