4 easy to learn skills that increase employability

When you’re applying for a job, you’ll usually have access to a job description that highlights all of the crucial skills and demands that a business leader is looking for.

For instance, a marketing role might ask for someone who knows their way around different social media tools and digital marketing apps.

However, beyond the specialist skills that you earn in your chosen industry, you can also gather talents that will help you improve your chances of getting a job in any environment.

These talents are known as ‘employability skills’, and they’re highly transferable and desirable skills that make your resume stand out to any employer.

The good news is that learning skills to increase your employability doesn’t have to be a complex, or even expensive endeavor. There are many things you can do to make yourself more attractive when applying for your dream job.

Here are the four skills everyone should develop.

Problem-Solving Skills

According to 62% of recruiting professionals, it’s your ability to respond well to problematic situations that can increase your chances of being hired.

That’s because even the biggest businesses in the world face problems from time to time, whether they’re not certain how to share their new sale with the world, or they’re concerned about adapting to new technology.

If you can show in your resume that you’re able to cope with challenges and adapt to change, then you can instantly boost your chances of getting a great job.

In your cover letter or resume, make sure you highlight how you solved problems in previous positions.

For instance, maybe you can let future employees know how you helped your team switch over to a new type of software when their old one just wasn’t delivering results.

If you don’t have a lot of previous job experience, maybe talk about how you’re always fixing things at home by learning from online tutorials. To develop your skills:

• Get involved with helping coworkers and friends solve their problems
• Adopt a more curious mindset, where you continuously learn new things
• Join online communities where you can learn about your chosen industry.

Communication and Collaboration Skills

If you want to accomplish incredible things in your professional life, then you need to be able to communicate effectively with others.

As the workplace becomes more complex with people working from home, collaborating remotely and more, businesses need exceptional communication skills now more than ever.

The great thing is that you can work on your communication and collaboration skills without spending a penny.

Practice listening and empathizing with other people or consider downloading some of the latest collaboration tools so that you can learn how to share files and information online. Think about how you can improve the way that you interact with other people in a team.

Other ways to improve your communication and collaboration skills include:

• Working on your writing skills to ensure that your language is clear and concise.
• Prepare presentations and deliver them to your family and friends, then ask for feedback.
• Practice your body language and think about how you portray yourself.
• Get involved with clubs and communities relevant to your industry.

Time Management and Organization Skills

All employers want an employee that can manage their time efficiently and get things done according to strict deadlines. Good organization and time management skills ensure that you can accomplish tasks according to the needs and expectations of your employers.

They also cause you to think about how to balance your work and personal life, so you don’t burn out. Plus, if you want to improve your time management and organization skills, you can start at home.

Think about how you currently plan your schedule, and whether it’s better for you to put more of your heavy tasks into the beginning of the day, or whether you need time to get around to your most productive self.

Other options include:

• Monitoring how much time you spend doing work, and how often you procrastinate so you can arrange your days more effectively.
• Turn off your phone when you’re working and use productivity apps to keep you on the right track.
• Make sure that your work and living space are tidy, so you can find the things you need quickly.

You might even find it helpful to establish project and task time frames that help you get things done according to a specific schedule.

Remember, learning how to be organized also means knowing when to delegate some of your work to other people on your team, so that you can use your skills more effectively.

Technology Skills

It used to be that you only needed tech skills if you were going to be working in the IT industry. However, the globe has gone through a massive digital transformation process that now makes technology skills more essential for everyone – no matter your background.

Technology permeates every aspect of our lives, whether you’re a doctor, an engineer, a banker, or something else. Learning how to excel in the basics of technology will make you a more valuable addition to any team.

Consider:

• Learning how to make the most out of your computer by getting insight into how your operating system works. (Mac, Windows)
• Reading industry blogs and articles to help you understand how crucial pieces of industry tech work.
• Enrolling in free online classes or checking out tutorials that teach you how to use essential pieces of equipment.

Even just knowing how to maintain your own equipment will come in handy when you’re trying to make yourself stand out to employers.

Developing your Employability Skills

All jobs come with specific demands for specialist skill sets. However, you can also boost your chances of getting the career that you’ve always wanted by making sure that you have the skills that any employer is looking for.

All kinds of employers prize the four talents above – so why not try building them into your resume?

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