Career

What do employers look for in potential employees? That was the question that was posted recently on a career discussion forum online. Naturally, for each different position, the particular answers to that question would be different. However, there are some common skills that employers look for in all employees, whether the employee happens to be a network engineer or a fry cook.  In-Demand Skills for Success 1. BASIC SKILLS –Reading, writing and maths! Employers are seeking employees who can read well, can write coherently, and who can calculate mathematics in a business environment (fractions, percentages, etc.) Add to that the modern basic skills of keyboarding skill, basic computer knowledge, and the ability to use most computerized tools to round out the basic skill sets needed for employment success. 2. PERSONAL SKILLS- Can a potential employee speak well? Can he/she answer questions of customers in a positive, informative manner? Can the prospect provide good customer service? While not everyone has an outgoing sales personality, successful employees can communicate in a non-confrontational, positive manner with their coworkers, team members, subordinates, management, and customers. Being able to work well with others is a vital skill for success in all jobs. 3. JOB ATTAINMENT- Job search is a process that requires a great deal of dedication and attention to be conducted successfully. It follows the old principle that many veteran professionals refer to as GIGO ‚ Garbage In, Garbage Out. If you put the lousy effort in, you will receive lousy results. Employers are seeking employees who know how to present themselves in a positive manner and who display enthusiasm and knowledge about the companies they approach. Not only do candidates get evaluated on their skills and experience, but also on how they are approaching the job search. Enthusiastic candidates with fewer skills have an even chance of getting the job as dull candidates with better skills.  4. JOB SURVIVAL- Now there’s a hot topic in this period of layoffs. Who gets the axe and who doesn’t is often a matter of numbers, but it is also often a matter of performance. Employees who have consistently demonstrated their worth, taken initiative, and made themselves a valuable asset to the company have lower incidences of being downsized than employees who put forth mediocre or average effort in their jobs. Surviving within a company through layoffs or moving up the career ladder is a success skill that is learned and is consciously cultivated among successful professionals. 5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT- As all high tech and engineering pros know‚ it’s learning or burn in today’s work environment. Attaining new skills, applying new concepts, and updating established skills is an absolute necessities to succeed in today’s workforce. The successful individual is constantly attending seminars, taking classes, attaining training on new products or releases, and otherwise learning new skills that will keep them marketable in their careers. Successful people are lifelong learners. Employers are looking for people who have the training necessary to fulfill their needs. 6. CAREER DEVELOPMENT- Career Development differs from Professional Development. Professional Development is learning while Career Development is a planning and goal-setting process. Successful individuals design a career plan with written goals for the short term and long term. They lay out the steps needed to move their careers from Point A to Point B within Time Frame C and plan how they are going to achieve those steps. Successful people have someone to whom they are accountable for their progress and who will monitor their success in achieving their goals. Employers are seeking individuals who (believe it or not) wish to commit to the company for a long period of time. Good career progression is a high selling point of candidates to prospective employers.  How do you measure up? Do you have the 6 In-Demand Skills for Success? Feel like you need some help? DM me for a free consultation call! Thanks & Regards, Karishma Dandona

Surprisingly, if you’ve been considering a career move, you’re not alone. In fact, many people are unsatisfied with their jobs and want to make a change, but it can be scary if you don’t know where to start. For some, it may be necessary to return to school. For others, you might be able to achieve a career transition through other means. In both cases, to make the shift as smooth as possible, it will be necessary to plan ahead before deciding whether or not it’s worthwhile to take the plunge. Every well-planned change of careers begins with self-assessment. Evaluate your likes and dislikes, your goals, values, interests, and skills. You may be able to enter a new field using the same knowledge base you already possess. For instance, a computer programmer might hate working for an oil company, but he/she can quite easily find a computer programming job in another industry. But even if you need to make a complete change, the process doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Once you’ve identified your core values and goals, you might have to go back to school to upgrade or add to your knowledge base. For people looking to enter an entirely new field of work, education is a must. Your new goals may require a Master’s degree, for example. In this case, night classes at your local college or university are a good option, especially if you plan on continuing your day job in order to pay the bills. Take the time you need to complete the degree so the transition doesn’t have to be overly stressful or painful. Many people who go back to school mid-career often take the time needed to obtain their degree – not rushing may actually save you time in the end. Going back to school is necessary if you need to learn entirely new skills and earn a degree or certificate that offers you credibility in the field, but for many people, attending school really is too expensive and time-consuming. Luckily, alternatives exist that make it easier to attend school and keep working. You might try an online school because of the flexibility offered by such institutions. Online learning can also be more affordable because of the low overhead costs associated with learning through your own computer. Or consider earning a technical certificate or undergoing other short-term training in lieu of more expensive choices. Once you’ve updated your education, the next step is to find a job and get a foot in the door of your new career. If you still work in your old position, you might be able to make a change internally, with the same company. A good way to do this is by taking advantage of tasks that no one else wants to do and volunteering to take on the extra workload. A larger workload can be difficult at first, but it does pay off. After identifying opportunities, network with hiring managers and before you know it, you could be promoted to a new position. If you’re pursuing opportunities outside of your current employment situation, be proactive. Network with people in the industry, and do everything you can to gain work experience in an area related to your chosen career. Changing careers may seem like a daunting task, but if you seek positive change in your work life, you won’t regret the effort required to make the transition. Thanks & Regards, Karishma Dandona

Do you currently have the career of your dreams? If so, congratulations on all your hard work, because I’m quite sure that your success and accomplishment didn’t happen overnight. If you do not have the career you have always dreamed of, do not worry, you can get there. Career development isn’t easy, but it is definitely worth it. Career development can mean a lot of things. Here, for my purposes, I simply mean doing the things you have to do to get the career you really want. The first step in the process of career development is to figure out – really figure out – the career you want to have. This may be harder than it seems. You really need to know yourself, know what you’re good at, and know what excites you. Not many people last long in a career that they hate. Career development begins with taking a close look at yourself. See a career counsellor for even more help or to take tests that will help you to determine your personality and jobs that will fit it well. Once you have determined a career or two that seems like it will fit you and your dreams, continue with your career development by discovering what needs to happen for you to be qualified for the career you want. Career development does not happen in an instant or even in a year, it may take years of hard work to get to where you want to be. It is important to be realistic about your goals and about the process. Does more education need to take place for your career development? Or perhaps you just need some special training courses in your field but you do not need another degree? Find these things out and then begin pursuing it. Career development is important because I am convinced that it is important that people spend their lives on things they care about and feel like they can do well at. There is nothing worse than spending years of your life in an unsatisfying career. Fortunately, you do not have to let that be the story of your life. Take proactive steps that put you in control of your career development. I guess what I’m simply trying to say is this: life is hard. Work is hard. Work is much easier and life is much better when it is doing a career that you love. Believe that it is possible for you to have a career that you love and then commit to whatever career development is necessary for you. It will be worth it for years to come. Thanks & Regards, Karishma Dandona Resume Writer | Interview Coach