JEEDA'S LOVE AND PASSION: JOB SKILLS AND SOFT SKILLS EMPLOYER LOOK FOR

Employers have become much more sophisticated in looking for particular skills that they want in every individual that they hire. Degrees and credentials are important but the developments of soft skills are a crucial part of fostering a dynamic workforce and are always in high demand. We gained skills from past jobs, responsibilities, life experiences and interests. There may be some hidden skills that we never notice we have.

The table below listed the top 10 most valued job skills in the order in which they are ranked, taken from over 40 studies that have been conducted in the years 2009-2012. Half of these surveys were conducted in the US, and some are conducted in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

#	Job Skill	Detail
1	Enthusiastic/Positive attitude	The ability to remain consistently positive and optimistic and to maintain enthusiasm in all work tasks and projects.
2	Good communication skills	To be proficient in both verbal and written communication.
3	Self-motivated/initiative	Taking responsibility for originating tasks/new ideas/methods and the ability to think and act without being prompted.
4	Honest	The ability to consistently speak the truth and be honest at all times, and encourages others to do the same.
5	Must like people	Ability to relate well to others (of all types and ages) to successfully accomplishes tasks and goals of the job.
6	Persistent	The capacity to follow-through strongly to completion, despite setbacks and/or obstacles.
7	Able to work in a team	Effectively cooperate with others in the performance of job assignments.
8	Good organizational skills/ Work well under pressure	The ability to organize self and others and to work consistently and without getting overloaded even when the pressure is high.
9	Willing to learn	The capacity to maintain a mind that is open to new ways of doing things and willing to accept constructive feedback.
10	Dependable/Hardworking	The ability to turn up regularly for work on time and work hard on a consistent basis.

Each company looks for a different mix of skills and experience depending on the business. It’s no longer enough to be a functional expert. There are certain "soft skills" every company looks for in a potential hire. "Soft skills" refer to a cluster of personal qualities, habits, attitudes and social graces that make someone a good employee and compatible to work with. Soft skills can be just as important an indicator of job performance as hard skills. Employers nowadays want people who are agile, adaptable and creative at solving problems. Here are the some of the top soft skills in demand for today's job market:

#	Soft Skill	Detail
1	Communication skills	It's more than just speaking the language. Communication skills involve active listening, presentation as well as excellent writing capabilities. One highly sought-after communication skill is the ability to explain technical concepts to partners, customers and coworkers that aren't tech savvy. Questions asked: Are you both verbally articulate and a good listener? Can you make your case and express your needs in a way that builds bridges with colleagues, customers and vendors?
2	Computer and technical literacy	Almost all jobs nowadays require basic competency in computer software, but many job seekers fail to provide this section because they think it's implied. If computer skills are relevant to your field, insert a "Technical Skills" or "Systems Proficiencies" section to your resume.
3	Interpersonal skills	The ability to work in teams, relate to people and manage conflict is a valuable asset in the workplace. This skill is important to get ahead--and as you advance in your career, the aptitude to work with others becomes even more crucial. Personal accomplishments are important on your resume, but showing that you can work well with others is important too.
4	Adaptability	Don't underestimate the ability to adapt to changes and manage multiple tasks. In today's technology driven and rapidly evolving business environment, the ability to pick up on new technologies and adjust to changing business surroundings is important. Display your relevancy in the workforce by referencing an example of how you adapted to a sudden change at work in your resume. Questions asked: Are you able to adapt to new situations and challenges? Will you embrace change and be open to new ideas?
5	Research skills	Hiring managers seek employees that are skilled at assessing situations, are able to seek multiple perspectives and gather more in depth information.
6	Project management skills	Organization, planning and effectively implementing projects and tasks for yourself and others is a highly effective skill to have. In the past, this was a job in itself. Nowadays, many companies aren't hiring project managers because they expect all of their employees to possess certain characteristics of this skill.
7	Problem-solving skills	The ability to use creativity, reasoning, past experience, information and available resources to resolve issues is attractive because it saves everyone at the organization valuable time. Highlight this skill by listing an example of when your organization had a sticky situation and you effectively addressed it. Questions asked: Are you resourceful and able to creatively solve problems that will inevitably arise? Will you take ownership of problems or leave them for someone else?
8	Process improvement expertise	Optimizing business procedures can save a company time and money. Quantify results in your resume by listing the before and after facts of projects that you took on.
9	Strong work ethic	Employers are looking for employees that take initiative, are reliable and can do the job right the first time. Managers don't have the time or resources to babysit, so this is a skill that is expected from all employees. Don't make the hiring manager second-guess by sending a resume with typos, errors and over-exaggerated work experience. Questions asked: Are you motivated and dedicated to getting the job done, no matter what? Will you be conscientious and do your best work?
10	Emotional Intelligence	Although you will most likely never see this in a job description, EI is a highly sought after skill that relates to your social skills, social awareness and self-management abilities. Emotional intelligence is usually something that is revealed through actual interactions with the hiring manger, but you can hint that you have it with a strategic resume the addresses areas where your experience and skills are lacking relative to the job requirements.
11	Positive Attitude	Questions asked: Are you optimistic and upbeat? Will you generate good energy and good will?
12	Time Management Abilities	Questions asked: Do you know how to prioritize tasks and work on a number of different projects at once? Will you use your time on the job wisely?
13	Acting as a Team Player	Questions asked: Will you work well in groups and teams? Will you be cooperative and take a leadership role when appropriate?
14	Self-Confidence	Questions asked: Do you truly believe you can do the job? Will you project a sense of calm and inspire confidence in others? Will you have the courage to ask questions that need to be asked and to freely contribute your ideas?
15	Ability to Accept and Learn From Criticism	Questions asked: Will you be able to handle criticism? Are you coachable and open to learning and growing as a person and as a professional?
16	Working Well Under Pressure	Questions asked: Can you handle the stress that accompanies deadlines and crises? Will you be able to do your best work and come through in a pinch?

