7 Valuable Employability Skills

With a flood of graduates vying for each role, showcasing your employability skills is crucial to catching a recruiter’s eye. While specific job requirements may vary, demonstrating that you possess core attributes can set you apart from the competition. In your application forms, it’s imperative to illustrate how you’ve developed these essential skills, making you a valuable addition to any organization. For example, through your degree, you have developed subject-specific and transferrable skills, which should be exemplified in your CV when necessary. 

In this blog, we will list some of the most common yet key skills that graduate employers expect you to demonstrate. Understanding these skills and effectively communicating your proficiency in them can greatly enhance your job application. 

 First, here are some honourable mentions of important skills employers value which we haven’t covered in this article: 

• Technical skills – industries rely on your ability to learn and master different software and tools to demonstrate your quick learning and expertise. 

• Research – finding information, solving problems, articulating ideas and relaying information to others is key for a successful working environment.  

• Initiative – employers want you to think on your feet and act without direct instruction, displaying your resourcefulness and capabilities.  

• Presentation – in business meetings, you may have to deliver a presentation, showcasing your confidence, communication skills and knowledge.  

 

 7 key skills which employers are looking for: 

Communication  

Whether it’s verbal or written, communication is vital to working in any organisation or company. Clearly and effectively conveying information, listening to others, negotiating with people or writing a compelling report are just some elements of communication. In any discipline, subject or experience, you will have demonstrated strong communication skills which should be exemplified in your CV as employees need to be aware and comfortable in knowing you can perform well in a working environment. 

 Adaptability 

As the workplace becomes increasingly diversified and more susceptible to changes, an employee will need to navigate through sudden changes in the workplace and respond to adversity. Through showing you can handle new challenges and uncertain situations with ease, they will trust your capabilities as an employee and give you more responsibilities, opening up new opportunities and resulting in higher productivity. Therefore, resilience and a strong work ethic are key to managing difficult situations. 

 Teamwork. 

Through combining collaboration, communication and confidence, the productivity and efficiency of a working environment is improved. Working as a team is exceptionally important as you are better equipped to dealing with new challenges and through contributing new ideas and working on relationship building, you will learn how to resolve issues better, motivate each other and overall, foster a healthy work environment. You may have collaborated in group projects or become a team member in a part-time role, exemplifying great communication and teamwork skills.  

 Problem solving. 

The workplace is characterised by unexpectedness and unpredictability. Therefore, over time, you will establish problem solving skills to manage difficult or complex situations or challenges, which are quite common. Your ability to solve problems can lead to innovative ideas, enhance time management, prioritize tasks effectively, and empower others to maximize their contributions to projects. Essentially, it will promote teamwork, critical thinking and contribute to a productive working environment.  

 Organisation. 

Essentially, having great organisational skills increases productivity and efficiency in the workplace. You are able to prioritise and complete the most important tasks in a timely manner and achieve your desired outcomes as an employee. Your value as an employee will grow as you establish your time management skills and effectively utilise your time, resources and effort on important projects. As a result, you cultivate better work relationships and establish effective communication channels. 

 Time management. 

As a leader or team member, organising and managing your time effectively is vital to a successful working environment. Time is valuable, therefore, working as efficient as possible enables greater levels of productivity and successful goal setting. Examples can be university assignments where you will become an expert in effectively utilising your time, resources and effort, or working in a part-time or volunteer role while being a student. 

 Leadership. 

The ability to understand people’s motivations and strengths will push you to become an effective leader as you inspire and motivate others to perform their best. Providing direction, inspiring others and creating an environment where employees are valued will boost productivity and promote collaboration among the team. Your ability to analyse situations, consider various perspectives, foster a culture of innovation and hold themselves accountable establishes a sense of respect and harmony within the workplace. You may be the captain of a sports team or organise the monthly socials for your society or you might even have a load of little siblings to manage. Whatever it is, you can develop these skills and exemplify them on your CV.