In today’s job market, it’s common to hear about skills, but not many resources are available to tell you what skills actually are, how to talk about your skills, and how to showcase them to recruiters and professionals in your network. Here are 3 skills that pay the bills in today’s job market and how you can take advantage of skill-building to jumpstart your career!
Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills.
Before we reveal the top 3 skills to pay the bills, it is essential to understand what skills are in a recruiting landscape and what the difference is between Soft Skills and Hard Skills. Recruiters often look for a variety of skillsets in the candidates they recruit. In the career world, we also often divide into STEM fields and non-STEM fields, which helps candidates nail down exactly what skills they should focus on.
What Are Hard Skills?
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field recruiters often look for candidates with essential hard skills. Hard skills can be thought of as very particular skills that often have a technical or expertise focus. Coding in a specific language, ability to use a particular program like Adobe or Excel, or using GIS (Geographic Information Systems), can all be considered Hard Skills.
What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are a bit harder to define, but can be thought of as skills that are non-technical, but are just as important to a cohesive work strategy as hard skills. Common soft skills are, excellent communication, leadership, and management skills. While harder to define and non-technical, employers are always on the lookout for candidates who have strong soft skills.
What Employers Want.
As mentioned, employers are on the lookout for candidates with both hard and soft skills. So how can you set yourself apart? One of the best approaches is to define early on in your academic or career journey, what types of roles and industries you could see yourself working in. Is the role/industry STEM focused or non-STEM. If STEM, build up strong hard skills and supplement them with soft skills that help you work well on a team and communicate effectively. If the riole/industry is non-STEM, build up strong leadership, communication, and management skills and then supplement them with particular hard skills that are desired in the industry you enjoy.
What Skills to Pay the Bills?
So, what are our top 3 skills to pay the bills? Here’s a hint… they are all soft skills. Hard skills, as mentioned, are an essential component of building up your skillset. However, there are so many hard skills that it is nearly impossible to keep a pulse on “which ones are the best.” Instead, make sure that the hard skills you’re building are desired in the industry you want to work in. Now, what’s the first soft skill ever good candidate should have?!
#1 Effective Communication
Effective communication is a highly valuable skill in virtually every area of life, including personal relationships, education, and of course, in your career. It involves the ability to effectively convey information, thoughts, and feelings in a clear, concise, and respectful manner, as well as being able to actively listen to and understand others.
Improved working relationships
Effective communication helps to build strong and positive working relationships with others. It allows individuals to express their thoughts and feelings in a way that is clear and understandable, which can lead to better understanding and deeper connections
Increased Productivity
Effective communication can also lead to increased productivity in the workplace. When team members are able to communicate clearly and efficiently, they can work together more effectively and efficiently, leading to better results.
Better Problem-Solving
Effective communication is essential for problem-solving. It enables individuals to exchange ideas and information, collaborate, and work together to find solutions to problems.
Enhanced Leadership Skills
Good communication skills are essential for effective leadership. Leaders who are able to communicate clearly and effectively can inspire and motivate their team members, build trust, and create a positive and productive work environment.
What’s next…?
#2 Teamwork
Teamwork is a critical skill that is highly valued in virtually every field and industry. It involves the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with others towards a common goal or objective.
Increased Productivity
Working as a team leads to increased productivity. When people are able to work together and support one another, they can achieve more than they could working alone. Team members can leverage one another’s strengths and skills, which can lead to better results and more efficient use of resources.
Improved Problem-Solving
Working as a team improves problem-solving. When team members come from diverse backgrounds and bring different perspectives and ideas to the table, they can often generate more creative and effective solutions to problems.
Enhanced Learning and Growth
Teamwork promotes individual learning and growth. When individuals work on a team, they have the opportunity to learn from others and expand their knowledge and skills. They can also receive feedback from their teammates, which can help them to improve their performance.
Better Communication
Good teamwork requires good communication. When team members communicate effectively with one another, they can work together more efficiently and effectively, and misunderstandings and conflicts can be avoided.
Positive work environment: Finally, teamwork can help to create a positive work environment. When individuals work together as a team, they can build strong relationships and a sense of camaraderie, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and motivation.
#3 Adaptability
Adaptability is a valuable skill that is highly sought after in today’s rapidly changing and unpredictable job market. It involves the ability to adjust to new situations, challenges, and environments quickly and effectively. There are several reasons why adaptability is a good skill to have, including:
Increased Resilience
Adaptability can help individuals to become more resilient in the face of adversity. When individuals are able to adapt to new and challenging situations, they are better equipped to handle setbacks and obstacles, and are more likely to bounce back from difficult experiences.
Increased Opportunities
Being adaptable can open up new opportunities and career paths. Individuals who are able to adapt to new situations and challenges are often seen as more valuable and versatile employees, and may be given opportunities for advancement or career changes.
Better Collaboration
Adaptability can also lead to better collaboration with others. When individuals are adaptable, they are often more willing to compromise and work together to find solutions to problems.
Overall, adaptability is a critical skill that can benefit individuals in many ways. It can lead to increased resilience, improved problem-solving, enhanced learning and growth, increased opportunities, and better collaboration with others.