Blog

How to impress the boss

3 Jun 2021

Identifying your key skills is an essential part of the process when starting to look for new work opportunities.
 
The employment advisors at Ingeus liaise closely with employers in their local areas and have a unique insight on what companies, particularly in logistics, retail, hospitality and the care sector, are looking for. Many employers put six main skills on their most wanted list. These super six skills are transferable and valued across many industries.
 

The Super Six

Communication
Listening
Ability to organise
Work ethic
Problem-solving
Time-management
 

Communication and listening

Communicating well with colleagues and customers is essential for most potential employers. It is important to appear interested and be responsive, listen to questions and be able to give a clear response. A complaint that often features in customer feedback is – ‘your employee was not listening to me.’
 
Employers’ Top Tips
In the interview remember to speak clearly and look at the person who has asked the question. Listen carefully to ensure that your answer provides the information they are asking for. Stick to the point and if you don’t know, be honest and say so.
A popular question to test your communication skills is: ‘Tell us about yourself?’ Practise speaking out aloud at home and include previous work experience, what you like doing, and your motivation to find employment. Smile and look enthusiastic.
 

Ability to organise

If you have been out-of-work for some time then explain how you organise your week to ensure that you fulfil your responsibilities, successfully manage any health conditions, support family and friends, and create time to undertake hobbies or to keep fit.
 
Employers’ Top Tips
Expect a question that will test your organisational abilities, probably a common scenario often found in their sector. The employer is looking to see how you would respond in a safe and effective way. If you are not sure of what you would do, say that you would double check with a manager before proceeding to ensure that you followed the correct procedure.
 

Work ethic

Another way to describe work ethic is to say that you enjoy being busy and active. Describe your home responsibilities, being productive in former work experiences and if you make time for hobbies
 
Employers’ Top Tips
Here is the opportunity to show that you can meet the physical, mental, and sometimes emotional demands of work. Talk about your responsibilities and activities to show that you are a busy bee. If you are never late or if you always make an effort to still do things when you feel under the weather, then say so.
  

Problem solving

How do you solve a problem? It is important to show that you are organised in your approach and use a logical process to identify the issue, consider various solutions and then put a suitable plan into action. Perhaps draw on a former work experience; you may need to demonstrate that you followed the company’s procedures. Not a bad thing to show.
 
Employers’ Top Tips
Again, you may be asked a question that involves a problem that is common in their industry. Don’t sit there in silence, it’s uncomfortable. Describe your thought process as you assess the problem and suggest a temporary solution. If your mind goes blank, describe an event in your personal life, or a problem that happened in a work situation, where you applied logic and resolved the issue.
  

Time management

The general rule on good timing is to follow a simple formula: consider the demands of the task and accurately assess how long the work is going to take with the help and resources available.
 
Deciding when to leave home - when driving or using public transport - to arrive at an appointment also involves the traveller making a calculation on how long a journey is going to take at a particular time of day and in the predicted weather. Time management is all about the planning beforehand.
 
Employers’ Top Tips
The golden rule is always turn-up early for a job interview. If you don’t know the location, then do a dry run to ensure that enough journey time is allowed. Perhaps double check that no road-works or changes to a timetable are planned for the day of the interview. It is always good to have a Plan B. You might mention the planning that was undertaken to guarantee arriving on time. It shows attention to detail and that getting the job is important to you.
 

Opportunity knocks

Are you currently out-of-work?
 
Then get talking with an Ingeus employment advisor. Please contact your local employment support team who can help you unearth your transferable skills, update your CV, polish your interview technique and suggest vacancies in your area.