5 Underrated Job Skills That The Most Successful People Have 💼
Upgrade your skill set to become more than just a resume to recruiters. Find out the 4 must-have skills and how to acquire them!
The trick to succeeding in the competitive job market is to stand out from the crowd. Gone are the days when educational qualifications were all it took to get your foot in the door. Now, the emphasis is on having invaluable soft skills that you can only get from experience.
This week in Employable, we’re dishing out four characteristics you need and how to acquire them to prepare you for career success and get that edge.
🌪️ Skill # 1: Embrace Change Like a Pro
Change is the only constant, right? The art of not just adapting to change but embracing it with open arms shows hiring managers that you will be an asset during times of change. Adaptability also showcases your willingness to learn and openness to new challenges. Learn how to turn uncertainty into opportunities and master resilience in your professional journey.
"Stand out by navigating diverse work environments and collaborating seamlessly. For young professionals, a proactive approach, continuous learning, and relevant certifications beyond a polished resume make a significant impact.”
Abhishek Shah, Founder, HNR Tech at Testlify
How to acquire it
Develop a growth mindset: Set goals for yourself and the person you want to be. Identify areas of improvement that you can work towards. For example, maybe you need to enhance your communication skills.
Seek out challenges: Don’t want to be stuck in a rut? Ask for opportunities to take on new challenges at work so you can keep returning to the drawing board and learning new things.
Practice mindfulness: One of the best ways to learn to pivot is practicing the ability to extract the positive from any situation. Unlike false positivity, which is counter-productive, learning how to pause and reflect can take you places.
⭐How to highlight this skill on your resume
Showcase accomplishments that resulted from your adaptability and use Action Verbs like "adapted," "embraced change," or "pioneered innovation" in the professional experience section.
🗣️Skill # 2 Unlock the 3 C's of Communication
Communication is key, but ever thought about the 3 C's? Explore the power of Clarity, Conciseness, and Consistency in your communication style. Whether you're writing an email or leading a team, these principles will make you a communication maestro.
“Clear communicators facilitate seamless collaboration and understanding, which is essential for any successful team. These skills may only be explicitly listed sometimes, but they significantly impact a professional setting.”
Ilay Ayhan Turkmen | Business Development Manager at YouParcel
How to acquire it
Remember: Effective communication is a powerful tool in the workplace. Use the CAR method to ensure your messages are impactful and easily understood.
⭐How to highlight this skill on your resume
Include relevant courses and certifications related to communication in the achievement section.
🧩Skill #3: Innovative Problem-Solving 101
Tired of the same old solutions? Dive into the world of innovative problem-solving. Unleash your creativity and learn to tackle challenges in unique, game-changing ways. Become the go-to problem solver that every team dreams of having.
Employers often undervalue critical thinking and problem-solving over technical skills. To impress, showcase past problem-solving achievements, emphasize strategic thinking, and highlight how you've made a positive impact.
Draven McConville, CEO & Founder, Klipboard
How to acquire it
Implement a Systematic Problem-Solving Method, such as the "5 Whys".
The "5 Whys" is an iterative technique where you repeatedly ask "Why" to drill down into the root cause of a problem. Here’s how to apply this technique in your daily life:
Start: Identify the problem.
Ask: Ask "Why" the problem occurred. Repeat the question five times to uncover the underlying issues.
Analyze: Analyze the answers to determine the root cause.
This method helps you address the underlying cause rather than just the symptoms so that you don’t end up making the same mistake again and again.
⭐How to highlight this skill on your resume
Include problem-solving as a key skill and provide examples of times you have solved problems in your career by innovating a solution.
🌐Skill #4: Speak the Language of Success
In a more connected world than ever, speaking multiple languages is a superpower. Whether it's for business or building relationships, discover how being multilingual can open doors to exciting opportunities and make you an asset in any global context.
A lesser-known fact is that in the UAE, speaking languages like Arabic, French, and Russian can open up lots of opportunities. Your language skills are your key to unlocking doors in this diverse place.
Uzma Shaikh, People Manager, Khaleej Times
How to acquire it
Use Interactive Lessons on Duolingo to improve your language skills. The gamified approach makes it easier to stay consistent, earn points, and compete with friends. It also adapts to your progress, adjusting the difficulty of lessons based on your performance. Plus, you get to learn language skills that are directly applicable to daily life, improving their ability to communicate effectively.
⭐How to highlight this skill on your resume
If the job requires specific language skills, prioritize those languages at the top of the list. Use terms like "Native Speaker," "Proficient," or "Conversational" to indicate your proficiency level for each language.
🚀Skill #5: Master the Art of Persuasion and Negotiation
Persuasion involves the ability to communicate compellingly, convince others of your ideas, and gain support. Negotiation, on the other hand, is the art of reaching agreements through discussion and compromise. These skills are especially valuable in roles that require collaboration, sales, project management, and leadership.
“In the dynamic landscape of the MENA region, where diverse perspectives and cultures converge, having strong persuasion and negotiation skills is paramount. From closing crucial deals and navigating large meetings to pitching ideas to upper management and fostering teamwork, effective communication empowers professionals to navigate challenges and enables you to encourage collaborative success.”
Alex Epure, Founder, Qureos
How to acquire it
Training and Workshops: Attend workshops or courses on persuasion and negotiation techniques to learn practical strategies and frameworks.
Real-world Practice: Engage in real-world scenarios, such as group projects or volunteer opportunities, to practice and refine your persuasion and negotiation skills.
Read Relevant Material: Explore books, articles, and case studies on effective persuasion and negotiation to gain insights into successful approaches.
⭐How to highlight this skill on your resume
In your professional summary, briefly mention your proficiency in persuasion and negotiation, connecting it to your career goals and the value you bring to potential employers.
Key Takeaway
It’s never too late to learn a new skill and become a top candidate. Keep growing and expanding your skill set, and make every experience a learning opportunity. What do you think is an underrated skill in the workplace? Let us know in the comments below.
Need to upskill? Find out more about how you can do so here:
Specialized Programs For Emirati Graduates to Develop Future Skills
Strategies To Build Your Personal Brand and Boost Your Career
What are some underrated skills you think come in handy for professional success? Let us know in the comments below👇🏽