4 Skills Employers Look for VS How Candidates Describe Themselves.

Many Kenyan CV’s have the ‘skills’ section, which is supposed to provide your employer with a summary of your strengths and qualities.

Most often than not, many job seekers include skills such as good writing and speaking skills, which employers do not really care about.

You will be surprised to find out which skills employers and hiring managers are looking for, versus what job seekers write on their CVs and say on the day of the interview.

So, what skills DON’T employers want to see and hear about?

1.Problem solving skills

Unless you have very special pyschology skills, employers are rarely interested in finding out that you possess problem solving skills.

Problem solving skills are not as valued as some skills you will find out in this article.

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2.Communications skills

This is a very common skill you will see on almost every CV, but doesn’t hold much value. It’s assumed that all of us are good orators and that we can all express ourselves.

3.Interpersonal Skills

These are skills that enable you to relate and work well with others. An employer does not want to hire an employee who cannot work within a team, but you telling them that you have great interpersonal skills is not their priority.

They want to hear more about how you are going to be an asset to the company.

4.Flexibility

Flexibility is a term often referred to being able to adapt in any environment and conditions. For example, when your boss expects you to be at work some Saturdays.

In an interview, this is not a very valuable skill your employer is going to be looking for. It is expected that you should be flexible enough to take on the job with its demands.

So, with those common skills out of the way, what then do employers want to hear? What makes them decide to give you the job?

Skills Employers Are Looking For

1.Accountability

The employer wants to hear that you are someone accountable. Accountability means that you are a very responsible person, which will in effect translate to good performance in the job that you are interviewing or applying for.

The recruiting manager is looking for someone he can trust to deliver a good job.

2. Strong work ethic

This means that you finish your work in good time, and you meet deadlines. You give your best in the job, you are careful and detail oriented in whichever task you are given.

Mentioning these skills will give the employer confidence that you are the right person for the job, and they will give you a chance to prove that you are worth your salt.

3. Global outlook

Having a global outlook means that you are not small minded. It means that you are visionary and goal oriented. You see the bigger picture. If you are applying for a HR job,  for example, having a global outlook is being able to see how big the Company can grow with your input in HR.

Does that mean that you will bring new ideas or change some systems? Whichever idea you bring to the company should make the company better and bigger.

Employers are looking for a growth partner. 

4. High Integrity

Integrity is a strong pillar for any company and an employer is looking for someone dependable, trustworthy and upright.

You will not steal from the company, you will be loyal to the company and you will not conduct illicit businesses, but you will perform your tasks with high integrity. That’s what the employer is looking to hear.

Those are some of the skills you should add on to your CV to prove that you are the best candidate for the job.

Do you have any questions or comments? Leave them below.

Susan is a Communications Officer at Career Point Kenya. Email: susan@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke