Skills for Work

“I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” – Pablo Picasso

In case you haven’t noticed, the global workplace is highly competitive and highly complex. It’s the reason increasing emphasis is placed on education and skills. Here are some suggestions on what the job market values together with ways to help you develop in those areas.

“There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don’t know.” – Ambrose Bierce

Different companies want different things. Knowing what your employer is looking for allows you to develop appropriate skills and make yourself valuable. Finding this out does not need to be hard. If you’re applying for a job, talk to the human resource department or do a few searches online. And if you’re already working, have a sit-down with your boss to find out how you can contribute more. Ultimately, it’s about understanding what you have to offer and linking that to what the organisation needs.

“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” – Albert Ssent-Gyorgyi

Specific fields (like medicine or law) require specific skills, but all employers have many needs in common. You’ve got to be a team player. You’ve got to know how to communicate, negotiate, and influence others. You’ve got to be flexible enough to deal with different people and different environments. You’ve got to be a critical thinker and able to consider creative ways to solve a problem after tackling it from all sides. You’ve got to show initiative and motivation when it comes to setting goals, managing priorities, dealing with deadlines, and getting things done.

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” – Thomas H. Huxley

Having a degree is just the beginning. All the other “qualifications” often turn out to be more important. So develop a passion for learning and never let it fade. Keep finding new ways to expand your mind and write down all the ways these can be linked to opportunities for your career. Take part in activities offered at your university or do some volunteer work in the community. Join a society or take up a new sport. Find people who share that passion and use them to make yours grow.

“Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.” – Albert Einstein