Skills for success
Usha Albuquerque

Simply having good marks and completing a degree is not enough to get a job in today’s rapidly changing economy. Completing the basic, minimal requirements for a college degree will not automatically guarantee you a job in today’s market. Many students, in fact, complete degree after degree, and then wonder why they are unable to land a good job.

Increasingly, in job surveys, employers mention other factors as being important to the hiring process: a basic set of skills of value to prospective employers. Recently, Narayana Murthy of Infosys remarked that most of the professionals they hired at Infosys, had to be re-trained as they did not possess some of the soft skills required to work in a professional environment. The Wall Street Journal too noted the growing importance of personal attributes in the recruitment process.

Job ads provide you with a wealth of information about the academic requirements and some critical technical skills needed for success. Often the non-technical ’soft’ skills are not that clearly spelt out, as it is expected that professionals will have personal attributes that can contribute to a company’s growth. Soft skills are the non-technical skills, abilities, and traits that all employees need, to function effectively in a work environment. These skills are “transferable skills,” meaning they are portable from one job to the next. They will serve you well no matter what position or career you seek.

Often good candidates are rejected, despite excellent academic qualifications, only because they cannot demonstrate the abilities required of them at work. It is, therefore, important not only to recognise these skills, and incorporate skill development into your academic experience, but to also demonstrate your skills using your experiences. The more you can demonstrate the skills and traits employers desire, the more marketable you will be.

What are the basic skills needed for success?

Communication skills

One of the foundational skills needed for success! The ability to verbalise, write, listen, give presentations, facilitate discussions, and share knowledge effectively is possibly the most important skill required in every job. One of the first areas, other than appearance, that will affect someone’s first impression, is how you communicate. This includes speaking as well as body language. Grammar, diction and accents are almost as important to an impression as what you actually say. To be able to relate to people on their level, you must be able to understand what they need and what they are trying to convey to you. By the same token you must be able to make them understand what it is you want them to know. Whether you are explaining an idea in a meeting, writing a report or simply directing work, effective communication skills will put you ahead of the game.

By getting involved in co-curricular activities you can give yourself experiences that help build your communication skills. These can include:

• Write articles, features, or editorials for campus or local newspapers

• Get involved or organise campus events. Create advertisements and publicity for them.

• Join cultural clubs or student organisations, and be an active participant in the activities.

• Join a speech or debate team

• Act in plays or theatre groups

• Get a job or internship in a retail store or fast food outlet.

• Volunteer to work on any public or social campaigns.

Technical skills

This is the ability to appropriately apply technology and effectively use major software and the web to accomplish job responsibilities. Employers expect new college graduates to be familiar with standard business computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, data management, presentation software and web research. Even jobs related to fashion, media, hotel management and so on require computer competencies. Many college students are unfamiliar with the computer and some of the new technologies required today in practically all kinds of jobs. If you do not have computer skills, pick up some basic computer courses. You can also obtain technical skills in workshops and experiences that focus on applying technology and learning software programs. Also involve yourself in activities, to give yourself experience to build your technical skills. These include:

Learn basic computer skills – MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Spreadsheet etc

• Design a personal web page, or maintain web sites for student organisations, University offices or community organisations

• Design brochures or newsletters using desktop publishing software

• Assist college clubs, or your department with databases, statistical analyses and reports

• Get a summer job or internship working on computer networks or doing programming

• Use spreadsheet balance accounts to keep financial records

• Design PowerPoint presentations for class or an organisation

Leadership skills

The ability to lead, gather resources, coach and guide others toward a common goal. This requires an understanding of your own leadership style, as well as

identifying the achievements, motivations, and abilities of others. While we mostly believe the leaders are born, many of the qualities leaders exhibit, are learned and developed. To be effective as a leader you must be able to lead by correct example. Whether you are leading your family or leading a construction crew, to get what you want from others they need to see in you what is required. A leader sets the course of direction, looks ahead for potential problems and devises solutions to these problems.

So you must have the necessary skills to communicate effectively, the stamina to keep going when the going gets tough, both mentally and physically, and earn respect from the people around you. Employers seek graduates who have demonstrated leadership by being active contributors on campus. To give yourself experience to build your leadership skills, you can:

• Be elected to a student government office and serve on your college student council

• Initiate a new programme, service, resource, or business

• Participate in campus leadership training programmes, conferences, and events

• Organise and manage any college events – sports, cultural shows, debates and so on.

Teamwork

The ability to work effectively with others and to collaborate successfully. While many want to be leaders, it is often difficult to be accountable as a member of a team. This requires the ability to get on with others, and work with them even when it involves ideas generated by others. You must also be able to organize and enact changes required to enhance group effectiveness and promote development. There are many college activities that can help you improve teamwork skills, and experiences that emphasize group process and include team projects. These include:

• Participate in any social or cultural programme in the college

• Participate in a group projects for class

• Participate in a musical group or act in a play

• Work for a society, club, or group to organize programmes, events conferences, job/career fairs etc.

• Be part of a group volunteer project

• Participate in debate team or speech team (this will also improve your communication skills)

• Volunteer to work in an NGO or for some fundraising programme

• Join an editorial team

Interpersonal skills

The ability to relate to colleagues and customers, inspire others, resolve conflict, be tactful, understand cultures, and show diplomacy. Employers look for individuals who are skilled at building rapport among group members and are able to resolve conflict in ways that provide opportunities for positive growth. “People skills” – the ability to deal effectively with people and to “get along” is not a talent as much as a skill. When you feel empathy for someone you mentally put yourself in their place, see something from their perspective, and talk with them on their level. Empathy makes communication easier. Interpersonal skills is, therefore, all about understanding people and yourself well enough to be able to make a favourable impression and communicate effectively. In today’s global world, inter-personal skills also means being aware of and respecting cultural differences, learning about and appreciating different cultures, maintaining an openness to new ideas and working cooperatively with others. You can develop interpersonal skills in experiences that emphasize human relationships and provide opportunities to interact with people. These can include:

• Conduct interviews with people to gather information

• Lead a support group or discussion group

• Volunteer for some social work

• Take up teaching or tutoring work for school children

• Get a part-time job, or do summer work in customer service

• Join international student organistions, and participate in their activities.

The writer is a noted career expert