When hiring new employees, employers look beyond just qualifications and experience. There are several essential soft skills and attributes that companies seek in job candidates during the recruitment process. Understanding the key skills employers want allows you to tailor your CV, interview answers and application to show you have these abilities. This article explores the top skills employers look for and how to demonstrate them throughout the hiring process.

Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are one of the most important attributes employers look for in potential hires. They want to see excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills. This includes being able to express yourself clearly, listen actively, provide constructive feedback, and collaborate effectively with co-workers. Highlight your communication abilities on your CV by giving examples of presentations, reports or proposals you have created. If you aren’t sure how to craft a winning CV, you can use an online CV template. Provide instances of resolving conflict or misunderstandings positively. Use the job interview to demonstrate your interpersonal skills through active listening, thoughtful responses and appropriate body language. Being able to communicate effectively is vital for almost any role.

Problem-Solving Abilities

Employers need staff who can analyse issues, think critically and develop solutions. Problem-solving skills allow you to address challenges logically and with creative thinking. Give examples of problems you have solved in previous roles, whether through process improvements, new initiatives or overcoming obstacles. Use the job interview to describe your problem-solving approach with steps like gathering information, assessing options and implementing solutions. Show how you persevere to resolve issues. The ability to solve problems systematically shows you can handle challenges on the job.

Teamwork Skills

The ability to work cooperatively as part of a team is highly valued by employers. They need employees who can collaborate productively to achieve shared goals. Provide examples of team projects and highlight accomplishments your collaboration achieved. Discuss roles you have taken on teams, whether formal leadership or supporting team members. Use your job interview to share how you build positive team relationships, manage conflicts constructively and motivate teammates to excel. Working well in a team demonstrates you can contribute to an organisation’s success.

Adaptability and Flexibility

Today’s rapidly changing business environment requires employees who are adaptable and embrace change. Employers look for individuals who can adjust quickly when projects or priorities shift. Share examples of how you have adapted to changes in previous roles. Use your interview to demonstrate flexibility by expressing openness to new approaches, systems or responsibilities. Show that you can maintain consistent performance during periods of change. Adaptability allows you to thrive in evolving workplaces.

Time Management and Organisation

Employers need staff who can manage multiple priorities and complete work efficiently. Time management and organisational skills allow you to be productive and meet deadlines. Showcase how you have delivered results on time in past roles. Give examples of techniques you use for prioritising tasks, scheduling time and staying organised. Use the interview to describe your approach to long-term planning as well as responding flexibly to shifting deadlines. Demonstrate how you balance organisation with creativity. Strong time management shows you can juggle responsibilities and deliver results.

Motivation and Initiative

Companies value self-motivated professionals who take the initiative to achieve goals and go beyond basic requirements. Highlight accomplishments and quantify the impact you made in past roles. Use examples that demonstrate how you proactively identified opportunities for improvement. Discuss how you set challenging goals for yourself. During the interview, convey enthusiasm for the company and role. Share ideas you already have for contributing if hired. Showing motivation and drive indicates you are committed to excelling.

Digital Skills

Digital skills are becoming increasingly important for all roles. Employers look for proficiency in relevant software, applications and platforms. Tailor your CV and interview examples to showcase your digital capabilities. Demonstrate skills like data analysis, social media management or CRM systems. Being digitally savvy shows you can thrive in modern work environments. Highlight any experience with programming, website development, analytics tools or other technical abilities. Fluency with essential digital tools indicates you can perform and communicate effectively in a technology-driven job.

Employers look for job candidates with versatile skills like communication, problem-solving and adaptability. Tailor your answers and application to highlight the abilities companies seek. Show concrete examples of using these skills successfully in past roles. Demonstrate them during the interview through your responses, stories and interactions. With strong essential skills and the right experience, you can show employers you are the ideal candidate for the job.

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The writer is US Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology

Ransomware is wreaking havoc around the world. Earlier this year an attack against a US health insurance giant shut down operations at hospitals and pharmacies for weeks, costing the company a reported $872mn. This does not include the $22mn ransom payment that the company made to a Russia-based gang. On the other side of the world, a ransomware attack shut down the Port of Nagoya — Japan’s busiest port — for two full days.

These cases exemplify the thousands of attacks that are taking place around the world. The contours of battle continue to expand. Companies, from small businesses and auto dealers to hospitals and other critical infrastructure such as ports and water systems, are all coming under threat. Since 2021, the US government alone has identified more than 4,900 ransomware attacks with at least $3.1bn paid out in ransoms.

Not only is this money that could otherwise be spent on salaries, taxes and business development but it is money that is going directly into the hands of criminal enterprises and rogue states. 

If ransomware is a cash cow, cryptocurrencies are its grazing pastures. According to the Financial Action Task Force, most jurisdictions do not comply with international standards for virtual assets. Russia is especially concerning, operating as a safe haven for both ransomware attackers and money laundering crypto exchanges like Bitzlato, Garantex, and PM2BTC. The Russian government has applied pressure to prevent the extradition of cyber criminals apprehended overseas.

Ransomware attacks are also one of the most profitable forms of cyber crime in North Korea’s repertoire. When combined with cyber attacks against cryptocurrency platforms and infrastructure, they form a source of overseas revenue that evades international sanctions and generates more than $3bn.

Addressing these threats requires co-operation via global partnerships. This week, the White House convened 68 member countries, international organisations, and industry leaders for the fourth annual Counter Ransomware Initiative conference in order to explore novel approaches to the problem. 

