Top Skills Every Professional Needs to Have

Top Skills Every Professional Needs to HaveTop Skills Every Professional Needs to HaveWhat does it mean to be a professional? What skills do professionals need to have? A professional is someone who possesses specialized knowledge, often in addition to having completed some focused academic preparation (such as high school or college or technical classes) for their career. Teachers, contractors, IT workers, andemployees from countless other industries are considered professionals. Beyond theabilities and knowledge needed for each specific profession, professionals in almost every discipline need a particular set of qualities, skills, and behaviors. unterstellung are primarilysoft skills- intangible skills that help you interact and get along well with others. In some cases, employers may seek applicants with hybrid skills, which are a combination of soft skills and the hard skills required to do the job. Because professional skills are required for nearly every job, they are rarely i ncluded in job listings. So, lets review the top skills that all employers expect job applicants and employees to have when they work in professional roles. Top 7 Professional Skills CommunicationCommunicationskills, in general, are important for any professional. It includeswritten,verbal, andnonverbalcommunication. However, one particularly important communication skill in todays world is email. Almost every profession requires some email correspondence. Professionals need to be able to craftclearly written, concise emails, using the appropriate format and tone for colleagues and employers alike. Other communication skills include Advocating for yourself and your causesAsking for help or adviceBrainstormingBuilding buy-in to an ideaBusiness writingDealing with difficult peopleFacilitatingHandling office politicsHandshakingInformation and Communications Technology (ICT)InterviewingManaging a positive relationship with an employerListeningNetworkingPersuasionResume writingSmall talk ?Public SpeakingAlmost every job requires some public speaking. While you might not be giving longpresentationsregularly, you will likely need to speak up during meetings, provide information to your colleagues, and/or speak to a group in some small way. Professionals need to be capable of speaking to others clearly and presenting information effectively. The following skills are important for anyone who has to present in public ArticulationConfidenceCreating presentation slidesPoiseProjectionReceiving criticism and feedbackSocial skills TeamworkAll professionals have to work in some sort of a group, whether they are working onteamprojects or trying to help a company achieve its mission. As a professional, you must possess theinterpersonal skillsrequired to get along with others. You need to be able to share responsibility with others, communicate effectively, and achieve a common goal. There are other teamwork skills professionals need Conflict resolutionRelationship buildingT eam buildingTeam management Time ManagementAs a professional, you will be tasked with completing a variety of tasks. Youll have to draw upon organizational skillsto budget your time so that you complete each task by a given deadline without feeling overwhelmed. Timeliness might seem simple, but it is one of the most important qualities in a professional. Employees who show up on time (or, better yet, early), are often perceived to be mora hardworking by their employers (even if this is not the case). You can therefore boost your professional reputation by showing up to work and meetings a few minutes early. Attention to detailIntrinsic motivationMeeting deadlinesProject managementPunctualitySelf-starting LeadershipRegardless of the role you play at an organization, leadership skills are important. Whether youre working on a team or in a management position, being able to lead is an essential skill for a professional. Some of the skills that show your leadership abilities include Acc ountabilityBudgetingCalm under pressureCoachingCoordinating resourcesDecision makingGoal settingGrowth mindsetInformation gatheringInfluenceManagementMentoringMeeting managementPlanningPolitenessPositivityPrioritization FlexibilityMost jobs require a degree of flexibility, and the ability to be willing to change. Its important to be able to understand different perspectives, and to adjust your workflow and contributions to the company as change arises.Here are some of the skills that will enable you to show employers that you have the flexibility required for success on the job Able to change your mindAnalysisAnger managementPatiencePerceptivenessProblem solving Personal SkillsInterpersonal skillsare thesoft skillsthat enable employees to work well with other workers, managers, clients, customers, vendors, and other people they interact within the workplace. Theseskills and professional attributes are also important for successful professional networking, and for managing your own c areer growth. Career managementCareer planningCompetencyCreative thinkingCritical thinkingDressing professionallyEmotional intelligenceEnforcing boundaries (personal, professional)EthicsHonestyHumilityIntegrityPatiencePerceptivenessPerseverancePersistencePracticalityResilienceRespectSelf-awarenessSelf-confidenceSelf-managementSelf-promotionSelf-regulationStress management How to Make Your Skills Stand Out You can use unterstellung skills lists throughout your job search process. The most important place to incorporate mention of these skill words is in yourresume. You should try to use some of these keywords both in the resumes qualifications summary and in your descriptions of your work history. Secondly, you can use these in yourcover letter. In the body of your letter, you can mention one or two of these skills, providing specific examples of times when you demonstrated them at work. Along with mentioning some of the professional skill words during yourinterview, you also wan t to demonstrate your professionalism in the way you dress, speak, and act.For example, you should speak clearly and dress professionally for all your interviews, in addition to demonstrating an ability to get along withothers. The more you can show that you have these skills, the more effective you will be in your interview. Of course, each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read thejob listingcarefully, and focus on the skills listed by the employer. More Skills to Use When Youre Job Searching In addition to the professional skills that are needed in the workplace, there arejob-specific skillsand differenttypes of skillthat can help you get hired or promoted. Thesehard skillsinclude the knowledge and expertise required to do a job. Review some of the best skills to include on your resume, incorporate them into your job search materials, and mention them during job interviews.

