What do Employers Want?

To get by in the work place there are certain skills that everybody needs, this doesn’t mean basic Maths and Literacy Skills either. 61% of firms say school and college leavers have not developed the self-management skills they need for work while at school.

Employers still find that the school leavers lack the initiative, problem-solving and communication skills to succeed at work.

Employers want to see more young people entering the workplace who :

• Have adequate literacy skills (i.e. can spell, can use punctuation and can write a letter and generate or respond to e-mails for business purposes)
• Are numerate
• Have good organisational skills
• Have decent computer skills (in things like word processing, spreadsheet and database software packages, because these are what are generally used at work)
• Can answer the telephone appropriately
• Have good time-keeping skills
• Dress suitably for work
• Are capable of communicating appropriately with staff and clients at different levels

Some ways to develop these skills in small ways can be to take responsibility of ordering food in restaurants or meal planning at home. If something needs fixing then take charge of arranging for the plumber (or whoever it is) to come and sort it.

At work though, you will be expected to answer the telephone in a manner that informs the caller where they have called and who they are speaking to as well as enquiring as to how you can help.

For more information in the full story go to www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/blog/