In today’s job market, a good set of employability skills is what will most likely help you get you a job and keep such. Employers are always on the lookout for candidates who possess such skills. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of skill labour in Nigeria today; a major problem. It is interesting however to note that most of these employability skills are very simple and easy to acquire, and as such all you need to do is make a little effort. Below, I am going to enumerate some of the most basic employability skills every employer looks out for. But first, let me briefly define what employability skills are.
Employability skills are what enable employees to effectively do their jobs under all circumstances. Mind you, these skills are not to be confused with all the technical skills peculiar to different professions. Instead, employability skills can be simple things such as having the right attitude to work, commitment to goals actualization, interpersonal skills etc. the truth is that employability skills are indispensable such that no matter the profession one ends up in, s/he will need to possess them in order to function optimally.
Below are some of the skills for your knowledge:
Effective Communication Skills
Part of this skill is the ability to-
- Read with Understanding
- Convey ideas in Writing
- Speak in such a way that others can easily understand
- Listen actively and attentively
- Observe critically
Interpersonal Skills
You must be able to-
- Guide other people towards actualizing goals
- Resolve conflicts and negotiate deals
- Advocate and make influence
- Cooperate with others
Decision Making Skills
You must be able to-
- Use Math to solve problems and communicate solutions
- Make positive decisions
- Plan and organize
- Initiate new ideas
Lifelong Learning Skills
You should be able to-
- Take responsibility for learning
- Reflect and evaluate
- Learn through research
- Use Information and Communications Technology to work
Above all, you must be able to manage yourself, effectively balancing between work and life.
