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.

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.

RUMOURS have been swirling on social media that the McDonald’s McRib burger is set for a comeback after 10 years off the menu.

So when I was invited to a secretive press event by the fast food chain earlier this week – with no details on what it was about – I was very intrigued and expected something big.

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A couple of hours after arriving, my anticipation finally ended as Maccies workers started dishing out box upon box filled with the iconic burgers, first launched in the UK in 1981, from the back of a van.

The pork-based patty, which is lathered in smoky BBQ sauce, pickles and onions and encased in a homestyle bun, is back on menus for a limited time from October 16.

It will be on sale for £4.49 as an individual item or £6.19 as part of a medium extra-value meal deal, which means it comes with fries and a medium drink.

But I, alongside a host of other journalists and social media influencers, got an early taste of the fan-favourite item, which was last seen on UK menus in early 2015.

While I am old enough to remember the McRib being on menus, I never actually tried it at the time.

And I must admit, I was buzzing to give it a go, especially after all the clamour about it online in recent weeks.

How did it taste?

After opening the box, the burger looked pretty plain and unspectacular, while its rectangular shape made it hard to hold, to be honest.

But I was pretty impressed when it came to the flavour and texture.

The pork patty melted in my mouth and was super tender – definitely better than other burgers I’ve tried.

The pickles and onions added a nice textural contrast to the soft bun and meat as well, while adding a slight sour kick.

But one thing I would say was that after eating an entire burger I did feel a bit sickly due to the abundance of the BBQ sauce, which was too sweet for me personally.

At 509 calories, the burger is more calorific than a Double Cheeseburger, McChicken and Bacon Double Cheeseburger as well.

But overall, I’d definitely choose to get a McRib again on my next trip, especially as it’s only on menus for a limited time.

OTHER MCDONALD’S CHANGES

McDonald’s customers are in for a busy October, with the fast food chain already having confirmed a new breakfast item is making its way onto menus.

From October 16, foodies will be able to get their hands on mini hashbrowns in a portion of five or 15, with prices starting from £1.49.

McDonald’s already sells regular-sized hashbrowns for £1.19 but these are bitesized.

Many customers have already taken to social media saying the product reminds them of Tater Tots – a popular side dish in America.

It is still unclear whether or not the morning snack will become a permanent menu item or will only be available for a limited period.

A number of items are coming off menus this month too.

Customers will have to wave goodbye to six menu items:

• Philly Cheese Stack
• Chicken Big Mac
• Mozzarella Dippers
• Galaxy Chocolate McFlurry
• Twix Caramel McFlurry
• Twix Latte

The items were rolled out across stores on September 4, in conjunction with the return of McDonald’s Monopoly.

But when the game ends on October 15, these items will be removed.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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.

“My focus is on understanding what that looks like for them throughout the journey.”

She said there is always a risk someone may leave for another opportunity, but “the key is to focus on what that individual wants” and whether you can offer it.

“I’ve found that being honest with the team helps,” she said. “It might not always work out, but you’re never caught off guard.”

She said maintaining regular communication is also invaluable in staff retention.

“You know where you stand, and from both a management and team perspective, that’s valuable.

“It’s about managing expectations on both sides. By having regular check-ins, you can ask, ‘Is this what you expected? If not, why? How can we adapt?’

“That kind of approach helps ensure alignment.”

The boss of Tesco exuded confidence about the economy yesterday as he claimed shoppers were getting back to treating themselves.

Chief exec Ken Murphy said consumers were “in good shape” and noted sales of its more expensive Finest range had risen by almost 15 per cent in the past six months.

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The boost in sales of upmarket products is a sharp reversal from the trend during the cost-of-living crisis when sales of cheaper budget and own-brand products rocketed.

Mr Murphy said that shoppers had a “willingness to spend a little bit more to treat themselves… While they’re not doing cartwheels down the aisles, they’re in reasonably good shape.”

He acknowledged there was a “lot of uncertainty in the world” but said Tesco was preparing for a strong Christmas.

“We see customer sentiment improving before Christmas,” Mr Murphy said. He added that Tesco was expecting a record-breaking Halloween, with three million pumpkins forecast to be sold at its stores this month.

