Let your natural soft skills do the talking

GETTING a job these days is a tough thing to achieve. And even more so if you feel that your CV doesn’t scream, “hire me.” Maybe you’ve been out of work for a few years while raising a family. Maybe you never went to university and don’t have fancy titles or qualifications to put down on paper, or perhaps you just weren’t very good at school. But this doesn’t mean that you don’t have skills and aren’t worth hiring. So how do you jazz up your CV to let employers know that you are a good choice?

According to business experts, degrees and qualifications aren’t the only things that employers look for, so you shouldn’t be scared away from applying for positions.

Of course, a university degree or experience is great on a CV, but if you lack these things, then just fill the gaps with real skills that real employers are looking for. Personal skills such as ‘good communication,’ ‘organisation,’ ‘time management,’ ‘being a team player’ or ‘having leadership tendencies’ are just as essential within a work setting as are qualifications.

A lot of potential employees look great on paper, with excellent degrees, but when you ask them to communicate, they really struggle. While some workers are promoted because they are technically competent, but this doesn’t automatically mean they have the skills to engage and motivate a team. Therefore, it’s important to remember that academic skills and soft skills are as important as each other, so highlight yours.

If you lack actual working experience, then demonstrate how in your day-to-day life you may have developed and gained skill-sets. Find examples and be able to talk about them with confidence.

For example, a mother, wanting to go back to work, could illustrate how juggling three kids and running a home has equipped her with Bond-like multi-tasking abilities, and patience.

And finally, to make yourself more employable, brush up on computer skills to show that you really understand spreadsheets and how to produce a killer presentation.

Stay informed about your chosen profession. Organise some impressive references from former employers or teachers, and learn some new skills. The more skills you possess, the more employable you will become.