WHAT EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR

1. First and foremost, can you do the job?

2. Are you going to be reasonably easy to work with?
3. Will you be satisfied with the job or will you be
looking to leave within six months?
4. Are you reasonably likeable?
5. Do you seem like you can put up with whatever
the negatives of the job are?
6. Will you fit in with the company culture?
7. Do you have a strong work ethic?
8. How enthusiastic are you about the job?
CAN YOU DO THE JOB?
HARD SKILLS EXAMPLES

Technical or Associate of Science

Academically degree
oriented Able to type 50 wpm
Easy to define Certified welder
Measurable by tests CDL license holder
Directly taught in High school graduate
schools 10 years of clerical
experience
 EVERYTHING ELSE
SOFT SKILLS
The ability to communicate and interact
positively and productively with others
Develop as we age
Not directly taught in school
Relates to our attitude and outlook on life
Difficult to explain, but we easily recognize
them
 EXAMPLES OF SOFT SKILLS

Good Listener
Effective communication skills
Dependable
Neat
Friendly
Organized
Prompt
Fair
Hard worker
 TOP 6 SOFT SKILLS

Communication
Enthusiasm & Attitude
Teamwork
Networking
Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
Professionalism
SOFT SKILL #1: COMMUNICATION

Verbal Written
Interpersonal Email
Public speaking Text messages
Telephone etiquette Letters/Reports
Listening
comprehension

Non-verbal Visual
Facial expressions Dress
Body language Personal hygiene
Posture
 SOFT SKILL #2: ENTHUSIASM &
ATTITUDE

All other things being equal, a candidate

who can demonstrate a positive
attitude and eagerness to tackle the
job will have an advantage over one
who displays an attitude viewed by the
employer as negative or disinterested.
In fact, many employers would rather
provide job skills training to an enthusiastic
but inexperienced worker than hire
someone with perfect qualifications but a
less-than-positive attitude.
DISPLAYING ENTHUSIASM
AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE
 IN A JOB INTERVIEW

Smile
Sit up straight
Make eye contact
but dont stare, its
disturbing
Discuss training
and work
experiences in an
upbeat manner
 SOFT SKILL #3: TEAMWORK

Teamwork involves building relationships and

working with other people using a number of
important skills and habits:
Working cooperatively
Contributing to groups with ideas, suggestions, and effort
Communication (both giving and receiving)
Sense of responsibility
Healthy respect for different opinions, customs,
and individual preferences
Ability to participate in group decision-making
SOFT SKILL
#4:
NETWORKIN
G

Its not what

you know, its
who you know

80% of available jobs are not

advertised.
 EVERYONE HAS A NETWORK

WHAT/WHEN/WHERE: WHO: People with whom

Networking occurs every you interact regularly.
time you participate in a Family/Friends, Parents'
school or social event, Friends/ Friends Parents,
Friends of Friends, Neighbors,
volunteer in the Teachers, Church Members
community, visit with
HOW: When networking
members of your religious
for the purpose of career
group, talk with neighbors,
development, this means
strike up a conversation
talking with friends, family
with someone at the store,
members, and
or connect with friends
acquaintances about your
online.
goals, your interests, and
WHY: To get those 80% of
your dreams.
opportunities that are
never posted online.
SOFT SKILL #5: PROBLEM SOLVING &
CRITICAL THINKING
There is no shortage of
challenges and issues that
can arise on the job.

Whether these problems are

large or small, they need to
be dealt with constructively
and fairly.

Having the necessary skills

to identify solutions to
problems is one of the skills
that employers look for in
employees.
SIMPLE PROBLEM SOLVING

PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS SCIENTIFIC METHOD

1. Identify and Select the 1. Ask a Question

Problem 2. Do Background Research
2. Analyze the Problem 3. Construct a Hypothesis
3. Generate Potential 4. Test Your Hypothesis by
Solutions Doing an Experiment
4. Select and Plan the 5. Analyze Your Data and
Solution Draw a Conclusion
5. Implement the Solution 6. Communicate Your
6. Evaluate the Solution Results