PSYCHOMETRIC LECTURE TO
POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS TWO DECADES AGO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
Dr Jideofo Kenechukwu Danmbaezue. D.Sc.
https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/career-planning/273051-the-top-10-skills-thatll-get-you-a-job-when-you-graduate
THE TOP 10
SKILLS THAT'LL GET YOU A JOB WHEN YOU GRADUATE
With
so many graduates now on the market, employers will look for evidence of skills
and work experience, which will make you stand out from the crowd. Start
gathering them now or work on what you've got so you are ready to impress
recruiters.
Graduate employers place
a lot of emphasis on finding candidates with the right skills and competencies
for their organisations. Depending on the career sector and profession you
choose to work in, there could be very specific skills, abilities and knowledge
needed to do the job. However, complementing these are general competences and
behaviours that are essential for successful working. These are often
overlooked by candidates, but they are the things recruitment professionals
want to see evidence of.
The
top ten skills graduate recruiters want
1. Commercial awareness (or
business acumen):
This is about knowing how a business or industry works and what makes a
company tick. Showing that you have an understanding of what the organisation
wants to achieve through its products and services, and how it competes in its
marketplace.
2. Communication:
This covers verbal and written communication, and listening. It's about
being clear, concise and focused; being able to tailor your message for the
audience and listening to the views of others.
3. Teamwork: You'll need to prove that
you're a team player but also have the ability to manage and delegate to others
and take on responsibility. It's about building positive working relationships
that help everyone to achieve goals and business objectives.
4. Negotiation and
persuasion: This
is about being able to put forward your way, but also being able to understand
where the other person is coming from so that you can both get what you want or
need and feel positive about it.
5. Problem solving: You need to display an
ability to take a logical and analytical approach to solving problems and
resolving issues. It's also good to show that you can approach problems from
different angles.
6. Leadership: You may not be a manager
straight away, but graduates need to show potential to motivate teams and other
colleagues that may work for them. It's about assigning and delegating tasks
well, setting deadlines and leading by good example.
7. Organisation: This is about showing
that you can prioritise, work efficiently and productively, and manage your
time well. It's also good to be able to show employers how you decide what is
important to focus on and get done, and how you go about meeting deadlines.
8. Perseverance and
motivation: Employers
want people to have a bit of get-up-and-go. Working life presents many
challenges and you need to show employers that you're the kind of person who
will find a way through, even when the going gets tough... and stay
cheerful-ish.
9. Ability to work under
pressure: This
is about keeping calm in a crisis and not becoming too overwhelmed or stressed.
10. Confidence: In the workplace you need
to strike the balance of being confident in yourself but not arrogant, but also
have confidence in your colleagues and the company you work for.
EMPLOYER BUZZWORDS AND WORDS OF ACTION
There are certain words
which are key to catching an employer's interest. Mention them in your CV and
at interviews and see how impressed they are with your business-speak (but
don't go overboard or you'll sound daft).
·
initiative
·
dynamic
·
teamplayer
·
proactive
·
self-motivated
You can also talk in
terms of actions that you achieve through your skills by using good, strong
verbs in applications and interviews:
·
led
·
achieved
·
completed
·
co-ordinated
·
delegated
·
delivered
·
identified
·
presented
·
promoted
·
reported
·
resolved
·
organised
TOP TIPS FOR DEVELOPING THE SKILLS MOST
EMPLOYERS WANT EMPLOYEES TO HAVE
·
Make the most of
university life and extra-curricular activities to develop your general skills.
·
Plan early to get
relevant work experience and voluntary work which will give you transferables
that will make you work ready: have something lined up for each vacation, and
get ready for formal placement and internship applications at the beginning of
your second year.
·
Religiously record the
skills you gain and work experience activities you do so that you can pull out
good examples on applications and in interviews. If you want to identify your
key strengths (and weaknesses you need to work on) sign in and use our free careers report tool.
·
Network! Use family,
friends and contacts to get work experience and to find out more about career
areas that interest you.
·
Visit your university's
careers service: find out whether it runs any employability skills sessions;
sign up for relevant courses and workshops; get help from a careers adviser to
write a CV that really showcases your competences and abilities.
·
Take advantage of careers
fairs and employer presentations: talk direct to recruiters to find out what
they look for.
·
Always do your homework
before applying for jobs. Employer research will help you identify the skills
and competences a particular organisation places most emphasis on. In turn, you
can tailor your application so that it stands out. As a starting point, use the employer hubs on
targetjobs.co.uk!
More help from TARGETjobs:
CAREER PLANNING ADVICE FOR STUDENTS AND GRADUATES
https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/career-planning
All
careers are built up in steps and this part of targetjobs.co.uk covers the
first stages in choosing a graduate career and seeking out your first job after graduation.
It’s all about getting ideas about jobs by knowing your career options, exploring your skills and understanding your motivation,
and then, of course, knowing where to look for
graduate opportunities. Dip in, whatever stage you’re at. Even
if you feel you’re up against a wall having left graduate job hunting and
career plans a little late, covering the basics is the best way to boost your confidence
and get back on track. If you need some extra help to get started, try the TARGETjobs
Careers Report to
explore some options and clarify your strengths.
Don't panic! It's never too late to start your
job-hunt
If you've been putting off your
graduate job-hunt because you don't know where to begin and you think it is too
late, now is the time to take stock and get started.
Fun, prospects or money: what are you looking for?
Even those who don’t know what career
to go for will have a good idea of what they want from it. But are you looking
for prestige or power, money or fun? You decide.
Matching yourself to the job
It's not all about whether you are
right for the job, but also whether the job is right for you. Finding a
graduate career that suits your skills and values will save a lot of time and
heartache when it comes to filling in application forms.