Create a Company Culture that Inspires Success

Create a Company Culture that Inspires SuccessCreate a Company Culture that Inspires SuccessCreate a Company Culture that Inspires Success Chester, author of Reviving Work EthicA positive attitude at work is infectious, so the more you call it out to others and encourage it in key employees, the easier it will be for you to radiate it throughout your companys culture.This starts with the small things you do, like calling out the guy who works the double or the receptionist who comes in when its snowing, but it continues with how far you radiate those kinds of things each day.To create a positive company culture,talk to your young people about the good things that are happening throughout your geschftsleben.If you cant share positive news about the company, shine the light on something good thats taking place in your community, the nation, or the world.Make it your mission to be a purveyor of good tidings. Go out of your way to be the beacon of light when everything else they may be e xposed to drags them down.Communicate Good NewsThe manager of a large supermarket in St. Louis told me that she schedules an all-store meeting once each quarter solely to share business successstories of employees both work-related and non-work-related with her entire team.Although the meetings are not mandatory and begin at 700 a.m. on Saturdays, she said the attendance at these meetings is always at or near 100 percent because all the dialogue is centered around the positive things her people are doing.Many organizations put tons of effort into promoting the good news about their company to the outside world in an effort to attract and keep investors. But they neglect their internal customers their workers.Ive seen customers try to strike up conversations with cashiers about a piece of news they read about the industry or even the specific company the cashier works for, only to have the cashier give them a deer-in-the-headlights look.Take it upon yourself to make your frontline staff feel like an important cog in the wheel of your operation by keeping them informed.Even if youre giving these employees a piece of not-so-good news, theyll be more positive because they feel important.Help Young Employees Stay PositiveMake it your mission to help your young employees see that they are on a train thats going somewhere important, and that they are part of something positive and good.Dont stretch small victories into giant ones, but when good things happen, spend as much time telling your frontline workers as you do telling your qualifikation investors.Sure, you want to promote your company brand to the world. But dont leapfrog over your frontline employees. Outside investors look in the eyes of your employees every day and decide whether its a good company a place they want to invest their money.2012 Eric Chester. Reprinted from Reviving Work Ethic (Greenleaf Book Group Press) with permission of the author. For more information, please visit Reviving Work Ethi c.Author BioEric Chester, author of Reviving Work Ethic (Wiley, 2011) is an acclaimed expert in school-to-work transition. He has presented for more than two million youth at 1,500 high schools and colleges. Chester is the author of four books, most recently Getting Them to Give a Damn. Hes founder of Bring Your A Game to Work youth training and certification program and President of Reviving Work Ethic, Inc., a speaking and consulting firm.

