It’s not only about creating a CV and cover letter that look excellent. It’s about putting together a coherent sentence in the interview and on the job.
Some job seekers mistakenly believe that all they have to do is pay a resume service or ask a friend to create their resume and cover letter in order to land a job. But having a great looking – and reading – resume and cover letter cannot help job seekers who really don’t have the verbal and oral communication skills required to do the job.
Communication Tops List of Skills Desired by Employers
When it comes to identifying which skills employers seek in job candidates, strong communication skills tops the list according the Job Outlook 2010 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
The survey results showed that participating employers valued soft skills the most. Rounding out the top five were analytical skills, the ability to work in a team, technical skills and a strong work ethic.
Soft skills have long trumped technical skills when it comes to hiring. The reason being is that many employers feel they can train job seekers who are the right fit for the organization, are good at building relationships, but are perhaps a bit light on work experience. And when it comes to soft skills, good communication – written and oral – is a highly valued trait.
Job Seekers Should Focus on Developing Strong Communication Skills
So now the question becomes: how can job seekers develop the kind of communication skills that employers embrace?
When people question whether or not a college education is worth the price of admission these days, for developing and refining communication skills the answer is “yes.” English, creative writing, speech and similar courses offer job seekers the opportunity to specifically work on their oral and written communication skills. However, any class which places students in a position of having to write a report or make a presentation in front of their classmates can be beneficial.
For job seekers who are comfortable articulating their thoughts verbally, but fall down on the job when it comes to putting their ideas in writing, there are free online writing classes through the opencourseware project. While there are a variety of colleges and universities that participate, here are ten that offer job seekers an opportunity to polish their writing skills for free.
Another way for job seekers to refine their writing skills is by reading how others do it. Not only does reading expand the job seeker’s world and knowledge, it gives the job seeker a chance to see how professional writers write.
Finally, for job seekers who need to focus on their verbal presentation skills, one of the best places to hone public speaking skills is with Toastmasters International. Toastmasters, a nearly 90-year-old organization, offers a forum for anyone who want to enhance their communication and leadership abilities.
So whether job seekers need to work on their written or oral presentation skills or both, there are avenues they can take. From classes at local colleges to free online opencourseware to professional organizations that offer skill training, job seekers can develop the great communication skills they need to land a great job.
