Skill set, not degrees, take you far


 Author: Madhu Nallan Chakravarthy

SKILL SET, NOT DEGREES, TAKE YOU FAR

Suppose you ask your friends how school or college is helping them to achieve their ambitions. In that case, they will probably talk about their performance in obtaining formal qualifications such as A levels, GNVQs (General National Vocational Qualifications), or the prospect of moving on to university to graduate. Some may discuss the professional or work-related qualifications they need for their chosen career and their plans to take a modern apprenticeship and obtain NVQs in various fields. Qualifications are essential as they provide.

A skill set is a collection of skills, qualities and experiences that someone develops through life and work. Each individual has a different set of skills depending on their interests, natural abilities and personal attributes. Possessing more skills can help expand your professional competency and allow you to excel in your job. As each skill is different, learning and developing a wide range of skills can help you progress in your career.

A skill set depends on an individual's abilities and range of skills to apply to get productivity in a job. Understanding, developing, and improving your skills (including personal and professional skills) help you achieve your professional goals, like earning a promotion or becoming an expert in a specific field.

Most employers prefer candidates who possess a wide range of skills. That is why you are required to put your personal and professional skills at the forefront of your job application. Here are a few reasons why these skills are essential:

Facilitates professional growth: The right skills can help you grow in your career. Possessing a wide range of skills can set you apart from others during the hiring process and help you earn a promotion in your current role.

Results in higher productivity: The ability to use different technology, tools and software helps increase your workplace productivity.

Provides a competitive edge: Both personal and professional skills give you a competitive advantage over your competitors. Also, during the hiring process, an employer is likely to hire someone with a wide range of skills when choosing between candidates with similar work experience and qualifications.

Personal or soft or interpersonal skills are traits and attributes related to expressing yourself. These skills shape how you work independently and with others. Nearly every job requires you to possess some good personal skills, although the needed skills may vary from one job role to another. These are intangible skills that help in improving your work and life. Some of the most common personal skills include:

  • Integrity
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Creativity
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem-solving
  • Adaptability
  • Willingness to learn
  • Empathy
  • Conflict resolution
  • Motivation
  • Leadership
  • Decision-making
  • Time management

Professional or hard skills: are the technical expertise you gain through education and work experience. These professional skills help you perform your work-related tasks. Every job requires specific professional skills. For example, an accountant must know how to use Excel or spreadsheets. 

Adaptability is flexibility and adaptability to changing work conditions and scenarios. In the present context, where the volatility of markets gives rise to uncertainties and complexities, adaptability is vital. Organizations increasingly seek employees who can demonstrate this skill by being flexible to adjust to ever-changing situations and work demands.

Adaptability as a skill means the ability to change or adjust to new circumstances. It implies how you respond while anticipating a change, both to risks and opportunities. Being flexible with the job's demands and looking beyond your perspectives is considered a skill in the workplace. Adaptability implies how easily you adjust; if you are a quick learner, it is a good indication of this skill set.  

Communication skills, to adapt to the workplace, you must communicate effectively with your co-workers and teammates. Communication skills help you to understand the environment that you are in and successfully convey your ideas to others. While adaptable with your colleagues, you can still tactfully disagree if you think the ideas and suggestions might need to be more effective. Successful communication skills imply how convincingly you convey your message without getting into a conflict.

Non-verbal communication skills and active listening are essential adaptability features in the workplace. It shows that you are attentive to your colleagues and can navigate changes in team dynamics.

Problem-solving skills: Adaptability imply the ability to deal with issues better. Be open to unexpected challenges. Problem-solving means you must be available to practical, innovative, diverse and creative solutions to address the problems. To demonstrate your problem-solving skills to your managers, find solutions without being limited by setting boundaries. Being adaptable shows that you remain positive in the face of adversity. Using relevant people's capabilities and skill sets helps you resolve the problem and get the job done.

Interpersonal skills: Adaptability is driven by your initiative and not imposed externally. Interpersonal skills are the characteristics and tactics you use to interact with others effectively.  

To develop your interpersonal skills further, try to have a positive working relationship with your co-workers. Understand their differences and emotions and give and receive constructive feedback. Positive interpersonal communication skills contribute to a healthier work environment, even under challenging workplace situations.

Teamwork skills: Adapting to diverse personalities and working scenarios requires organizational teamwork. Teamwork is the ability to work across different backgrounds, experiences and skill sets. 

The ability to adapt to different people within a team and positively adjust to their variety of ideas, personalities and dynamics shows how developed your teamwork skills are. Tasks vary in intensity on how much load they put on individuals and teams and the extent of adaptability required. When the task load is high, you might require intervention to adjust strategies and coordinate a team to address the issue. A lighter workload would imply that the team members can develop their plan, goals and processes to achieve the desired outcome.

Organizational skills:  To develop adaptability, one should develop essential organizational skills. Organizational skills can take on a different meaning depending on your role or the nature of your workplace. This skill implies that you maintain your workspace efficiently, meet deadlines and effectively communicate with your teammates or colleagues.

Being organized helps you to adapt to any changes that might come up in your organization. Time management while working under pressure, a delegation of duties while setting goals, making analytical choices, taking strategic decisions and communicating with the team are some of the skill sets that are required to be well organized

 

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