Identification of your skill sets to present in the Interview

Identification of your skill sets to present in the Interview

In the crowd of competitors, you need something that sets you apart from others and gives you an edge in the competition. This is when your skills and USPs (Unique Selling Points) plays a significant role. If you know how to do this then the ball is surely in your court. Just wonder how great it would be if you know, what mix of abilities and skills the employer is searching for. Although almost all employers usually look for some common skills, yet some skills are specifically associated with the kind of job. If you understand the attributes that potential employers seek, then you can customize your presentation and job-search marketing strategy.

Here is a list of top ten skills that employers search for

• Analytical skills: A problem solver is what every employer wants the most. The ability to analyze a situation, find multiple perceptions, gathering information required, and recognizing key issues is very important for every job. You need to highlight your problem solving skills to grab attention of employers out there.

 

• Communication Skills: This can be said to be the most sought after skills by employers. No matter on which position you are employed, your ability to communicate with your peers and seniors is critical to every job. Whatever communication skills you have, it should be highlighted in your resume or portfolio. Remember, that even non-verbal communication plays an important role to win over your interviewer.

 

• Adaptability: You can call it flexibility or Multi-Tasking, and this is what everyone demands nowadays. In the tough competitive scenario, you must have the ability to manage different tasks together, set your priorities, and adapt yourself according to changing conditions. It can be a little difficult to express this ability, but you can cite examples to show that you have what it takes to be a good multi-tasker.

 

• Work-specific skills: These skills are associated solely with the kind of the job you have applied for. These are among the most obvious skills that employers want, as this only will be required to carry out you regular activities. If you have done some research, then you might be aware what specific skills is the employer looking for, and can highlight them. If you are trained and experienced, then there is no need to worry about these skills.

 

• Personal Skills: These are inherent in a person, but can be learned overtime as well. These include honestly, team- spirit, punctuality, etc. When the recruiter asks you to tell about yourself, they actually want to judge your personality and your attitude towards work.

 

• Transferable skills: Just as the name says these skills are those abilities that you learn with experience in your job, or everyday activities and these can be used in many other situations or jobs. For instance, if you have learned some designing skills in your earlier job and now you have applied for a graphical designer post, then you can highlight this transferable skill.

 

Now when you know what the top skills that employers look for are, you should also know the effective way of communicating these skills or presenting them in a lucrative way. This is not a difficult job to do. You might have already prepared your resume, but is it enough to give a detailed insight about your skills to the employer. What can help in this situation is a well-designed job portfolio.  Preparing a portfolio can demonstrate your skills in a creative and compelling manner.

Benefits of preparing a job portfolio

Your actions sometimes speak louder than your words. All applicants say the same thing to employers and in almost similar manner as well. There is a very small difference between different applicants. A well-written job portfolio can help you distinguish yourself from other applicants. Every applicant now does a basic research about the company’s history, and prepares good resumes with the help of templates. This is why employers now look beyond these things and look for that edge. A portfolio can give you this edge

The main purpose of making a career portfolio is to present the best examples of your work. A good recruiter will always notice the effort you invest in preparing a portfolio. This shows that you are fully prepared to face the questions. Often you have to face questions that need citing an example from your previous work. In such a situation, a portfolio works as a great reference.

Steps to create a job portfolio

• Start with determining the format of the portfolio based on the kind of job.
• Make careful consideration for selecting the presentation binder, after all presentation matters.
• Clearly state real examples of your work in the form of writing samples like newsletters, press releases, reports, etc, or sample and photographs of products, performance reviews, design samples like brochures, service testimonials like client references, copies of certificates, award or training.
• Make a concise list of all your achievements. You can also include accomplishments outside the purview of job responsibilities, which shows how valuable can you be for the company.
• Make a list of all your attributes or other works you have done, which have not been covered by your resume. These comprise of all the activities that you have mastered, tasks you can do easily, tasks that you would like to do, etc.
• You can also make a list of benefits that you will bring to the company. Explain why you can be the best choice for the company. Spell out your talents, top values, ideals, your objectives for the long term, and problems you like to tackle.

You should tailor your portfolio as per the job description and can select you samples likewise. Your confidence level will definitely get a boost with a nicely prepared portfolio in your hand.  

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