Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
When you want to stay ahead of the competition, there are a few key strategies to implement to ensure you remain a top contender.
After all, it’s no secret that employers today want more than just technical knowledge — they want creative problem-solvers with skills such as innovation and critical thinking.
Getting trained in the latest software programs is a great start, but investing time in developing your soft skills can help you stand out even more than having the latest certification.
So, take stock of where you stand with the following skills. They may just be the edge that secures your next job.
The Top 10 Skills Employers Want You to Have
Applicant tracking systems will match you to a role based on education and experience, but you’ll need to communicate more than those things to impress a hiring manager.
As you’re preparing your resume and researching dream jobs, consider the following 10 skills.
1. A Learning Mindset
Regardless of your target industry, the modern workplace is rapidly changing, and staying ahead of the curve is essential.
Do you approach your career with a focus on continual learning? If so, you’re developing one of the most desirable skills. Leaders are eager for team members who are open to new technologies and approaches and can adapt to any situation.
Action tip: This is an excellent space to focus on your career development goals. But you can also talk about your enthusiasm for learning and any new technologies or trends you’ve embraced.
2. Change Management
The business world is evolving at a rapid-fire pace, and organizations need teams and leaders who can keep up. Change management is the ability to assess a situation and implement strategies.
Whether that’s within your own role or when leading others, exceptional change management skills keep the organization moving forward and shifting to meet new standards and trends.
Action tip: Take advantage of any experiences you’ve had helping to implement new technology or leading a team with a new change in regulation or compliance. Your goal here should be to demonstrate flexibility and capacity for change.
3. Collaboration
As teams include more cultures, time zones, and communication styles, one of the most sought-after skills is working well with others. Collaboration is more than simply communicating effectively.
Show that you have the confidence to contribute meaningful ideas within a team. But balance contributions with a desire to include others, listen and apply feedback, and compromise.
Highlight that you can not only work independently but that you also have the capacity to work as part of a cohesive unit to achieve success.
Action tip: Demonstrate collaboration skills by describing how you supported the work of others. Share actions, such as setting up systems for efficient communication or incorporating feedback from team members.
You can also highlight successes achieved through collaborative efforts, such as surpassing team goals.
4. Communication
No matter how autonomous your dream job is, you’ll be interacting with one of the organization’s key stakeholders at some point. Employers are looking for job seekers with strong verbal and written communication skills that can get the point across quickly and succinctly.
Whether conversing with colleagues or creating engaging presentations, being articulate and understanding how to express yourself clearly and effectively will take you far in any industry.
Action tip: Share an example of how you resolved an issue through excellent interpersonal communication.
For instance, provide examples of how you quickly created well-received emails or memos. Or, highlight a difficult coaching conversation and the positive outcome.
5. Critical Thinking
Recruiters look for applicants who can try new approaches and develop innovative solutions. Hiring managers look to see that you can identify where a process isn’t working and quickly find an appropriate solution.
Excellent problem-solvers can analyze information and draw logical conclusions while evaluating options and picking the best one.
Action tip: One surefire way to demonstrate critical thinking skills is by including examples of times you’ve helped to troubleshoot a technical issue or resolved a tricky customer complaint. Show employers that you can think on your feet and come up with workable solutions quickly.
6. Digital Literacy
There’s not a single field that doesn’t involve some sort of technology. Digital literacy has become an essential component for every job and is likely to get even more ingrained in every level of business.
You’ll need to highlight that you know how to use the latest software, platforms, and tools your field uses to produce results effectively.
Action tip: Make a list of the digital tools that you use regularly, along with digital trends and topics to show that you can stay up to date.
Think of common apps, such as Slack, Zoom, or programs specific to your industry. Narrow that list down to the most recent or impactful tools for the role you’re pursuing to showcase your ability to learn and embrace evolving technologies.
7. Emotional Intelligence
The capacity to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in yourself and others is highly sought after by employers. Consider how you build relationships, foster trust, and resolve conflicts productively.
Honing your emotional intelligence prepares you for various work environments. And it’s even more desired if you’re seeking a leadership role.
Regardless of industry, modern leaders need to be able to guide individuals with wide-ranging personalities and cultural backgrounds.
Action tip: Showing that you can have empathy and understand other perspectives is key. Share an example of a time when you identified the feelings of yourself and others and responded to diffuse any tension.
Try for specific examples of reading people’s reactions or seeking to understand their motivations that led to you applying a different approach.
8. Entrepreneurship
Understanding key factors that drive profitability at every level of an organization is an incredibly desirable skill.
Leverage your insights on how your role or team contributed to the mission and overall success of your company to help you stand out from the competition.
Action tip: Share times when you’ve successfully identified opportunities to contribute and generate value.
Give an example of when you took the initiative and pushed things forward without needing to be asked or reminded. Try to relate your achievements to the role to show an awareness of high-level goals.
9. Innovation
Do you have the ability to think outside the box, develop creative solutions, and recognize patterns? If so, you’re ahead of the curve, as these are all critical aspects of innovation that leaders seek in their teams.
Those who can create unique ideas that drive a company’s success will stand out from other applicants.
But innovation is more than simply having creative ideas. You also need the ability to take your proposal and improve on it or set it aside when it’s not working.
Action tip: Talk about how you’ve developed new ideas or solutions to complex problems. Describe the thought process that went into creating your solution. You may need to explain what makes it unique and how it could be implemented in a larger company context.
Demonstrate the importance of feedback from other teams and departments, along with your ability to research, test, and learn from mistakes.
10. Time Management
Hiring managers are looking for candidates who demonstrate the ability to prioritize tasks, set timelines, and stick to them. This is a crucial skill regardless of your role, and even more so if you’re seeking a remote position.
Communicate that you’ll be able to plan your schedule and manage your time effectively while juggling multiple responsibilities and staying ahead of deadlines.
Action tip: Realistically, every hiring manager and recruiter is looking for someone who can stay on top of their tasks. Share an example of how you completed several daily tasks or managed multiple priorities and deadlines efficiently.
You could also describe the strategies you use daily. This might be how you plan your schedule, create daily routines, set reminders, and stay organized.
Communicating the Top Skills Employers Seek
If this seems like a lot to squeeze in, remember that your application goes beyond the resume and cover letter you submit. Hiring managers will also be reviewing your LinkedIn profile and online presence.
Ensure you’re taking advantage of every opportunity to communicate that you have the top skills employers seek.