When is it OK to quit my job A definitive guide

When is it OK to quit my job A definitive guideWhen is it OK to quit my job A definitive guideSometimes a new job is more than you expected. It doesnt align with your interests or the environment is unbearable, whether because of your new boss or coworkers.Whatever the case, you want out. The trouble is, youre still fairly new- less than six months or so- which begs the important question when can you quit?Quitting a new job comes with several major concerns, namelyUpsetting your manager and coworkersFacing negative professional consequences down the line, like future employers considering you less reliable for a jobBeing judged by your friends, family, and even current coworkersAnd, as a result, you may find yourself feeling obligated to stay, lest you become labeled as a flaky job-hopper.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBut dont let ansicht concerns force you into sticking it o ut at a job youre ill-suited for or that falls short of your expectations. Quitting a new job happens- and though notlage ideal, its also not the end of your career or reputation.When its OK to quit a new jobIf you look up job-hopping, youll find that there are varying interpretations of what it means to job hop. Some suggest its holding two or more consecutive short-term positions others say itsstaying in a role for less than two years.Regardless of the exact definition, job-hopping is often perceived negatively- and fear of being labeled as a job hopper makes us stay in roles that simply arent good for us in some big way.But this can be detrimental for several reasons. For one, youre essentially trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, and secondly, you may be missing out on better career opportunities out there.Not to mention,theres no set frame of time for when its OK to leave a role. Its not unheard of for someone to leave after three months, or even two weeks- in fact, some people have evenquit after one day.But in deciding whether or not to quit a new job, you should have a solid justification, rather than pure whim or a casual dislike. Though not an exhaustive list, here are some good reasons for leaving a position.Your job does not fulfill youWhen considering whether or not to stay in a role, Dawn Carter, Director of Early Careers atIntuit, suggests asking yourself, Does your job bring you joy?Carter explainsYou dont have to love every part of your job, or even every day of your job, but you should find joy and fulfillment in what youre doing.Sometimes this joy can come from actual tasks or results, or by being part of a company mission bigger than yourself, or by being on a team that accepts you for who you are.The job isnt quite what you applied forFor some people, the excitement of starting a new job is quickly lost due to the realization that its not at all what you thought you applied for.This could be because the job description was poorly wr itten, or a recruiter or hiring manager misled you in the scope of its responsibilities. Regardless, somewhere along the way, poor communication led to a misunderstanding of the actual job- setting you with a false idea of what to expect.To me, if you arent happy at a job or it was missold to you, leave as soon as possible, Brett Holzhauer,freelance writer and digital community manager, advises. There is no point in making yourself miserable or unhappy for a paycheck.Theres a poor culture fit and/or work environmentWork culture matters- that includes your workplace environment, and the way your coworkers and upper management treat you.In fact,38% of workers report wanting to leave their jobsbecause of a toxic work culture or feeling that they dont fit in.Can you blame them? Whether its mismanagement or schreibstube politics, a poor company culture decreases employee morale and makes people feel undervalued.While some might say poor culture fit is a matter of giving an organization m ore time, it can be easy to sniff out large work environment issues right away. In some cases, you might even observe outright harassment or discrimination in your new workplace. If thats the case, you have every reason to abort.Your mental or physical health is affectedFinally,youre more than justified to leave if a role is taking a physical or mental toll on your health.When I knew I had to leave was when my mental health started to suffer, Bob Haegele, blogger atThe Frugal Fellow, shares. I was extremely stressed out, and lets just say that I was starting to wonder if I could even keep going. Why even get out of bed in the morning? That sort of thing. I had to take a step back and reevaluate.Examples of how your health might be impacted includeHeadachesFatigueSleeping difficultiesMuscular tensionHeart palpitationsOverwhelming stress and anxietyCognitive problems, e.g., trouble concentrating or making decisionsWhen to consider staying a little longerProlonging your stay at your jo b may not be your first choice, and its by no means necessary. However, its worth weighing your current role with the alternative, and considering whether you should leave right away or stay just a little longer.It might be appropriate to stay at your new job for a little longer if either of these situations apply to you.Your finances could use a boostIf leaving your current role puts you in a financial struggle, it may be worth staying in your current job.Do a quick audit of your finances to get an idea of where you stand. Ask yourselfWhat are my regular monthly expenses?Do I have any outstanding debt?Do I have