Career Matters
LIFE SKILLS AT WORK
Soft skills should never be overlooked in the working world, for it is these skills that will propel you further in your career.
When you step out into the working world, you have your degree to back you up and all the knowledge that hopefully you gleaned from it. But is that enough to survive in the rat race?
Often, fresh graduates find themselves thrown in the deep end when they enter the workforce. Unlike the controlled environment of university or college, it is now every man for himself. The theories that were imparted in school now have to be applied to real-life situations. Increasingly, employers find a gap in skills in the graduates they hire.
In March this year (2012), BBC News reported that the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland cited a gulf between the education system and the labour market. They advocated more communication between education authorities and employers to ensure that those who entered the workforce had the relevant soft skills to succeed at work. Among the soft skills that were found lacking were communication and team building.
We suspect this incident is not an isolated case nor is it specific to country. In Malaysia, the Ministry of Education Higher Education Malaysia has defined soft skills as something that is critical in the globalised working world and listed critical thinking, problem solving, entrepreneurship, ethics, lifelong learning and skills management, leadership skills, teamwork and communication skills as elements that contribute to success.
Here are some skills that will bring you, the young graduate, far in your career.
1. Emotional Intelligence
This is what people normally call EQ, or emotional quotient. It is one’s ability to adapt to any situation thrown at them. Having a high EQ will enable a person to navigate most situations successfully. It is about having an open and positive outlook, and being able to think oneself out of any problem. For example, someone with high EQ will know how to deal with a difficult colleague or boss, and is able to turn the situation to his or her advantage. Being able to communicate well means he or she can get a point across when necessary, without alienating anyone else.
2. Giving The Right Impression
They say the first impression is the most important. And we say, so are the next hundred! It is important to present yourself in the best light at all times. Projecting a confident image is most effective if it comes from within. People usually can spot the fakes a mile away.
Contrary to common belief, confidence need not be showy or arrogant. The best show of confidence is an innate belief in self, that you can do the job well. This is shown through the attitude with which you take on a new responsibility. Do you whine and moan that it’s too difficult? Do you shy away from extra work? Or do you accept the challenge gracefully, and show initiative to overcome any areas of difficulty? Treat every job as an opportunity to show your true ability, and you will get far.