10 Job Skills That Employers Value

Companies often place an emphasis on potential candidates that fit certain criteria. Depending on the industry and/or the position, there are a plethora of identifiable expertise needed for a particular job. These are mainly general competencies that are imperative for a successful organization.

Now to give you an overview of what companies essentially look for in a candidate, we’ve picked the brains of a handful of business leaders and experts. Here are their answers:

1. Amiable

Being amiable opens a ton of doors for people to help you with business challenges. It isn’t just for finding a job, but also when hiring others, looking for partners, keeping up with industry trends, and even haggling for a bigger pay.

Negotiations happen often; sometimes it’s with partners and suppliers, other times it’s about coordination and resource sharing across teams within a company. Amiable negotiators know how to create a bigger pie, not simply divide the one you start with.

2. Leader

Too many employees think leadership starts once you have a senior title. Leadership experts understand that leadership doesn’t come from a title, but from initiative and influence. Companies want employees, at all levels, who’ll take that initiative and lead.

3. Ethical

The world continues to become more complex. Companies have shifted back towards being good corporate citizens, meaning it’s not just about corporate profits, but also giving back to the community, concern for larger societal issues, and providing employees more than just a paycheck. More and more organizations want employees who take ethical considerations into account in their decision making.

– Mark A. Herschberg, Author, The Career Toolkit

4. Team Player

A skill that I truly value in an employee is teamwork. When you have employees who are willing to work alongside each other and are willing to solve problems and brainstorm ideas then you have the best ingredients for success.

All businesses need a team that’s capable of contributing fantastic ideas of their own, but also have the skills and compassion to encourage fellow employees too. Knowing how to interact with others can help the workplace become much more efficient and a happier place to work.

– Ethan Taub, CEO, Goalry

5. Detail-Oriented

A highly valued skill is an ability to pay extreme attention to detail. This is critically important in my line of work where I’m constantly analyzing horse racing stats and data sets. In an industry with little room for margin of error, I value employees who can review their work with a fine-tooth comb. These are employees that double-check and even triple-check their work almost with an obsessive compulsivity. While these people may not be the speediest of workers, their contribution greatly minimizes man-made errors.

– Michael Kipness, Founder, Wizard Race and Sports

6. Independent

Due to the new arrangement in the workplace and working hours that are affected by the pandemic, there’s a need for companies like mine to adapt and look for employees that are more capable of working remotely. This is why we’re looking for employees who can operate alone and produce sound judgment and favorable working results with little to no supervision.

These employees should know how to navigate this remote working setup. We are also looking for honest, flexible, and reliable individuals that can maintain their integrity without being constantly supervised.

– Allan Borch, Founder and CEO, Dot Com Dollar

7. Insightful

One skill that employers really value is perception. Can you read between the lines? Can you intuit who is the decision maker in the room? Can you make friends and influence people by perceiving what is important to them?

Most people are so busy trying to sell themselves during an interview that they fail to understand the concerns of the people to whom they’re selling—but with attention, they can put perception first. Employers really value good writing skills, and these are increasingly rare. Central to good writing are brevity, clarity, and good grammar. If you write well, employers will conclude you’ll be able to represent them well in external correspondence without having to edit your documents. That’s huge.

– Katherine Metres Akbar, President, Yes Career Coaching & Resume Writing Services

8. Flexible

Having the ability to adapt to any situation and come out on top of it is a valuable skill. Despite having setbacks and going off plan, adapting to change and thriving contributes to success.

9. Emotionally Intelligent

In some situations, emotional quotient (EQ) is sometimes valued more than intelligence quotient (IQ). Gauging your emotions and the emotions of others is crucial, especially in a crisis. Having the ability to tell how your coworkers are feeling can help both of you and your team reach an agreement on how to reach team goals.

– Muhammad Shabbar, HR and Admin Manager, Al Manal Development

10. Dynamic

Knowing how to work on your own initiative is a huge benefit in the current working environment. Employees who are able to work remotely on flexible hours, being able to bring solutions to the managers rather than problems.

Knowing how to get your day started, or what to do if your manager is not yet online. Knowing how to react in the case of a business emergency (usually Amazon shutting down a product listing). Knowing how to come in to help a colleague or another team without being sought to do it.

Initiative in employees saves a lot of time for management. Management grows to appreciate this employee and will be favorable for them to get promoted.

– Trond Nyland, Founder and CEO, Cordless Drill Guide