It’s true that there are actually many soft skills that will make you get the entry-level job you want no matter what experience you have. How do we know? Because we’re looking for people who have them for our entry-level positions, so it’s real news. Let’s talk about those job offers where recruiters are looking for 5+ years of experience for entry-level jobs later, maybe in another article. Today is your chance to evaluate yourself for getting a job without any previous experience in the field.
Here are the top skills recruiters are looking for in candidates for entry-level positions.
Good Communication Skills
Wherever you work, good communication skills are what you will need the most. This includes many sub-skills such as listening, empathy, conversational skills and even apologising when it’s needed. It sounds easy and taken for granted as a skill set but the truth is many of us are lacking good communication skills. How do we develop our communication skills? Start from your daily life. Learn how to develop empathy if it’s your problematic side and listen to those people you are talking with. Don’t just focus on what you’ll be saying. Especially when dealing with customers, you may need to use high empathy skills when you have to apologise on behalf of your company. The key is to be able to put yourself in your customer’s shoes.
Positive Attitude & Patience
Challenges are everywhere but to achieve your goals in the new job you need to have a positive attitude. That doesn’t mean that you have to slide into a new lifestyle of “don’t worry be happy” and become a self-love guru. Even if you are a natural-born grumpy you have to understand that when it comes to business we have to stay professional. Showing the empty side of the glass to everyone does not bring any value to your job. Focus on how to solve problems rather than wasting your energy on complaining about them. Patience is a virtue that we have to hold on to when facing those challenging tasks. In an ideal world, no one gives you a mission-impossible task. Don’t forget that bringing negativity and impatience to work also affects your energy when you’re dealing with your customers, colleagues and your supervisors. Use your smiling superpower, it’s very effective!
Growth Mindset & Motivation
As said earlier, you don’t need to know everything to be able to get a job. That’s why they are called entry-level positions, right? You are expected to learn throughout your journey and develop your technical skills on the way. Therefore, eagerness to learn and to have a passion to grow in your position might just be enough. You can easily demonstrate this skill in your interview by attending your scheduled interviews on time; being prepared; asking questions, and following up. When you start your job, complete your tasks on time and try to add a higher performance than expected. Your motivation to grow can make you a star employee.
Teamwork & Company Culture
Listening to your experienced colleagues and learning from them is the wisest thing you can do when you have just started your career. Don’t get immediately discouraged when you get any kind of feedback. Appreciate it when you get constructive feedback and develop your skills accordingly. Not only working for your solo achievements but also working with your team and growing with your company will make you achieve your career goals easier. Fitting into a company culture valorising teamwork is a great example of your flexibility and adaptability which recruiters care more about than you think.
Confidence & Decision Making
Even though we just suggested that you should listen to your team and act accordingly, you know the importance of taking initiative at work. When you’re working on your own you may need to make a lot of micro decisions. Being confident and making decisions while you work alone rather than overthinking and procrastinating might help you grow higher in your role. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and never forget that this is the key to developing your skills. Ask your colleagues for advice whenever it’s necessary but don’t be afraid to make your own decisions while you can.
Professionalism & Reliability
What do all these skills above show about you? The answer is your professionalism. Because the way you listen to people, your positive attitude, your eagerness to learn, your willingness to work as a team and your decision-making skills give you a set of skills that you will need most in business life. However, apart from that what shows your professionalism better is your reliability which we can only examine through how transparent you are in your interviews. That means, no matter what, always be honest and stay professional.
Language Skills & Spirit of Expatriate
Many entry-level jobs are at big international companies which means English will be a key language for you to get a chance to work there. Since it’s considered as the default second language, your native language if different from English might be a huge plus for your employability in international companies. German, Dutch, French, Italian, Arabic and Nordic languages are creating the biggest market for language jobs. Even if your native language is not one of them, you can think about developing your language skills at least at B2 and C1 levels. Most importantly, the motivation companies are looking for is liking the idea of making an international experience of working abroad. Many companies try to establish a nice infrastructure and relocation packages for you to experience a new journey. All you need to do is willing to join us in making the #bluexperience.
Digital Skills
Last but not least, let’s not forget about the importance of your internet and software skills. If you are in service delivery roles like customer service you will need to learn a couple of software skills. Many job offers include training but why take a risk when you can easily access many online courses for free? Make sure you know the necessary technical skills even though it’s only at a beginner level before you apply for a job. Showing your baby steps would show us your motivation for the offer. Don’t forget to add some Microsoft Office skills to that!
