Here are the basic work skills we look for in new people, and they aren’t related to education or domain expertise. They are however, related to how easy it might be to work with you over the long haul.
Why We Want to Hire You:
1) You follow through. When given a small task, you do what you say you will do, and not only half way. You rarely have an excuse or a reason for not doing the work on time. You really take the time to listen to the requirements, critical dates or drivers, and internalize them.
2) You take initiative or think for yourself. You take responsibility for your own life. You aren't waiting for someone to give you a handout, to answer your life questions for you. You care enough about your own life path to attempt to define it and make it happen. You don't just “want a job” (which extends into how passively you show up in said job).
3) You don't have a lot of drama and/or distractions. You care more about your work than your hobbies. You aren't in a bad relationship or marriage that spills out into your moods or ability to focus. You are mentally and emotionally present, and you aren't strung out on something.
4) You connect the dots. You ask why you are doing a task and then check to see if the way you are doing it will meet the business goal, or if it will impede it. You check to see how your approach will impact the customer (revenues or user experience) or the business (costs and efficiency). You are aware what impact your work has on others.
5) You possess basic emotional skills. Like the ability to take care of yourself and others. The ability to not blame and refrain from gossip. You aren't snarky. You have no trouble telling the whole truth & being direct. You don't have some sort of chip on your shoulder. You are collaborative and trustworthy. You give and receive in balance.
Want to get hired? Want to be the go-to person on a project?
Show up and do what you say you’re going to do, think for yourself, keep your drama to a minimum, connect the dots between your role/tasks and the big picture, be an emotional grown-up.
Even if your resume isn’t brilliant, you can start from these principles, learn any tangible technical skills needed to do the work, and go anywhere you want with it.
