Despite the high number of applications received for each job opening, recruiters are having a difficult time finding individuals who possess the necessary abilities. But what kinds of talents do prospective employers look for, and how can you best highlight these abilities on your resume?
Your education will have equipped you with a wide variety of talents, both those that are particular to your field and those that are applicable in other contexts. In spite of this, it is very necessary for you to explain how you've acquired the fundamental skills that you believe would make you a valuable asset to the organization if you were to join it.
The following are some of the most prevalent important abilities that employers of recent graduates want their new hires to display. To be able to write an effective job application, it is essential for you to have a solid understanding of these talents as well as the methods by which you may demonstrate that you have improved them.
Resilience
This relates to your capacity to bounce back from difficulties, and it is something that employers of recent graduates have begun to evaluate in growing numbers. How well do you handle difficult circumstances, such as when something goes wrong or when you're under pressure? What course of action do you take if an unexpected change or issue arises in the course of a project?
It is not expected of you that you will be untouched by these occurrences; nonetheless, you must be able to demonstrate that you respond to them in a good manner and are able to establish solutions to cope with them.
Awareness of business practices
This skill is often referred to as business acumen, and it involves having an awareness of how a certain industry or organization operates, including where that industry or organization stands in the market, who its rivals are, and what recent changes have occurred in the area.
To demonstrate that you have commercial awareness, you will need to demonstrate that you have conducted research on the firm and the industry in which it operates. The ability to demonstrate this talent may also be shown by membership in a professional organization or through relevant job experience.
Strong ability to communicate
It comes down to how well you can communicate your thoughts to others as well as how well you can listen to what they have to say. Employers will be interested in seeing how well you can establish relationships, convince others, and bargain.
Make use of your curriculum vitae or the application form to provide detailed descriptions of specific written and vocal instances of when you've put these talents to use. This might include anything from giving presentations in front of an audience to writing for a student newspaper, for instance. Demonstrate how you adapted your message to the specific audience that you were speaking to.
Leadership and management that gets results.
Even if you are not seeking for a job in management, you will still need to show to employers that you have the capacity to encourage and lead people in order to accomplish shared goals. This is true even if you are not applying for a position in management. It is also vital to provide proof of the talent of self-management, which involves providing an example of a circumstance in which you effectively controlled your own time.
When filling out application forms, be sure to include specific examples of times when you were responsible for planning and coordinating events as part of your degree program or in extracurricular activities such as university clubs and organizations. The capacity to resolve issues and disagreements is something that is highly regarded by recruiters at all times.
Planning and research skills
It's possible that you'll need to devise an appropriate strategy and plan of action in order to complete specific work-related activities. This may require obtaining pertinent information from a variety of sources after searching for it. It is crucial that you carefully consider how you will analyze, interpret, and report these results.
In your resume, make sure to highlight the transferable abilities that you've acquired while earning your degree. For instance, reading about a topic and analyzing the material you find before writing an essay, or analyzing the findings of a scientific experiment are both valuable talents.
Adaptability
Because businesses are always striving to improve their competitive standing, prospective employees must demonstrate to prospective employers that they are able to adjust to novel circumstances and pick up new abilities on the job. Employers will be able to detect that you are an effective leader who can rise to the challenge if you possess this ability.
In order to provide evidence of this in your application, you could use examples of a time when you learned new skills or processes at university or an instance when you adapted to a new or challenging situation in your part-time job. Both of these would be good ways to demonstrate that you are able to meet the requirements of the position.
Cooperation with others and interpersonal abilities
The vast majority of graduates will have gained experience working in groups, either during their time at university or while holding part-time employment or participating in work placements. Your individual contribution to the accomplishment of shared objectives will be evaluated by potential employers.
This is not only about the times when you've been an excellent leader of a team; it's also about the occasions when you've been an effective member of a team that's taken instructions and direction from someone else.
By looking at sample questions and responses, you may figure out how to include these talents into the application forms you will be submitting.
Relevant job experience
Given the amount of competition for graduate employment, it is becoming more necessary to have some work experience that is relevant to the job you are seeking for. When evaluating potential employees, it is something that the vast majority of businesses look for.
Refer to the sections on work experience and internships for pointers on how to get a placement and how to make the most of the possibilities that are available.