I’ve been hearing quite a lot about the ‘seven basic employability skills’ recently. So what are they? They’re the skills that all businessmen and women are looking for when they take on new staff, and they include:
Positive Attitude: You want to do everything you attempt to the best of your ability. You’re willing to have a go with no negative feelings about your job or the people you work with.
Communication: You must be able to listen well, explain your own ideas clearly and write grammatical and easy-to-understand, emails, letters and reports.
Teamwork: You’ve got to be willing to work well with others – no overwhelming ego and able to give credit where it’s due when other team members succeed.
Self-Management: You should always turn up on time, with a clear head, be able to plan and prioritise your work and dress appropriately.
Resilience: If things don’t go your way you must have the ability to bounce back and carry on. If you make a mistake, don’t give up – learn from it!
Thinking Skills: You need to be able to work out the best way to do things whether it’s tackling a new job or solving a problem.
Willingness to Learn: This shows an open, enquiring mind – and the fact that you’re keen to get on.
According to a survey, you’re more likely to possess all these skills if you are aged 50-65 – but you may lack confidence! You’re also more likely to have them if you’re female – but again you may lack confidence.
I know this is only a generalisation but I’d still like to say to every reader. If you’re an older person or a woman looking for a new job – have confidence in yourself. And if you’re young and confident, make sure you brush up on your skill set so that you really do live up to your employer’s expectations!
Author: Diana Nadin
