Most of us have experienced job seeking at some point and it can be frustrating at times. The good news though, is that by including all these key skills you’ll have a better chance of getting a job quicker.
Employers look for various skills in their search for a new employee. Out of the many, these six skills are the most favoured in all types of jobs. If you are applying for bar or office work, these skills will apply to the duties of your new role. If you want to have the best chance of getting your dream job then include as many as these as possible (ideally all) and, you will have a much better chance of beating the competition to it.
Being organised and managing your time well
It’s easy to have a real structure in your life if you can manage your time well, and this statement is just as true at work. By mastering the art of time management and getting it down on your CV you are more desirable to the employer, so be sure to include this as one of your many skills.
If you’re wondering if there’s a specific place in your CV that you should mention time management, the answer is no. And that’s because every job already entails an element of time management so it’s important to demonstrate where you may have been tasked to do so explicitly. As an example, you can describe this in the list of duties you have done in any past jobs or even stated briefly in your personal statement section.
Say you’re currently in a bartending role. Why not illustrate your strong time management skills and describe a time when you carried out your bartending duties while undertaking additional tasks like clearing tables and taking stock? Scenarios like this speak volumes about your abilities to any potential employers!
Top tip: place this skill where it feels most appropriate. If you feel that your personal statement is a little weak then, add it there. If you don’t believe you have enough skills listed in your CV, why not add it there? The possibilities are endless!
Having strong business acumen
In simpler terms, business acumen is business ‘smarts’. How businesses are run can vary immensely but having a general understanding of the business world will help you transition into a company a lot easier. Everyone has different ways of approach so don’t be shy to use yours to tackle new challenges in the workplace.
But hold on, if you’re wondering how are you supposed to highlight business intelligence in your CV then here it goes: for starters, you will need some strong examples that verify your claims.
Business acumen is a great skill to include in your CV but, it won’t mean anything if you can’t demonstrate or give an example. So ask yourself when was the last time you used your understanding of business world and when it resulted in a good outcome.
Showing you are motivated
Employers want someone who is going to turn up to work excited to do their job, so you’ve got to be self-motivated and prove to them that you have the ambition. So, what are your ambitions and how is a job going to get you there? If you give the employer an insight into where you want your career to end up you can really highlight how committed you are. One way to do so is to include career goals in your CV through your personal statement. Consider using language that will make you look like an enthusiastic and goal-oriented person who is eager to work in your personal statement. Read through it and replace any weak words or phrases with more aspirational ones.
For example, instead of writing ‘I would like to work in this industry because I think I’d be good at it and do well’, try rewording it to ‘I have a strong drive to work in this industry as I have the right skillset to succeed’. Simple changes like these can massively upgrade your personal statement and get your CV to the high standard needed to be able to compete and standout among other job seekers.
Being adaptable and versatile
Being adaptable is about keeping an open mind and being eager to learn and grow within a business. You can demonstrate your adaptability and versatility in your CV in a number of ways. For instance, you can show that you are adaptable by including all the variation of jobs you’ve done. Not only will this show your capabilities but it will also emphasise your enthusiasm and your willingness to learn.
Another way to show that you are adaptable is to provide proof of a time that you were. Ask yourself if there was a time that you thought outside the box to solve a problem and helped the business. For the best results, try and show your adaptability in both your work history and personal statement.
Top Tip: do not leave gaps in your work history as employers will ask you why you were unemployed for those periods of time and the last thing you want is for them to think that you’re passive.
Having confidence in yourself
This one is perhaps one of the most essential skills to include! Employers are constantly looking for individuals who are confident and for those who can keep producing positive results. An employer is much more likely to hire someone who is self-assured over someone who isn’t. So make sure to allow your confidence to come through on your CV by using positive and aspirational tone of voice.
Have confidence in yourself and allow your achievements to underline your value. Write down all the stuff that is relevant and it will impress the employer. Be sure to work the rest of your text around this! Also, remember to use an assured tone of voice and strong language in your personal statement. For example, use ‘excellent’ instead of ‘good’ or ‘determined’ instead of ‘I would like to’.
Good communication skills
Every job you apply for will require you to communicate effectively and regularly. Therefore, it’s vital that you have this included at least once in your CV. In your work history, you can give examples of when you communicated effectively to perform your role and duties. Take any positions in the restaurant, for instance. You can give examples of when you had to take orders and communicate it accurately to the kitchen.
Most of these skills are quite basic, but you would be surprised by the impact they can have on an employer’s decision. To be able to understand business and how you will benefit one is great. If you can convey this through your CV, employers will have a lot more reason to take a second look at your application and invite you to an interview.
Employers will be looking for these qualities in their future employees so stay ahead of the curve and include these essential skills in your CV. Remember, always back statements up with examples of where you have shown these qualities to stand out from the crowd!
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