Landing your dream job doesn’t exactly come with a handbook. Everyone has different advice about what you should do or be good at if you want to get hired. Many things are job-specific, such as knowing certain programming languages for a coding career, but there are also a few skills that are universally important regardless of your field.
Verbal Communication
Whether you are looking for a job as a data wrangler, where you’ll mainly be keeping your nose buried in a computer screen, or hoping to become a public relations manager, verbal communication is an essential skill. No matter what kind of job you’re working, you’re likely to have to communicate with people regularly. That might mean explaining an error you’re running into while trying to write a new code into existing software, negotiating a pay raise or talking with adoring fans outside of the concert venue your band just played at.
This might seem like a simple skill that everyone has innately, but it can still get people into trouble. For example, in situations where emotions are high, such as your boss forgetting to pay you the overtime bonus you were due, devising a way to address the situation without seeming combative can be tricky.
Written Communication
While verbal communication can be challenging to get right, written communication can be even more difficult. Why? Largely because writing lacks the subtle audible and visual cues a person gives while talking.
Vocal intonations, volume, movement, eye contact, gestures and more can help others interpret what you meant by something you said verbally, but intent can get lost in a written form. Poor grammar and spelling can give the impression that you lack professionalism. Brevity can seem like curtness. Missing a comma, or other typos, can entirely change the meaning of a sentence, such as in the old joke example, “Did you eat grandma?” versus “Did you eat, grandma?”
Problem-Solving Skills
Going hand in hand with verbal and written communication, and a huge assist to them, is having well-honed problem-solving skills. Whether it’s trying to resolve the concerns of a customer who walked into the store or designing a prototype for a new product idea, most jobs are served better when you are able to think about the situation from all angles and analyze it effectively. In fact, if you’re hoping for upward mobility, such as a management position, the ability to solve problems efficiently is essential.
Computer and Device Navigation
It’s official: Electronic devices are here to stay. They’ve been around for decades, and only become more popular and ubiquitous over time. Fifteen or more years ago, computers may not have been a staple in every setting, and the jobs that had them may have been using simplistic dinosaurs. By now, they’ve become more commonplace and complicated. Whether it’s a computer terminal to ring up transactions in a retail setting or a handheld scanner to track inventory in a warehouse, you’ll need to become extremely comfortable with navigating computers and other devices to succeed in most career paths now.
Proactivity
When you run out of things to do while you’re on the clock, do you automatically start hunting for the next thing on the list? When something needs to be straightened and you have a few minutes to spare, do you stop and take care of it? Employers love proactive people, so learning how to spot what needs to be done and looking for the next thing you can do are quite appealing. Employers don’t want to pay their people to stand around texting when there’s work to be done. If you are on the clock and can’t see anything that needs your attention, show your commitment and work ethic by asking your supervisor right away.
Employers want to know you’re an exceptional employee, not just for the job-related skills you bring to their organization but also for the traits above and more. Show them you mean business and will be an invaluable addition to their team.
