Which skill sets should I acquire?

The specific skill sets that make people highly employable today may change from one profession to the other, but there are some skills that are essential to making you employable and effective.

These skill sets are hard for employers to teach and include critical thinking, soft skills and competency in some areas and they seek them when recruiting people. 

IT skills

Proof of this skill is vital in most jobs today. 

Communication skills and confidence

Communication is one of the most important skill sets and includes listening, speaking and writing. Confidence doesn’t equal arrogance but going about your work in a positive way. 

Awareness of business and analytical skills

An understanding of how a company or industry works and how it competes in the market place is an essential skill. Working with information and seeing trends and patterns is also invaluable. 

Teamwork abilities

Teamwork is not only about working with others, but also about being responsible. You also need to be able to manage and delegate others to achieve the required task on time. 

Negotiation and problem-solving skills

Negotiating with others in order to achieve the desired result is an important skill for most positions within organizations. A logical and analytical approach to problem-solving and resolving issues from different angles is crucial too. 

Leadership and organizational qualities

Leadership is about being able to motivate people to be more productive and you should always be a good example. It also includes the delegation and assignment of tasks and setting deadlines. Prioritizing and finishing tasks efficiently shows essential organizational skills. 

Keeping up under pressure

The ability to keep calm and not stress when work builds up is crucial. Perseverance and motivation are skills that allow you to plod on with the task at hand, even when things get tough.

Make sure that your skills are clearly shown on your CV and be confident when you present yourself to the company.