Have you ever wished that you could unlock the secret formula to win over the minds of recruiters and employers?
Unfortunately every employer is looking for a different skill set from their graduate employees so there is no overarching secret skill recipe. However, there is some good news! There are many resources available to undergraduates and graduates on which skills the ideal future leader of tomorrow should have. Even better, knowing your weaknesses means you can always build on your skill foundation to become the next candidate of choice.
Emotional Intelligence
The Institute of Leadership & Management conducted some research into attributes of future leaders. They suggest motivation and emotional intelligence are two very important skills that HR managers and recruiters look for when on the hunt for future talent. They also suggest that people who are emotionally intelligent are likely to be trustworthy and good communicators.
How to get it: emotional intelligence is something that may take years to develop so if you don’t you possess this, don’t worry, it may mature in time. In the interim it may be worth trying to be actively open minded and outgoing to find out what makes you tick. Recognising your stress levels and triggers is also another important intrapersonal skill.
Work Ethic
Motivation is a key skill for those looking to make their mark in their industry. Those who are driven, ambitious and keen to learn are likely to be successful in their fields of interest and it is a key element that our recruiters look for when searching for candidates to fill our graduate jobs.
How to get it: If you are lacking in motivation to apply for a particular job, then chances are it probably isn’t a good fit for you. Find something you are passionate about, that “get up and go mentality” should come natural to something you’re passionate about.
Innovative Customer Service Skills
Innovation in its basic senseis the development of new values through solutions that either meet new requirements or add value. A lot of innovation is understanding the past like an old and outdated idea and changing it for the better. As an undergraduate, many employers expect that, as the ‘fresh’ talent, you will have newer and ‘sexier’ solutions to their problems. Being able to prove your innovation may prove difficult but can yield some great results. Coming up with creative ways to fix a problem can prove particularly useful in a customer service or sales environment such as ours.
How to get it: Chances are if you have been lucky enough to get a part time job as a student, it has been in the retail or service industry. Make sure you note the customer service skills you learnt on your application form including examples of dealing with an awkward customer where you have delivered a positive result. If you weren’t so lucky as to get a part time student job, maybe consider getting one to gain these key skills.
Knowing How You Learn
Understanding how you work and which method works best for you can be a really important tool. Think about which revision method works best for you. Some people need to hear information, some prefer to write it down or map it in a creative fashion.
How to get it: the VARK learning style quiz is a great system that can identify the best learning style for you and then you can use it to your advantage to help you absorb and retain information.
Time Management
Are you guilty of procrastination? Don’t worry, a lot of people get caught procrastinating at some point. There are many reasons for putting things off but once you have identified why you do it, you can start to solve the underlying issue.
How to get it: If you are really struggling to conquer your procrastination demons, makes sure you read our blog: stop procrastinating and get hired.
The Ability to Give and Receive Feedback
Possessing the ability to accept praise and criticism is very important. At some point in your professional career you will be given lots of different feedback. Being able to take that information on board and adjust your work or behaviour according to that feedback is vital. It is also essential to learn how to give feedback to your colleagues – whether it is negative or positive comments or a mixture of both, you will need to be objective and honest to keep performance high.
How to get it: In order to be objective you need to remove any unhelpful emotional reactions and look at the wider picture. This, again, will come with time. When giving and receiving feedback, consider the implications of the information you are presented and how it may affect your work/behaviour.
Communication
If you’re nervous about presenting or talking in front of crowds, try to offer to be the speaker in a class presentation. Being able to communicate your message clearly and confidently is a transferable skill which will not only help in interviews but throughout your professional career too, it also happens to be a core competency for all future Enterprise staff.
How to get it: Some people are naturally confident at communicating. If you’re not one them, try to put yourself in situations where you’re forced to communicate. Perhaps taking the lead in a group presentation or taking up a part time job in a retail or service job where you’re talking to people on a regular basis.
Our graduate jobs are for those of you who want responsibility early on, and the opportunity to start moving up the career ladder quickly. Enterprise doesn’t discriminate according to your grade, the University you have attended or which subjects you have studied. However, we do look for certain traits and you will need these competencies.