This organisation has become the most effective and largest international cyber partnership, with members from every corner of the globe. As part of it, the US is launching a fund, comprising industry and member contributions, that will strengthen cyber security capabilities via joint assistance in the wake of a cyber attack. It will provide targeted support to improve skills, policies and response procedures. 

We in the US are clear-eyed about the enormous scope of this challenge, and the hard work ahead. Enhanced co-operation within government and between countries, civil society and private industry is a critical first step; but we will also need companies to step up and play their part in the boardroom. 

The White House has identified a small set of practices, including maintaining and testing backups, encrypting data and deploying network monitoring and multi-factor authentication, that have an outsized impact on the risk of a successful ransomware attack, and the prospects for containing one. Chief executives and corporate boards should codify and implement them immediately, for the health of their own enterprises and their national economies. This is especially true of companies with a nexus to critical services, such as healthcare, whose disruptions can have severe impacts on communities and vulnerable people.

The insurance industry can also play a constructive role, by, among other thing, requiring and verifying implementation of effective cyber security measures as a condition of underwriting its policies, akin to the way fire alarm systems are required for home insurance. Some insurance company policies — for example covering reimbursement of ransomware payments — incentivise payment of ransoms that fuel cyber crime ecosystems. This is a troubling practice that must end. 

The scourge of ransomware will not end on its own. Cybersecurity must improve, as countries around the world unite to disrupt ransomware actors and pressure safe haven jurisdictions to take action to stem this destabilising activity. As the battleground shifts, so must our defences. Criminal activity crosses borders and targets public and private sectors in every country. Our solution must do the same.

Good morning and welcome to your Morning Briefing for Friday 4 October 2024. To get this in your inbox every morning click here.

FCA’s advice guidance boundary review ‘is a huge mistake’

While realising I am probably in the minority in this industry, I fear the Financial Conduct Authority is about to score a major own goal that will have dire consequences, writes Ian Mckenna, founder of FTRC.

Changing the advice guidance boundary will cause a huge dilution of consumer protection. It will make it easier for manufacturers and others to sell products without advice, avoiding the inconvenience of being responsible for the consequences of their actions.

This risks setting consumer protection back decades. I passionately believe the advice guidance boundary is in the right place. Now is exactly the wrong time to change it.

Solving ‘vacuum’ caused by cost disclosure rule removal

The recent announcement by the Treasury and the FCA that it will temporarily ban the “double counting of costs” for investment trusts was welcomed by the sector.

However, the immediate removal of the requirement to provide costs disclosures has left a “potential vacuum”, according to Abrdn.

The company has released a ‘Statement of Operating Expenses’ (SOE) template as an interim measure to deal with this issue.

The new template document is for disclosing expenses incurred by investment trusts.

Honesty is key to staff retention

Being honest with your employees is key to staff retention, Cairn Independent operations director Laura Young has insisted.

She was responding to an audience question about the best way to keep people within advice businesses at the Lang Cat’s HomeGame 4 event in Edinburgh yesterday (3 October).

“In terms of retaining the team, the only constant is change,” Young said.

“People’s needs and wants evolve, and what they initially say they want might not be the same as what they desire by the end of the process.”

Quote Of The Day

No one seems to be talking about inflation anymore, and that could be a mistake. While attention is on the ECB and the Fed, investors ought to look more closely at developments in China.

-Eric Vanraes, head of fixed income at Eric Sturdza Investments, says the ECB’s policy of monetary easing risks allowing recession to take hold.

In Other News

Bupa has launched its health and wellbeing subscription service, Bupa Well+ Silver, to UK consumers. It provides fast access to affordable digital healthcare services.

The Silver tier subscription service follows the launch of Bupa’s GP subscription service – the Bronze tier in Bupa’s Well+ portfolio, in June.

Alongside the access to digital GP and nurse appointments, customers with Bupa Well+ Silver will be able to book digital consultations with physiotherapists and mental health specialists, starting from £20 per month.

Customers will also be able to use digital wellness services including gym classes and wellbeing programmes like guided meditation.

Sacker & Partners LLP has announced that Andy Lewis will be joining the firm as a partner.

Lewis joins the specialist law firm for pensions and retirement savings from Travers Smith.

He is well known in the industry as an ESG, sustainability and productive investment expert and is also a strong supporter of EDI initiatives. He trained and qualified at Hogan Lovells before moving to Travers Smith where he became a partner in 2019.

David Saunders, senior partner at Sackers, said: “Andy is a highly regarded pensions lawyer in the DB and DC space, with extensive experience of advising the trustees and sponsors of large pension funds. He is a perfect fit for Sackers, and we are delighted he approached us.”

Pension funds rethink hedging tactics after UK crisis (Reuters)

Italy seeks to raise more windfall taxes from companies (Financial Times)

Carmakers dangle £2bn in EV discounts to boost UK sales (Bloomberg)

Did You See?

The cost-of-living-crisis is the single biggest driver of people seeking financial advice or guidance, a new report from St James’s Place (SJP) has found.

Major life events or milestones are the biggest prompts for people to seek financial advice or guidance, SJP’s Real Life Advice Report shows.

Almost half (48%) of those who have accessed advice or guidance – 12.5m people – did so following a key moment.

This includes buying a property, getting married, or dealing with an unexpected change like divorce.