4 Essential Skills You Need for Every Career

Regardless of what goals you have for your career, there are many crucial skills you will need that every employer will appreciate or require. You have probably developed most of the skills over time and will just need to refresh them before you start the application and interview process. Having these skills will not only put you a step ahead of the rest during the hiring process, but it will also give you an advantage once you land your career and start to use them. We have identified four essential skills you will need no matter what career path you choose.

1. Writing

Strong writing skills are evident from the start of the hiring process. Emails, resumes, and cover letters show off an aspect of who you are and what you can bring to a company. Even though it may often seem as though writing skills are underestimated and underappreciated, having strong writing and grammar skills is an advantage. Even a job you think will not require any writing usually has times where you will need to write effectively. You should have the knowledge to write clearly, efficiently, and without making substantial errors.

Honing writing skills will allow you to communicate clearly and quickly, especially for updates, events, projects, or any other important topics that need to be shared with coworkers without wasting time on clarification or questions.

Although writing skills are crucial for internal communication, they are just as, if not more, important externally. Content that is shared but is hard to understand, poorly written, or contains grammatical or spelling errors will decrease your and your company’s credibility. Although it may seem that many modern workplaces have become more casual when it comes to communication, it is crucial that you maintain professionalism across emails and any other written exchanges.

2. Public Speaking/Presenting

Whether you love giving presentations and public speaking or consider them a weakness, there is little doubt that at some point in your professional career you will need to present in front of others. Having the ability to speak in public helps you advocate and develop persuasive skills. Some individuals are more introverted and have difficulty getting up to speak in front of others, which can make the situation nerve-wracking and stressful, but being able to overcome and improve this and know how to properly interact with an audience are important in the workplace.

By practicing your public speaking skills, you will be able to better communicate with others both inside and outside work. You will be able to prepare a message for any type of audience that will show you are confident and will help you build relationships and maybe even become a thought leader. Good oral communication skills are key in the professional workplace. The ability to stand up in front of others and deliver a message will create a positive impression and give you the opportunity for career growth.

3. Teamwork and Collaboration

No matter what career field you are in you will need to be able to effectively work with others. Teams don’t work well without teamwork, and it is crucial for the success of any business. To be able to have a meaningful and lifelong career, you will need to be able to have relationships with others and work as part of a team to get projects done and meet deadlines.

A team that works well together and can succeed together can produce great results. Teamwork brings new ideas, helps solve problems, is supportive, and builds morale. Being able to brainstorm with others is a good opportunity for the team to exchange ideas and come up with creative solutions to different problems that may arise. It creates a system that ensures the work is of a higher quality.

When contributing to something that produces a great result, you will feel that your work is more valued. Every person on a team has something new to offer, and by working together each person will find their sense of belonging and commitment to each other to reach the same goal.

4. Problem Solving

Even though you may have a team by your side, there is also a level of independence in the workplace. If you discover a problem, you should be able to brainstorm different ways that you can fix it and to test the solutions. People with strong problem-solving skills are an asset in any business. The ability to problem-solve allows employees to learn to use accessible resources to work out issues in a productive manner.

Being capable of problem solving plays a key role in the day-to-day operations of an organization. Any company that is willing to help their employees develop and refine this skill through training is investing in the future of the company. Having the skill to solve problems will help you become a valuable employee who can help others.

Build Your Essential Skills

Writing, public speaking, teamwork, and problem solving are only a few of the essential skills that you should possess to be an asset in your workplace. Whether you’re a new graduate trying to figure out how to get your foot in the door or are mid-career trying to get a promotion, these four skills are critical to your success. Regardless of your chosen career path, building your skills and fine-tuning them is important to setting yourself apart from others in a competitive landscape.

Constantly evaluating your skills and recognizing areas of both strengths and weaknesses will help you be successful in your ideal career. By practicing and applying writing skills, public speaking, teamwork, and problem solving, you will quickly stand out to employers.

At Bryant & Stratton College, our Career Services team is always here to help you be successful in your workplace. Learn more here!