The 4 Skills Employers Look for & How to Acquire Them

In the last academic year, just under a thousand employers hosted a TMC student on work experience. Recent data is showing half of employers believe young people aren’t ‘“job ready”.

While the majority of students received very positive feedback at TMC from employers, scoring at least 8 out of 10 on key employability skills,there were four skills that were ranked the lowest: 

• Interpersonal skills 
• Communication skills 
• Initiative 
• Time-keeping 

Let’s have a look at what’s behind each skill and how you can work on them as your venture on your journey to your dream career. 

Skills employers are looking for

Interpersonal skills 

These cover things like how you interact with others, your manners, self-confidence, and how receptive you are to feedback. Verbal communication skills also come under this umbrella, but we’ll cover those in the next section. 

Interpersonal skills play a critical role in how you come across during a job interview and how you build relationships at work (and at college). Good interpersonal skills will make you likeable and memorable – essential for making a good first impression on an employe 

How to improve interpersonal skills

• Smile when meeting new people. 
• Express gratitude when someone helps you. 
• Seek feedback from trusted individuals about your communication style. 
• Practice eye contact and active listening. 
• Work on building and maintaining your self-confidence. 

Read our blog: Self-confidence: 7 Ways to Build and Maintain It 

Communication skills

In terms of communication, you are probably comfortable texting and using social media to interact with others. However, this can affect your confidence to speak on the phone or face-to-face, especially with people you don’t know.  

Speaking clearly, being able to explain something concisely, as well as listening properly, are all key communication skills which employers look for, particularly for outward-facing job roles.    

How to improve communication skills

• Maintain eye contact. 
• Listen attentively without fidgeting. 
• Record yourself speaking to identify verbal habits. 
• Film yourself speaking to analyse body language. 
• Practice speaking with professionals in various settings. 

Initiative

Initiative is basically a willingness to get things done and take responsibility. It means you start something and see it through, rather than relying on others to come up with ideas which you follow. You do things without being told. 

Initiative is an essential quality if you want to start your own business. In terms of employment, organisations are always looking for people who add value and by showing initiative, you will help contribute to the success of the business as a whole.    

How to improve initiative skills

• Proactively seek ways to contribute to projects. 
• Speak up and act on your ideas. 
• Prepare thoroughly in advance. 
• Actively seek and implement feedback. 
• Volunteer for additional tasks. 

Time-keeping

Being on time for things is not just about being responsible and reliable; it’s also a sign of respect towards the people you are meeting with or working for. 

This is a simple skill to maintain and can even begin with setting your alarm clock fifteen minutes earlier every morning so that you start the day less rushed and stressed. 

How to improve time management

• Arrive 10 minutes early for appointments. 
• Clearly define and record work schedules. 
• Use an electronic calendar with reminders. 
• Create daily priority lists. 
• Avoid multitasking. 

Improve employability skills at TMC 

TMC courses prepare you for a wide range of industries, focusing on practical skills and confidence building. We offer dedicated career guidance and support, ensuring you're well-prepared for the job market. With TMC, you'll gain the skills and confidence employers value, significantly improving your employability prospects.  

Explore our courses and enrol today.