Skills: the most valued in the work environment

Nowadays, the way of assessing a candidate for a job in a company or organisation has changed, because previously it was only necessary to have technical training, languages and experience. But nowadays, employers use aptitude tests in order to know what soft skills the candidates possess.

Soft skills are those skills that have a personal, less technical side, and that enable a person to perform their job efficiently. So having proactivity, emotional intelligence, creativity and more… are skills that are taken into account nowadays.

Many skills are innate in a person, but there are others that can be improved through training, experience or analysis, so it is very important that everyone knows what their skills really are and make the most of them in the professional world.

Proactivity

In the work environment, the term proactivity is very important, as it is an aptitude expected of all workers. As they need to be active, with a quick response capacity, initiative and willingness to face any circumstance.

So this is the attitude that people assume in order to overcome any circumstance, not only in terms of work but also in personal terms, as the aim is always to be better. Therefore, the positive and active attitude of a person is crucial for taking control and initiating the development of new ideas for the continuous improvement of everything that surrounds him/her and what is under his/her responsibility.

Critical thinking

Critical thinking goes hand in hand with creativity, proactivity and problem solving. Being an essential skill in the new working era, as new and unfamiliar circumstances bring new challenges to face.

The term critical thinking does not refer to intelligence as many people think. Although this clearly has an influence, but it is about being faced with a problem and visualising the best way to solve it without the need to go over anyone’s ideals or criteria. Visualising the situation in such a way that a beneficial and reasonable solution can be achieved. Always thinking of the common welfare, avoiding making wrong decisions.

Flexibility

Flexibility is a characteristic that is taken into account when incorporating a new worker in a company, as this is what guarantees that the person is capable of adapting to different situations that may arise throughout their stay and work experience.

The fact of adapting to change implies that the person is not a person with high levels of anxiety in the face of variations or unexpected changes. You have to be aware that changes will always arise and therefore you have to be flexible to them, adapting to them and making the most of them. This aptitude is highly valued, as it prevents problems with staff.

Leadership and initiative

In the professional field it is easy to distinguish which workers stand out more than others. Either because of their particular skills or because their actions are the ones that bring about individual will towards an objective. Allowing the evolution of the company and the staff with whom they work, being called or recognised as team leaders.

All people were not born to be leaders, this is a quality inherent to people. Where they take on the responsibility of guiding others and making them listen to them and trust their criteria. Having the capacity for leadership and initiative requires a lot of work and the development of specific qualities.

Continuous training

Continuous training involves the constant training of employees to acquire and optimise new knowledge as a way of improving their professional profile.

Committing to continuing training generates certain direct advantages for the worker and for the company to which he/she belongs, as this facilitates the mobility of the professional. Making him/her resilient in the face of unforeseen events such as dismissals, forced redundancies and so on.

Every person should always continue training, not only in the area in which he/she works. But in many other areas in order to acquire knowledge that will serve him/her throughout his/her life and professional career. Knowing about many things opens many doors and opportunities, education and training is always of personal benefit. It is well said that education is power, and power is held by the one who knows with a clear basis a specific topic.