Today, employers aren’t just looking for the best fit for a particular role. Besides your qualifications for a position, employers consider several other factors before selecting a candidate for a particular role. One of these considerations is the possession of valuable skills relevant to the position you’re being interviewed for. This article will walk you through 9 skills that will make you valuable in the job market.
Of course, soft skills are important. But certain hard skills make you more valuable and possibly land you a job faster. It could be an added certification or a unique skill that’s related to the role.
A 2019 survey by LinkedIn interviewed about 300 hiring managers and talent acquisition professionals to know their hiring requirements. However, 92% of the respondents agreed that they tend to give preference to candidates who possess extra skills relevant to a role over those who do not. And this is despite having the prerequisite qualifications for the job.
Therefore, the easiest way to land your dream job sooner is to acquire more skills. Here are nine skills that will make you valuable in the job market:
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#1. Time Management
In a world where social media and smartphones distract people more than anything else, time management skills will make you valuable. It refers to the ability to prioritize your tasks and get them done on time. It’s one of the skills that will make you valuable in the job market.
You may think time management is simple. But it could make you become a superstar employee at work. And now that remote work is the new work culture, time management gives you an edge. Employers prefer working with people who can manage their time and get the job done with little or no supervision.
The impact of time management on your productivity is exceptional. It can be the difference between always finishing ahead of time and racing against a deadline. A pro tip is to put the ugliest, most difficult tasks first, and the easiest tasks last when it comes to time management.
#2. Creativity
Creativity is a flower that doesn’t grow in every garden. It is what makes your work easier and faster. When faced with multiple options to choose from or difficult situations to deal with, it’s your creativity that helps you find the most suitable answer to the problem at hand.
Some people have a natural knack for being creative, while others need some motivation and a little push to get creative. As a job seeker, you need to keep in mind that your ability to work around tough situations creatively can set you apart from the teeming competition out there.
#3. Negotiation Skills
Some people are gifted negotiators. They have a natural ability to negotiate with people and come out with mouthwatering agreement for both parties. However, if you aren’t creative naturally, you can learn the art of creativity. But it requires constant practice.
If you are creative, your creativity will always give you an edge when seeking a sales or marketing role.
#4. Service-Driven
Are you the type of person who goes out of their way to find solutions to people’s problems? Are you willing to make some sacrifices while you’re at it? If you apply for a job in an organization that places premium value on this kind of work attitude, then it’s in your best interest to learn it. Surely, it gives you an edge over other candidates. Even if it’s not a prerequisite qualification, it does set you apart from the others.
#5. Collaboration
Today’s work culture vastly encourages employees and employers to work together in teams, or in smaller units, such as pairs. It’s understandable if you perform best working solo, but productivity is usually at its best if you get along well with other team members. It’s easier to bounce ideas off one another when collaborating with people, hence building up yourself in this area. That’s why it’s one of the skills that will make you valuable in the job market.
#6. Emotional Intelligence
While emotional intelligence (EI) may not be listed in the job advert as a must-have, it certainly is a crucial skill in today’s corporate world. If you’re going to be managing people in your new role, you certainly need to build your emotional intelligence. There’ll be days when you’ll need to handle both your issues and still show empathy for others who work with you.
You don’t necessarily have to be the best people person, but it helps to know how best to react to the behaviors of people you work with. An excellent way to get you started here is to take short online courses in emotional intelligence.
#7. Cloud Computing
Good computing is becoming more and more relevant than ever before. More employers are on the lookout for employees who can perform well in their primary tasks and still demonstrate a sound understanding of the cloud and how it works.
However, you don’t have to be an online wizard or a programmer to do this. The good news is that there are a plethora of quick courses online today. You can leverage this to give yourself an edge over other competing candidates on the job market.
#8. Social Media Savvy
Honestly, this is one area you cannot ignore. And it doesn’t stop at LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. New media is emerging daily, and it is important to learn what is out there, how it works, and where they’re most relevant.
Neglecting this aspect may leave you in utter shock when you begin to realize how much more you have yet to learn.
#9. Communication
Communication is one of the skills that make you valuable in the job market. Every employer wants to hire a great communicator because it will make their team more productive and foster greater innovation.
Interestingly, good communication doesn’t only make you valuable in the job market. It also improves your efficiency in almost everything you do and helps you make a better decision.
Wrapping Up
Bearing in mind that your chances in the job market are highly dependent on your ability to demonstrate certain essential skills, you have to make an effort to learn them. The list above is not exhaustive, but it is a great way to begin.