Graduate employers place a lot of emphasis on finding candidates with the right skills and competencies for their organizations. There could be very specific skills, abilities and knowledge needed to do the job. The top ten skills graduate recruiters want are:

Commercial awareness (or business acumen)

knowing how a business or industry works
what makes a company tick

Communication

covers verbal and written communication, and listening
able to tailor your message for the audience and listening to the views of others

Teamwork

have the ability to manage and delegate to others and take on responsibility
building positive working relationships that help everyone to achieve positive goals and business objectives

Negotiation and persuasion

able to put forward your way
able to understand where the other person is coming from so that you can both get what you want or need and feel positive about it

Problem solving

ability to take a logical and analytical approach to solving problems and resolving issues
ability to approach problems from different angles

Leadership

potential to motivate teams and other colleagues that may work for them
assigning and delegating tasks well, setting deadlines and leading by good example

Organization

Ability to prioritize, works efficiently and productively, and manages your time well
deciding what is important to focus on and get done, and how you go about meeting deadlines

Perseverance and motivation

Have a bit of get-up-and-go
the kind of person who will find a way through, even when the going gets tough... and stay cheerful-ish

Ability to work under pressure

keeping calm in a crisis and not becoming too overwhelmed or stressed

Confidence

able to strike the balance of being confident in yourself but not arrogant, but also have confidence in your colleagues and the company you work for

The buzzwords and words of action (words which are key to catching an employer's interest):

BUZZWORDS

initiative
dynamic
team player
proactive
self-motivated

WORDS OF ACTION

led
achieved
completed
co-ordinated
delegated
delivered
identified
presented
promoted
reported
resolved
organised

TOP TIPS FOR DEVELOPING THE SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR:

Make the most of university life and extra-curricular activities to develop your general skills.
Plan early to get relevant work experience and voluntary work which will give you transferable that will make you work ready.
Religiously record the skills you gain and work experience activities you do so that you can pull out good examples on applications and in interviews.
Network! Use family, friends and contacts to get work experience and to find out more about career areas that interest you.
Visit your university's careers service: find out whether it runs any employability skills sessions; sign up for relevant courses and workshops; get help from a careers adviser to write a CV that really showcases your competences and abilities.
Take advantage of careers fairs and employer presentations: talk direct to recruiters to find out what they look for.
Always do your homework before applying for jobs. Employer research will help you identify the skills and competences a particular organization places most emphasis on.