anemergency fund to tide me over? If so, how long would it last?Although you may not be in a good place to leave your job immediately, that doesnt mean youre doomed to stay in it forever, of course. Consider staying for only as long you need to- until you find a better job opportunity or youdevelop a nice financial cushion.But again, if your new job is taking an unhealthy ph ysical or emotional toll on you, thats a completely different story.A paycheck is not worth staying in a negative work environment with deleterious consequences.The next opportunity you find doesnt seem to be much betterThe first job offer you receive may feel like an easy escape route, but be certain that it aligns with your larger career interests. Otherwise,youll put yourself at greater risk of developing a job-hopping reputation.Jonathan Valdez* describes discovering a poor cultural fit in his current role that was not apparent in his initial job interview.As a result, he began seeking out other jobs and even received an offer after four months. However, after weighing the offer, Valdez opted not to take the new job. He reasonedI declined the offer as it was not my bringing me closer to the dream job anyway, and instead, I decided to try to improve the situation at my current job This has worked well, is still in progress, and in the long run, will be a much better experience fo r myself. It has also helped me build new skills and demonstrate even more value to the company.Your current role may not be a great fit, but that doesnt mean you should drop it the first chance you get. As Valdez suggests, Either try to work on it or move to something better for you Do not make a habit of having less than six months or one year at companies.How to Quit a New JobSometimes all signs point to the necessity of leaving your position. If thats the case, take these next steps to quit your job.Consider your optionsGive yourself some time to think through the logistics of quitting. Specifically, considerIs it possible to make an internal move?If its the role itself that you find issue with, perhaps a departmental move may be a better choice than leaving a company altogether.How urgent is your departure?That is, can you afford to wait until you find a new job first? Consider your financial circumstances and whether you can feasibly job hunt on the side rather than quitting i mmediately.Can you switch to part-time or remote work?No, this isnt a complete fix for a bad job, but negotiating to become part-time or work remotely may help mitigate some of your least favorite aspects of work.What does the fine print say?If youve signed an employment contract, make sure you fully understand its terms and the consequences of an early departure. Resigning earlier than anticipated might mean giving up any bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing, or other benefits- and its best to educate yourself so that you arent caught off-guard by a notice from HR.Leave graciouslyAvoid burning bridges. Your departure doesnt come without a cost to others- the time and resources spent onboarding you, for instance- so its best to be professional and courteous about leaving.To make your exit as smooth as possible, try the followingBe honest with your manager.Kelan Kline, co-founder ofThe Savvy Couple, left his first job out of college, a role in insurance sales, after just two weeks. D escribing the experience, Kline said, I found that the best way to communicate was by being open and honest. For me, to stay any longer was a disservice to my manager and everyone else training me. I think many people like to beat around the bush when it comes to communicating, and that just doesnt work well.Give appropriate notice.Giving your employer two-week notice is the norm when leaving a job, butits not legally required. That said, although it may be tempting to make your exit as quick as possible, providing your manager with an appropriate amount of notice is a courteous and respectful gesture.Dont beat yourself upI think quitting carries some serious shame with it, Bethany McCamish, afreelance writer and graphic designer, shares, especially when working in public service of any kind.McCamish, a former teacher, describes feeling a need to stay for others rather than acknowledging what was best for her There is a serious feeling of obligation rooted in guilt of not helping th ose around you. The fact is, when your life is about serving others, you can forget about yourself and thats not healthy at all.But this guilt doesnt only affect those leaving a role in public service - you may find yourself feeling guilty for how your departure affects your manager, coworkers, or even its financial consequences for your partner or family.Of course, theres no real benefit to getting hung up in your departure. Instead,take it as a learning experience and an opportunity for introspection about your career goals and personal values.Final thoughtsQuitting a new job isnt ideal- but that doesnt mean its avoidable. Sometimes, its for the better.As you navigate this situation, remember to keep the bigger picture in mind. That is, whether professionally or personally, this job is simply not working out for you. Youd benefit from a different position, and even your employer would be better off with another candidate.While leaving early runs the risk of upsetting your manager and receiving negative social judgment, these consequences wont last forever. With a well-executed departure, youll be on the road to a new role soon enough.*Name has been changed to maintain confidentiality.