As a recruitment agency, we often get asked about the most important skills that employers look for in candidates. Therefore, we’ve compiled this list of skills from our experience working with companies to find the ideal employee for their roles.
Communication
Communication is one of the most important skills you can develop in your career. It’s also one of the most challenging, because it encompasses so many different aspects of your life: verbal and written communication, as well as your ability to listen effectively and connect with others on a personal level.
To improve your communication skills, start by considering which aspects of communication are most important for you right now. Are there certain situations where poor communication has caused problems in the past? What would happen if those issues were resolved? How would this change affect the way people perceive you at work or school?
Once we’ve identified our goals for improving our ability to communicate effectively (and why), we can figure out how best to achieve them–whether that means taking classes or reading books about public speaking skills; learning how small changes in tone and body language can help convey confidence when presenting ideas; practicing better listening habits by paying attention during meetings instead of checking email on their phones…
Flexibility
Flexibility is an important skill for candidates to have. It shows that you are willing to learn new skills and work in different roles, locations and time zones.
This means that if an employer asks you to do something outside of your normal role, then you should be willing to do so without complaint or hesitation.
Time management
Time management skills are a necessity for people in all roles. The ability to plan, delegate and prioritise effectively can help you maximise your productivity and minimise stress levels.
To improve your time management:
- Keep track of what you’re doing with technology such as calendars or apps that allow you to create lists or reminders for upcoming tasks;
- Take regular breaks from work;
- Get enough sleep (between six and eight hours per night);
- Avoid multitasking during meetings by focusing on one thing at a time instead of trying to do two things at once;
- Create an environment where colleagues feel comfortable asking questions without feeling silly or being judged harshly by others who aren’t participating in the discussion
Initiative
Initiative is about taking the initiative to complete tasks, being proactive, and taking responsibility for your own learning. It’s a can-do attitude that says “I’ll do it myself” rather than waiting for someone else to do it for you. This skill shows employers that you’re not afraid of hard work–you want to get things done on time and in an efficient manner.
Customer service
Customer service skills are important in any job, and they can be learned. A recruitment agency looks for candidates who have a natural aptitude for customer service.
- Friendly and welcoming demeanor: You should be able to smile, shake hands and make eye contact with potential clients or customers when you meet them. You don’t need to be overly chatty; just show that you’re interested in what they have to say by listening attentively and asking appropriate questions at the right moments (e.g., “How long have you been working here?”).
- Clear communication: While speaking clearly is essential regardless of the situation, it’s especially important when communicating with clients over email or phone calls because these forms of communication usually lack nonverbal cues such as facial expressions or body language (which help convey meaning) when compared with face-to-face interactions between two people who know each other well enough not only understand each other’s tone but also anticipate what might come next based on previous conversations between them.”
Adaptability
- Adaptability: The ability to change and adjust to new situations, environments and people is a skill that employers look for in candidates.
- Learning quickly: Employers want people who can learn quickly as they don’t have time to waste on someone who does not understand something immediately. They also want employees who can pick up new skills easily as the workplace changes so fast these days that sometimes it feels like you’re learning something new every day!
- Working in a changing environment: Most companies today have very fast-paced environments where things are constantly changing from day-to-day or even hour-to-hour depending on what industry you’re working in (if there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself since becoming an employer myself…it’s how much I hate change!). If your candidate has been able to adapt well enough over their career thus far then chances are they’ll be able to handle whatever comes their way while working under your roof too!
Empathy and teamwork skills
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It’s an important skill for anyone who works with people, and it’s also an essential part of teamwork.
Teamwork skills are key to success in any job, but they’re especially critical in highly collaborative professions like sales or marketing. In these fields, it’s crucial for team members to be able to communicate effectively with each other–and empathy can play a big role here too: if you’ve ever had trouble understanding why someone else has done something unexpected (or something that seems silly), then you know how important it is for everyone involved in a project or meeting to have good emotional intelligence skills at their disposal!
These skills are important to employers everywhere.
The following are top skills that employers look for in candidates:
- Communication skills – the ability to clearly convey information and ideas, both verbally and in writing. You can develop this skill by taking courses on public speaking or writing, as well as reading books on communication strategies.
- Critical thinking – an ability to analyze situations from different perspectives and make sound judgments based on available information. To develop this skill, try taking classes that require you to think critically about a given topic (such as business ethics), or reading articles with opposing viewpoints on an issue you’re passionate about so that you can practice articulating why your position is right while being open-minded enough not to dismiss opposing viewpoints outright.
About Charterhouse
We’ve been helping candidates to find their dream job for over 20 years. We have the experience, the network, and the passion to help make sure that your next career move is one of your best yet. After all, you deserve it! Get in touch with our specialist team or view our latest vacancies today.
