4 Getting the job
4.1 What do employers look for when recruiting?
In its 2011 report, Building for Growth, The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) identified seven core employability skills that most employers value:
- Self-management:
- readiness to accept responsibility
- flexibility
- resilience
- self-starting
- appropriate assertiveness
- time management
- readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning.
- Team working:
- respecting others
- cooperating
- negotiating and persuading
- contributing to discussions
- an awareness of interdependence with others.
- Problem solving:
- analysing facts and situations
- creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.
- Communication and literacy:
- producing clear, structured written work
- oral literacy
- listening and questioning.
- Numeracy:
- manipulating numbers
- general mathematical awareness and its application in practical contexts.
- Application of information technology:
- basic IT skills
- familiarity with commonly used IT programmes.
- Business and customer awareness:
- understanding the key drivers for business success
- innovating
- taking calculated risks
- providing customer satisfaction
- building customer loyalty.
According to the report, four out of five employers value these skills. Underpinning them all is a positive attitude and enthusiasm. We have categorised them into four broad areas:
- self-reliance skills
- people skills
- general employment skills
- specialist skills.
Table 5 shows the skills that employers want and how they can be developed.
| Type of skill | Examples of how the skills can be developed through interests, work and education |
|---|---|
Self-reliance skills | |
Self-awareness: purposeful, focused, self-belief, realistic, assessing your own performance Pro-active: resourceful, drive, self-reliant Willingness to learn: inquisitive, motivated, enthusiastic Self-promotion: positive, persistent, ambitious, accepting responsibility Networking: initiator, relationship-builder, resourceful Problem solving: how you approach problems, finding and implementing solutions Planning action: decision-maker, planner, able to prioritise, identifying areas for improvement
| Study: carrying out self-directed projects Roles within work Involvement in community groups or charities Roles within the home: planning, coordinating others |
People skills | |
Team working: supportive, organised, coordinator, deliverer, reliability, adaptability Interpersonal skills: listener, adviser, cooperative, assertive Oral communication: communicator, presenter, influencer Leadership: motivator, energetic, visionary Customer orientation: friendly, caring, diplomatic, respect Foreign language: specific language skills | Caring responsibilities Work responsibilities in a team Fund-raising for charity Voluntary work Member of orchestra or drama group Sport Guide/Scout leader Travel |
General employment skills | |
Problem solving: practical, logical, results orientated Flexibility: versatile, willing, multi-skilled Business acumen: entrepreneurial, competitive, risk taker, customer service IT/computer literacy: office skills, keyboard skills, software packages Numeracy: accurate, quick thinker, methodical, dealing with data Commitment: dedicated, trustworthy, conscientious | Roles within the home: budgeting Roles within work: use of IT, work experience Project work through study Membership of local clubs, committees and societies Self-employment |
Specialist skills | |
Specific occupational skills: specialist relevant knowledge, e.g. languages, IT Technical skills: journalism, engineering, accounting, sales | Study European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Language skills Web design skills: use of programming or coding languages Using social media tools First aid at work qualification NVQ qualification |
The requirements that an employer sets out in a job advertisement are likely to be much more specific, but it’s worth bearing in mind that candidates who apply for jobs are also expected to demonstrate at least some of these skills.