The top 10 skills that'll get you a job when you
graduate
With so many graduates now on the
market, employers will look for evidence of skills and work experience, which
will make you stand out from the crowd. Start gathering them now or work on
what you've got so you are ready to impress recruiters.
I have a degree, now what?
If you don't know what to do with
yourself now that you have graduated, then you can read our helpful guide to
get some ideas. If you are lucky enough to still be studying then this should
give you some ideas you can work towards now.
At a glance guide to selection methods used by
graduate recruiters
Graduate employers use a range of
methods in the recruitment selection process. Take a look at our guide to the
types of job interview and activities you might face and get some quick tips.
How to job hunt if you get a 2.2 when you graduate
Not all graduate employers specify that
they want applicants to have a 2.1. If you're concerned about how a 2.2 will
affect your chances, our advice will help you make the most of your degree.
Career tactics for women: from internship to job to
promotion
Whether you’re trying to turn your internship
into a graduate job offer or climb the career ladder in a permanent job, know
how to increase your chances of success.
Where in the UK are you most likely to get a graduate
job?
Find out about graduate employment in different
parts of the UK
Getting a graduate job when you have dyslexia
Find out about the adjustments
employers can make to the application process and how to present dyslexia as an
asset.
More help from TARGETjobs
·
Guide to graduate schemes and graduate training
·
Get the Inside
Buzz on graduate
recruiters: graduate and intern employer reviews
·
Don't forget to sign up to TARGETjobs for newsletters, vacancy alerts - and
more coming soon!
HOW TO WRITE APPLICATIONS
AND CVS FOR GRADUATE JOBS
Graduate CVs and job
applications: they can take as much planning and preparation as an essay or
project write up. Here we cover the basics of how to tackle online
applications, structure a graduate CV and put together a covering letter.
Maybe you’ve got some gaps in your background, don’t know how to deal with your
extracurricular activities, or you’re stuck in dissertation writing mode and
can’t fit everything on two sides of A4? Find tips to highlight your best self
and writing advice to showcase your skills without wasting space. (Head to our
job hunting resources page if you are looking for example graduate CVs and cover letters.)
Research employers: essential preparation for graduate
applications
Employer research is central to graduate job hunting success.
Don't even think about starting on an application form or CV without doing it.
A graduate job hunter’s guide to the HEAR
The HEAR is a warts-and-all record of a student’s academic and
extracurricular achievements over the course of their degree, designed to
provide employers with a full and fair account.
Are personal statements a waste of space on graduate CVs?
Find out why you should think carefully before including a personal
statement on your CV, and if you still feel you need to, use our advice to make
it worthwhile.
The worried student's guide to creating a great graduate
CV
Check out our infographic with a selection of top tips to help you
perfect your CV and avoid the pitfalls that put employers off.
Four covering letter blunders (and how to avoid them)
Find out about the phrases you should avoid including in your
covering letter for an internship, work experience placement or graduate job,
and why.
What are mitigating circumstances for graduate job
applications?
Find out what employers regard as mitigating or extenuating
circumstances, and find out how to disclose them in your applications for
graduate jobs.
Writing tips for graduates: how to communicate with
recruiters
Your first communication with a graduate recruiter will most
likely be in writing through an email, application, or CV and covering letter.
How you present yourself in words and getting the style right is vitally
important. We've put together some basic writing tips to help you make the best
first impression.
The 6-step guide to perfecting your graduate CV
A good CV is essential to get the graduate job you want so take
the time to get it right. A well-crafted CV will show your career interests and
highlight your most relevant skills and work experience in the way recruiters
like.
Writing CVs for different types of graduate job
Whether your target is a graduate scheme with an investment bank
or a vacancy for a graduate managing a shop, write a CV that is right for the
job.
The graduate's guide to job application forms
Almost every graduate job-hunter encounters a job application form
at some point, particularly if they are applying for graduate schemes and
programmes. Take a look at our step-by-step guide.
Covering letter essentials for graduate vacancies
If a graduate employer requests a CV they'll want a covering
letter too. Don't miss out on this additional opportunity to showcase your
skills and enthusiasm. It may be just one page of A4, but it can make a big
difference to the success of your graduate application.
Making speculative applications for graduate jobs
Not all graduate vacancies are advertised, so sometimes the only
way in is to apply 'on spec'. Read on to discover tips on how to get the best
results from speculative job applications.
Dealing with gaps in graduate CVs and applications
Your curriculum vitae or application form is the way graduate
employers can find out what you've been doing with your life so far. If you've
had gaps during your education or working life, here's how put a positive spin
on them.
What to put in the further interests section of a
graduate CV
Graduate recruiters have so many applications to sift that
choosing between them becomes incredibly difficult. Luckily, a well-crafted
'further interests' section on your graduate CV can make all the difference.
Writing last-minute graduate job applications
You've seen a graduate job you want to apply for but the closing
date is tomorrow. You've got an assignment due, you haven't got time to plan a
detailed application and you're worried your recruitment chances will suffer.
Never fear: we have some time-saving strategies to help your most rushed
applications impress graduate employers.
Application planner: quick tips for graduate job-hunters
Quick tips to help you prepare for graduate applications,
interviews and assessments. Use them as a handy check list to make sure you're
on the right track to get a graduate job.
More help from TARGETjobs
·
For
profession-specific application tips: graduate
career sectors
BY NOW YOU ALL MUST SURF THE
INTERNET AS THIS PROFESSOR TEACHES WITH PRACTICE. IF YOU ARE NOT COMPUTER
LITERATE AND KNOW THE STANDARD KEYBOARD, YOU MAY START NOW ACQUIRING THE
SKILLS. IT WILL MAXXXIMISE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY
Your video for
understanding this lecture is live at:
Yours Professor
of Psychometrics
Dr Jideofo
Kenechukwu Danmbaezue
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