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His upbeat comments come despite a slew of economic data showing falling consumer confidence as Brits worry about what may be in this month’s Budget.

Mr Murphy’s tone is also at odds with remarks made by Sainsbury’s chief exec Simon Roberts, who a day earlier cautioned that shoppers were holding back on spending due to worries about what Labour will announce.

However, Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket chain, is already riding high after boosting its profits by a fifth to £1.9billion on the back of its sales rising by 3.5 per cent to £31.46billion in the half-year.

The boost gives Tesco its highest market share since January 2022. Mr Murphy said its Aldi Price Match and Clubcard promotions had made it more competitive.

Around 23 million British households, 80 per cent of the country, have a Tesco Clubcard.

Plea on electric car VAT

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Private buyers are increasingly choosing diesel cars ahead of electric ones — prompting the motor industry to call for more support in hitting its Net Zero targets.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said private diesel registrations in September were up by 17.2 per cent on last year — an increase of 1,369 units.

That compared with a rise of just 430 pure battery electric registrations — 3.7 per cent — despite huge discounting.

Bosses from Ford, Honda, Kia, Mercedes, Nissan, VW, Jaguar Land Rover and Vauxhall-maker Stellantis have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of her October 30 Budget, calling for VAT cuts on electric vehicles and public charging points.

These cost an average of 80p per kilowatt hour — so drivers pay more to recharge electric cars than petrol and diesel drivers do to fill up the tank.

£666m hell of a sale

Investors dumped a devilish £666million worth of UK shares last month, amid fears the Budget could push up capital gains taxes.

Figures from global fund network Calastone show that UK funds were out of favour while other markets saw inflows of cash.

Capital gains tax on shares being sold is currently at 20 per cent but the Chancellor is reportedly considering increasing this to 45 per cent.

Mulberry help

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is backing Mulberry’s £10million cash call to investors — just days after having an £83million hostile takeover bid rejected.

Frasers, which owns a 37 per cent stake in the luxury bag brand, will put £3.9million into the share sale to avoid being diluted. It has also not ruled out a further bid offer.

But sources say that is unlikely to be successful, with the company being backed by its majority shareholder Challice, owned by Singaporean billionaire Christina Ong.

Upper Crust owner SSP enjoyed a 9 per cent rise in UK sales in the last three months.

Its railway station shops have benefited from fewer rail strikes while its airport cafes have been boosted by more holidaymakers.

Chat for £118bn

ChatGPT owner OpenAI is now worth £118billion after its latest funding round.

The artificial intelligence firm has raised another £5billion from investors, including tech giant Microsoft and AI chipmaker Nvidia.

Only four companies on London’s FTSE 100 are still worth more. It also has a new £3billion credit facility from big Wall Street banks.

It comes amid speculation that the Californian firm’s boss, Sam Altman, is restructuring the company into a for-profit entity, rather than non-profit.

A beloved pie shop that featured in a Channel 4 show is closing after 50 years of business.

Potts Pies in Lancaster first opened in 1973 and caught the attention of the Hairy Bikers.

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The owner, Donna Crossley, who started working at the shop in 1992, left customers shocked by the news.

“I did not ever think I’d be writing this, but it’s time to hang my apron up,” she wrote in an emotional Facebook post.

“I would like to thank each and every one of you, it’s had his ups and downs, mainly ups.

“It’s not been easy over the last few years as some of you know. I will leave here with my head held high and be proud of what I’ve done,” she added.

Gutted by the news, locals praised Donna and her team.

“End of an era, lots of amazing memories and generations of workers and customers,” one wrote.

“Potts Pies will always have a place in my heart, my grandad used to work there years ago,” said another.

“I would like to wish the new owner all the best and good luck for what you turn it into,” echoed a third.

Donna said the highlight of her time at the shop was the day the late Dave Myers and Si King paid a visit.

Potts Pies was launched by Joe and Vena Potts in 1973 before it was taken over by the Walsh family in 1988.

It expanded and had shops in Morecambe, Toorisholme, Bare and Bolton le-Sands.

The business struggled in the last few years and Donna only employed two staff members who made pies twice a week.

The shop has been sold to new owners, but it’s not known what they plan on doing with the space.