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21st March 2024

The Top Skills Employers are Looking for

Standing out from the crowd can be tough when there are multiple candidates seeking the same job.

Whether it is temporary role you are seeking or your next big career move, it helps to know what employers are looking for so can you be position yourself as the perfect match!

We asked our experts what key skills you need to include on your CV to get yourself noticed.

Format Your CV

Make sure your CV has a specific section where you can list your skills – this will bring them to the attention of whoever is reviewing the CV and will ensure they don’t get lost.

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Hard Skills vs Soft Skills?

You might find that skills are often split into hard and soft skills – but what is the difference?

Hard skills tend to refer to something you have been taught, a technical competency – such as Computer Skills or a Foreign Language.
Soft skills refer more to personality traits – they are often called transferable skills as they can be transferred from one role to another. Examples include Communication Skills or Problem-Solving.

Employers often seek a combination of hard and soft skills so you should make sure your CV contains examples of both.

The Top Skills to Get You Noticed

Communication: This skill is broad and includes listening skills, as well as written and verbal communication. Employers need to know that you can listen to instructions, as well as communicate with your colleagues and customers. Try and think of any examples that demonstrate this skill – maybe preparing reports or sending emails.
Time-Management: Punctuality is critical in the workplace and employers will want to make sure you are organised and on-time, particularly if you are doing shiftwork. Time-management also relates to how well you manage your time whilst at work– ensuring you can complete all the work that is allocated to you in the given time.
Teamwork: Many jobs will require you to work as part of a team. It is important that you are respectful of your colleagues and can work together with them. You can use examples from sports or school to illustrate when you worked as part of a team if you do not yet have any examples from the workplace.
Self-Management: Sometimes you may be left to work with very little supervision, and employers like to know that you can work on your own initiative. Being enthusiastic and motivated is important and you should look for ways to demonstrate this. Employers also value resilience, as the ability to adapt to chance or bounce-back after a setback is very important in business.
Customer Service: This is especially important in customer-facing roles. Are you empathetic and a good listener? Do you remain calm under pressure? These are valuable skills that employers look for. Again, try and demonstrate when you have used these skills – perhaps you had to resolve a serious customer complaint, or went above and beyond for a client or customer.

We hope you have found these tips useful. Remember, you will develop more skills with every job that you have – so make up regularly update your CV to ensure it contains your most up to date skill set!

The Best Connection is one of the UK’s leading providers of temporary workforce solutions. For over three decades we have proudly served and supported our clients and candidates across multiple industry sectors, delivering our best-in-class customer service. To find out more how we can help you find your next role click here.

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