Whatever job you're working, these qualifications will be useful.
We often try to divide skills and traits by field. When we think of computer skills, we think of the IT industry; when we think of written communication, we think of the publishing industry or the field of education, and so on. However, many of the attributes that make us qualified for certain jobs are also helpful across the board. If you have one or more of these traits or skills, they'll help you out in more than one field.
1. Communication Skills – Written and Oral
Communication is such an important skill that we wrote a whole article about it! Not only will communication build up a positive relationship with your coworkers, but it shows that you are open, honest, reliable, and capable of getting the job done.
2. Basic Computer Skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, as well as knowing how to navigate the basic functions of a computer, is helpful in almost all fields – even if you aren’t using one every day on the job! For clerical and office positions, it’s a necessity, but for other job fields, it’s a plus.
3. A Positive Attitude
A positive attitude is a must for any job you work. Now, a positive attitude doesn’t mean you should be fake, but it does mean you must leave your problems at the door and come to work ready to do your job. It also helps to smile.
4. Punctuality
No matter what field you’re working in, it helps to be punctual. Arriving on time – or better yet, arriving early – shows initiative and reliability.
5. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking will allow you to assess many different situations and decide on the best way to move forward. It also gives you the ability to look at things in new ways.
6. Problem Solving
Problem solving often goes hand-in-hand with critical thinking. Every job field will encounter problems. If you have experience in problem-solving, don’t be afraid to put it on your resume!
7. Prioritizing
Knowing how to divide up your time between tasks and projects is essential. Even in jobs that involve a lot of repetition and routine, there will still be times where you need to have multiple things to complete at once, and you’ll need to decide which assignments to complete first and how much time you should spend on them.
8. Willingness to Learn New Things
Being flexible in this way will show that you’re open to change and willing to evolve as the job does. It also lets supervisors know that you want more responsibility, which will help you if you’re looking to get a promotion.
9. The Ability to Stay Calm
While not all jobs are high-stress environments, there are still points in time where it might become stressful. If you can stay calm and practice patience in situations of heightened emotions or high stress, then it’s likely you can handle a variety of work environments.
10. Collaboration/Teamwork Skills
The number of team members you work with on any given assignment will vary from project to project. It’s common to work on most tasks by yourself in many job fields, but others rely heavily on teamwork. Even in those environments that don’t focus on collaboration or teamwork, it is still a good skill to have. You never know when you are going to be asked to work closely with someone.
Can you think of any other skills or traits that can help you out in multiple fields? Leave a comment down below!