Develop These 8 Skills to Become A Valuable Asset to Any Employer

GeneralOctober 21, 2020 16:38

Photo by fauxels from Pexels

Written by Max Loong

The term "Upskilling" has become a common buzzword in 2020 given the current pandemic situation, while it does not come without cause. In a time where employers are wary to hire, and the trends are pointing towards digital transformation, many are rushing to upskill themselves so that they stay relevant and employable - and you should too!. In fact, we actually mentioned these skills in one of our previous articles - The 5 Most In-Demand Job Skills Companies Need Beyond Covid-19, And How You Can Learn Them.

Other than getting yourself familiar with technical skills, developing transferable skills are as crucial and beneficial for your career in the long run. It’s easy to overlook transferable skills as they are considered general and non-technical, but the more transferable skills one possesses, the more versatile and capable one is at handling different challenges and issues at work. Technical skills require you to reskill once a technology or trend is updated, but mastering transferable, soft skills can last you a lifetime.

Here are 8 Skills you need to develop in order to be a valuable asset to any employer:

Organisational Skills

Organisational skills include the tidiness of your physical and digital spaces as well as your ability to plan, schedule and prioritize. Good self-organisation can help save time, prevent miscommunications and improve efficiency. Examples of Organisational skills can be:

1. Financial management: Making sure projects stay on budget is one of the key challenges for any team or company. It requires taking initiative to source for quality goods at competitive prices or finding creative ways to keep costs down if the need arises.
2. Time management: Being able to work fast while producing quality results is what any employer wants. In these fast-paced times, this is a valuable skill for any job seeker to have.

3. Analytical skill: Your ability to conduct research, sort data, swiftly process findings and come to a sound conclusion requires strong organizational skills.

4. Creative problem-solving: Your ability to handle difficult or unexpected situations in the workplace as well as complex business challenges. Companies rely on people who can assess both kinds of situations and calmly identify solutions.

Interpersonal Communication Skills

Not everyone has a natural flair in their social skills, but having strong interpersonal skills are incredibly helpful in the workplace, especially if you’re working in a big organisation. Having effective interpersonal communication skills are necessary to work effectively with colleagues whether they are direct reports, managers or clients. Communicating ideas in a thoughtful and understandable way can ensure they are well-received and help you avoid misinterpretations.

5. Developing Empathy through Active Listening: Having empathy means that you can not only understand but also share in the emotions of others. This communication skill is important in both team and one-on-one settings. In both cases, you will need to understand other people’s emotions and select an appropriate response. People who are active listeners are well-regarded by their colleagues because of the respect they pay to those around them.

6. Confidence: In the workplace, people are more likely to respond to ideas that are presented with confidence. Not only can it affect your mindset, but it can positively impact the quality of your work and make you a more desirable employee. Understanding the methods for improving your confidence can help you achieve this positive mentality more readily. 

7. Matching your communication style to your audience: Different styles of communication are appropriate in different situations. To make the best use of your communication skills, it’s important to consider your audience and the most effective format to communicate with them in.

8. Negotiation: Whether if it's to close a sale or to help colleagues solve a problem and determine a solution, negotiation seems to be present in any job function. To be able to come up with a win-win solution will prove you to be a valuable employee.

 

These skills might not seem tangible as compared to learning technical skills, but the value they add to your productivity and work performance will give you assurance in your abilities. Not only will they help you in your work and life, but the benefits it gives can also last a long time. 

 

Find out more about Reeracoen’s Career Consultation Services and how our Career Advisors can assist you in your career journey.