CREATING YOUR CAREER GAME PLAN
3
Problem-solving skills
Job applicants are expected to display problem-solving skills, even if they’re not explicitly stated in the job description. Candidates with problem-solving skills generally have superior analytical and logical thought processes, along with the capacity to think out-of-the-box to find solutions to problems they encounter.
4
Emotional intelligence
No matter how gifted or bright you are, if you can’t get along with your colleagues, perceive their emotions, or control your own, you’ll never get anything done! That’s why recruiters keep an eye out for emotional intelligence (or EQ) in applicants. Employers don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t know how to deal with others, or – even worse – be abrasive and disruptive in the office!
5
Managing ambiguity
At work, there will be times when you’ll have to make decisions even if you only have uncertain or incomplete information. That’s where the ability to manage ambiguity comes in – recruiters want to see if you’re bold and flexible enough to take action in uncertain situations, instead of sitting around and waiting for help.
Tip
Tip
Tip
During the recruitment process, describe situations where you relied on level-headedness and resilience to keep yourself calm when you faced new problems to resolve. Recount your experiences clearly and step by step, as most employers want to get an idea of your thought process. One method to help you keep your responses on track is the STAR method, where you describe the Situation, elaborate on the Tasks involved, the Actions you took and the Results you achieved.
Recounting anecdotes such as “When I had to choose between two team members for a particular role, I did my best to make sure that both felt valued no matter what the decision was” will go a long way to indicate your EQ. In that one sentence, you showed that you got things done and also made sure that the team wasn’t affected by unnecessary conflicts!
If you have examples of when you were able to weigh the risks and make relatively accurate decisions in your studies, internships or extracurricular activities even without the whole picture – and then adapt to the changing environment as the plan progressed, you’ve managed ambiguity! During your interview, take the initiative to relay these instances to your prospective employer.
Transferable skills are an advantage for you to leverage on, no matter where you choose to pursue a career. Take note of these vital skills, continuously develop them and watch as they help you land your dream job, and maybe even secure your career progression in the future!
directory 2022 | 17
