TOP EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

In this present day of extreme competition in the labour market, it is important as a graduate or undergraduate to take note of the following skills. These skills are meant to boost your employability skills as you take your time to develop yourself in areas which you need to develop yourself.
1. Communication
Communication is basically how you communicate with other people. It could be oral or written. It requires a lot of confidence when addressing people, be it face-to-face or over the phone. Also, writing a well understandable memos or emails is very important to rate your communication skills.
You can improve your communication skills through these ways:
-Include writing of assignments and reports as part of your studies
-Blogging or using social media like Facebook, Twitter etc
-Include oral presentations as part of your class work
- Intern in customer service company(for face-to-face or on the phone)
-Volunteer to host a community radio program.
2. Teamwork
Teamwork is working with other people. A popular dictum says we need each other to survive. This means you need a teamwork for success in an organization.
The following are ways you can improve your teamwork ability:
-Participate in group assignments while studying
-Volunteer to work with others in a community organisation
-Participate in sporting activities like football, basketball, handball etc
3. Problem-solving
Ability to solve problems is one of the most outstanding skills of a 21st century employee. Companies are out there looking for people who have solutions at hand.
Ways you can harness your problem solving skills include:
-Making research on your field and other fields
-Dealing with complaints at your place of work
-Register for a study skills course that looks at problem solving
-Ask questions from people on how they solve their problems
4. Initiative and enterprise
Initiative and enterprise deals with how creative you can think to improve existing things. Also, they involve looking beyond what is being presented. That is, the bigger picture.
Following are ways you can improve your initiative and enterprise:
-Apply for work placement or internships in organisations and businesses
-Set up a fundraiser in your community
-Suggest new ways of doing things to organisations or groups you belong.
5. Planning and organising
How well you can plan and organise events, meetings and programs will tell on getting your dream job. It is all about getting things done, things required to get them done and how to get them done, particularly without breaching the deadline.
The following are ways you can improve on your planning and organising skill:
-Develop a study timetable and stick to it.
-Organis a journey to a particular place independently
-Manage well your time around work, study and family commitments
-Contribute in organising a community event in your locality
-Do chores regularly around your home.
6. Self-management
Self management is being disciplined enough to do things the right way without being monitored within the stipulated deadline.
Following are ways you can improve your self-management skills:
-Do a work experience placement or internship
-Request for new responsibilities at work
-Develop a study schedule and stick to it
-Join a voluntary organisation.
7. Learning
It is popularly said that learning is a continuous thing. You must be able to learn new things, relearn about somethings and unlearn somethings.
Following are ways you can improve your learning ability:
-Apply for a short course offline or online.
-Make research into learning skills and learner types
-Develop a reading habit
8. Technology
In this fast emerging world of technology, an employee is required to have technology skills which include; operating a computer, being able to use software programs like Microsoft office, Excel or spreadsheet and also photocopier.
Following are ways you can improve your technology skill:
-Register for a short course offline or online
-Request extra training at work
-Finding out the relevance of technology in the job of your choice and make research on how excellent you can perform
-Identify software programs you can efficiently use.