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138: Skills and Values Employers are Looking For

138: Skills and Values Employers are Looking For

FromThe Exclusive Career Coach


138: Skills and Values Employers are Looking For

FromThe Exclusive Career Coach

ratings:
Length:
20 minutes
Released:
Jul 29, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

I came across an article on LiveCareer entitled “14 Skills and Values Employers Seek in Jobseekers,” and I wanted to share it with you.Professionalism. The article talks about “acting in a responsible and fair manner in all your personal and work activities, which is seen as a sign of maturity and self-confidence.”Last week’s podcast, episode #137, talks about 5 quick ways to get branded as unprofessional. The flip side is what you do and say, and don’t do and don’t say, what you wear and don’t wear, and how you show up at work that brands you as either a professional, unprofessional, or in the murky waters somewhere in between. Honesty and Integrity. There have been a lot of very public corporate scandals stemming from employees’ lack of honesty and integrity, which has made this quality highly valued by employers.Truthfulness always wins out – as long as it’s coming from a place of understanding and compassion. Being hateful under the guise of truthfulness will get you quickly branded as mean, uncaring, and a host of words I won’t mention. If you are unsure of whether you should do something, think about whether you would do that thing if the president of your company were watching. Adaptability. The article speaks of “openness to new ideas and concepts, to working independently or as part of a team, and to carrying out multiple tasks or projects.”This skill of adaptability or flexibility is particularly important in the face of COVID 19, where employees are being asked to do things completely outside their wheelhouse to keep the doors open. Your boss LOVES employees who raise their hands for new projects and are willing to stretch their skillset. Be one of those employees. Problem-Solving. As someone who has supervised many employees, one of the most important things I looked for was employees who would not just come to me with a problem, but at least one possible solution to that problem.Don’t be labeled as the difficult employee who is always complaining. Instead, get branded as the solution provider. Even if your boss doesn’t use your suggestion, she will appreciate that you had a solution to offer. Dependability/Reliability/Responsibility. This one’s pretty simple, but so important. Arrive on time and own up to your mistakes.You can’t expect to be given promotions or plum assignments if you garner a reputation of being undependable. If you screw up, and you will, OWN up. End of story. Loyalty. “Employers want employees who will have a strong devotion to the company, even at times when the company is not necessarily loyal to its employees.”How do you talk about your employer and your boss when they aren’t around? How do you think about them? Loyalty is rewarded. Disloyalty is terminated. Positive Attitude/Motivated/Energy/Passion. As opposed to those highly desirable job candidates who are negative, unmotivated, sluggish, and dead inside. Yep.A cousin of adaptability is your ability to do your work with a positive attitude and passion. People with a positive attitude carry that attitude through no matter the assignment, timeline, budget, team members, or any other variable. Self-Confidence. “If you don’t believe in yourself, in your unique mix of skills, education, and abilities, why should a prospective employer? Be confident in yourself and what you offer employers.”On the job, you want your self-confidence to shine through in all you do, especially when it is a new project or an area you haven’t worked in before.Your boss needs to feel he made the right choice in giving you that job, and a big piece of that is the self-confidence you display. Self-Motivated/Ability to Work Without Direct Supervision. The flip side of being a team player is the ability to get your work done without anyone standing over your shoulder.Bosses really don’t want to micro-manage you, so show them by your results that you don’t need to be micromanaged. Willingness to Learn. You must show a willingness to learn new skills, job duties, and ways
Released:
Jul 29, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

The Exclusive Career Coach is presented by Lesa Edwards, CEO of Exclusive Career Coaching. This weekly podcast covers all things career management including job search strategies, interviewing tips, networking tools, maximizing LinkedIn, salary negotiations, and managing your mindset around your career.