What Employers Really Want: The 7 Skills That Will Make You Stand Out

In today’s competitive and fast-changing job market, having the right skills and qualifications is not enough to land your dream job. You also need to demonstrate that you have the employability skills that employers are looking for in candidates.

Employability skills are the soft skills and hard skills that enable you to perform well in any role and industry. They are the skills that make you a valuable and adaptable employee who can contribute to the success of the organization.

But what are the most sought-after employability skills in 2023 and beyond? Based on my research and experience, here are the top seven skills that employers want and how you can showcase them on your resume, cover letter, and interview.

1. Communication skills

Communication skills are essential for any job, as they allow you to effectively exchange information and ideas with others. Communication skills include writing, speaking, listening, and negotiating.

To highlight your communication skills, you should:

• Use clear, concise, and professional language on your resume and cover letter
• Provide examples of how you communicated with different audiences and purposes in your previous or current roles
• Demonstrate your ability to listen actively, ask relevant questions, and give constructive feedback during the interview
• Avoid jargon, slang, or filler words that might confuse or distract the employer

Communication skills are key to building rapport, trust, and understanding with others. They can also help you avoid conflicts, misunderstandings, and errors.

2. Leadership skills

Leadership skills are not only for managers or supervisors. They are also important for anyone who wants to take initiative, inspire others, and achieve goals. Leadership skills include active listening, dependability, the ability to give and receive feedback, and patience.

To highlight your leadership skills, you should:

• Mention any leadership roles or responsibilities you had in your previous or current jobs, education, or extracurricular activities
• Provide examples of how you motivated, supported, or coached others to achieve a common objective
• Show how you handled challenges, conflicts, or changes in a positive and proactive way
• Express your willingness to learn from others and improve your leadership skills

Leadership skills are valuable for any employee who wants to make a difference and have an impact. They can also help you grow personally and professionally. ??

3. Teamwork skills

Teamwork skills are vital for any employee who is part of an organization or who works with other individuals in their daily operations. Teamwork skills enable you to collaborate effectively, share ideas, and resolve problems. Teamwork skills include collaboration, honesty, communication, and responsibility.

To highlight your teamwork skills, you should:

• Emphasize your ability to work well with diverse people and personalities
• Provide examples of how you contributed to a team project or task in your previous or current roles
• Show how you used your communication skills to coordinate with others and avoid misunderstandings
• Demonstrate your willingness to help others and accept feedback from your team members

Teamwork skills are essential for creating a positive and productive work environment. They can also help you learn new things and achieve better results. ??

4. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the skills that allow you to interact with and work well with others. They are closely related to teamwork skills but also include aspects such as motivation, flexibility, and empathy.

To highlight your interpersonal skills, you should:

• Show enthusiasm and interest in the job and the employer
• Adapt your style and approach to different situations and people
• Show empathy and respect for others’ feelings, opinions, and perspectives
• Demonstrate your ability to handle stress, emotions, and criticism in a mature and professional way

Interpersonal skills are important for building relationships, communicating effectively, and handling situations in an appropriate manner. They can also help you enjoy your work more and have more fun. ??

5. Analytical skills

Analytical skills are the skills that allow you to confront a problem, think it through, and decisively apply solutions. They are also related to organizing, planning, and prioritizing effectively. Analytical skills include critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, and decision making.

To highlight your analytical skills, you should:

• Use numbers, facts, and evidence to support your statements on your resume and cover letter
• Provide examples of how you analyzed a situation, identified a problem, and implemented a solution in your previous or current roles
• Demonstrate your ability to use logic, reasoning, and creativity to solve problems during the interview
• Show how you used tools or software to collect, process, or present data or information

Analytical skills are crucial for making informed and sound decisions, finding solutions, and improving processes. They can also help you save time, money, and resources. ??

6. Technical skills

Technical skills are the specific knowledge and abilities required to do the job. They vary depending on the job function and industry but can include computer coding, equipment operation, painting, etc.

To highlight your technical skills, you should:

• List the relevant technical skills that match the job requirements on your resume and cover letter
• Provide examples of how you used or learned those technical skills in your previous or current roles
• Demonstrate your proficiency or certification in those technical skills during the interview
• Show your willingness to learn new technical skills or update your existing ones

Technical skills are important for performing your job tasks efficiently and effectively. They can also help you stand out from the competition and showcase your expertise. ??

7. Learning skills

Learning skills are the skills that enable you to acquire new knowledge and abilities continuously. They are crucial for adapting to the changing demands of the job market and staying ahead of the competition. Learning skills include active learning, resilience, stress tolerance, and flexibility.

To highlight your learning skills, you should:

• Mention any courses, certifications, or training you completed or are pursuing to update your skills or knowledge
• Provide examples of how you learned from your mistakes, failures, or feedback in your previous or current roles
• Demonstrate your curiosity and eagerness to learn new things during the interview
• Show your openness to change and new challenges

Learning skills are essential for keeping up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. They can also help you grow as a person and as a professional. ??

These are the top seven skills that employers want and how you can showcase them on your LinkedIn profile. By developing and highlighting these skills, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job and advancing your career.

What do you think? Do you agree with this list? Do you have any other skills that you think are important for the future of work? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you. ??