Jumping into the job market right after graduation? It’s exciting—and let’s be real, a little intimidating. You’ve got the degree, but now you’re competing with a sea of candidates, all eager for that golden opportunity. So, how do you make employers notice you?
The truth is, employers are looking beyond the degree. They’re after a mix of skills, qualities, and that spark that says, “I’m ready.” But what exactly are these skills?
In this article, let’s dive into the Top 5 Must-Have Skills that make employers sit up and take notice of fresh grads like you.
The top 5 skills employers look for include:
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Professionalism and strong work ethic
- Communications skills
- Leadership Skills
Critical Thinking And Problem Solving
Critical thinking is important for practically every job. Workers must be able to examine and evaluate data in any format, challenge presumptions, test hypotheses, and draw conclusions. In addition to being a talent, critical thinking is a habit that is developed to aid in problem-solving.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers states that the most important requirement for employment is the possession of critical thinking abilities. Employers value and seek critical thinking abilities above all else; however, the average employer believes fresh graduates are just “somewhat proficient” in these areas. This indicates that just 55.8% of graduates are competent in critical thinking, despite employers believing that these skills are 99.2% vital.
Teamwork And Collaboration
The ability to work effectively with a team is one important skill that everyone seeking employment should have. Collaboration is essential for professions of all kinds. Teamwork and collaboration are essential to the successful operation of any organization or business, whether it is in the field of acting, marketing, nursing, or construction.
Interacting and collaborating with colleagues increases the growth and success rate of an organization. This is because by working as a team, you are more likely to make better decisions than you would have on your own.
Professionalism and Strong Work Ethics
All employers expect their workers to be professional and have an exceptional work ethic. That is one thing employers have in common. No matter what industry or career you find yourself in after you get your degree, your employer will expect you to have a high professionalism and work ethic.
Employers evaluated “work ethics/professionalism” as 100% necessary in the Employer Career Competencies survey; however, only 42.5% of workers reported exhibiting these skill sets.
Communication Skills
One cannot stress how crucial confident and straightforward communication is, particularly in the workplace.
The top communication skills that employers look for include the ability to ask the correct questions, extract necessary information from emails, texts, phone calls, or video chats, and then eloquently express the ideas.
Leadership Skills
Most of us limit leadership to positions in the C-suite. But in truth, for every role, hiring managers are searching for fresh graduates with proven leadership skills. The reason isn’t far-fetched; having leadership qualities enables you to inspire people and finish assigned duties on time, whether you’re managing a team or participating in a project.
You must first identify your leadership style. Once you determine your strengths and what your standards of excellence are, you can begin to create your leadership style around those attributes. After you have developed your leadership style, you need to start establishing a culture where actions and behaviors reinforce one another. People become thrilled about their work when they observe that you are genuinely excited and passionate about what you are doing. This positive culture will improve workflow and productivity. On the other hand, observing a lack of zeal and desire will have the opposite effect on the culture of the company.
Upskilling With WESOnline
With WESOnline, you can unlock your full potential and pave the route for a more promising career. With the help of our technology-driven online platform, graduates like you can reskill and upskill in the most sought-after fields of today, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. WESOnline offers a wide range of training courses and programs that assist you in bridging the gap between workplace industry demands and academic standards. Our expert-led courses cover everything from improving teamwork to learning communication skills and more. They’re made to give you the knowledge and self-assurance you need to succeed in a constantly changing employment market. Our value offerings include:
- Employability Skills Assessment (ESA)
- Employability Skills Training (EST)
- Virtual Internships
- Virtual Experience
- Mentorship
Become a member of the WESOnline community today by clicking on www.wesonline.ng to access an endless supply of educational resources designed to advance your professional career.
