Work Readiness Skills: What Employers Are Looking For

Have you ever read a job description and thought,
“I don’t have the skills to apply for this job?”
What if you actually do?
You probably have more experience than you know.

You have what is called “soft skills” or work-readiness skills.

– Organization                      – Problem-Solving
– Creativity                           – Critical Thinking
– Emotional Intelligence       – Flexibility
– Attention to Detail              – Communication
– Responsibility                    – Teamwork

Soft skills are areas of expertise that are caught, not taught. These are skills employers want employees to have, but they are harder to quantify. As a job seeker, it is important to share the whole picture of who you are, your work experience, and your life experience.

For Example:
Are you a homemaker looking to get back into the workforce after staying indoors with children for years?
You have had to problem-solve, become more flexible, communicate, organize, and communicate in various ways. You have honed skills through your role as a homemaker by budgeting, planning, making last-minute changes to plans, adapting to new situations, and researching.

Are you a housekeeper looking to move into management? You have had to problem solve on the fly, become flexible, work with a team, and have strong attention to detail.

Are you a retail worker looking to move into an entirely new career? Your communication experiences with customers, ability to solve problems, and harness attention to detail have been key components to your success.
Use your life experience and share these skills on your resume, through your online Maui County Virtual Job Fair profile, and in interviews.

Our whole life experience is of value to employers, and not just our education and technical experience. Technical knowledge is important and can be gained through classes, seminars, and the internet. But the way you deal with people and solve problems creatively, that’s something special you bring to the table. Better still, it makes you an ideal candidate for a job. Next time you read a job description, remember all you have to offer!