The Top Skills That Most Employers Look for in Applicants

Finding the perfect candidate for an open position is an endeavor that can affect the company's productivity if done carelessly. Knowing this, hiring managers should take time to assess specific roles to determine which prospect fits best.

Aside from key skills, hiring managers also need to know the difference between hard and soft skills and which basic skills all applicants must possess. 

How Do Hard Skills Differ from Soft Skills?

Hard skills are innate talents people possess naturally and through experience. They typically develop hard skills from natural abilities or prior job experiences. For example, bilingualism and creative and technical writing are two hard skills an applicant might have. 

Meanwhile, soft skills are skills you learn in school or training. They are often easier to acquire, but they may also have less value when it comes to on-the-job experience. For example, a person working in a call center must learn customer service, which is a soft skill. 

What are the Basic Skills All Applicants Need?

Nowadays, hiring managers can use various skill assessment tests to see if a specific applicant is a right fit for the company. However, before proceeding with any trial, you should first know what to look for in a candidate. 

1. Communication Skills

Communication skills are among the most important job skills employers look for. With the wide availability of technologies that allow employees to communicate without being in the same room with one another, it's now more crucial than ever for job candidates to show that they can communicate well.

Job candidates should know how to express themselves clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing. They should also know how to listen to instructions and interpret information to work on specific tasks. Fortunately, you can easily test communication skills with an assessment test. 

2. Time Management Skills

Time management is an integral skill to possess. It can keep a person organized and help them get things done on time.

Even if someone has the skills to do a specific task, poor time management can lead to delays and lack of productivity. Candidates should know how to manage time well and have a sense of urgency to get the job done to be productive on the job.

3. Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is vital because it helps determine how to do a specific task from the given information. A person with critical thinking skills possesses logical thinking abilities, makes the best decisions, and solves problems.

Critical thinking skills are also necessary in analyzing data and making informed decisions. It can help a person work on problem-solving and come up with practical and effective solutions.

Conclusion

Hiring the right candidate is a challenging task, and finding the best person can make all the difference in your search for your next employee.

If you're looking for the best applicant for the job, you need to be precise and know what skills candidates need to possess. Moreover, you have to consider using skill assessment software to hasten the process without sacrificing efficiency and accuracy.

Kandio helps companies hire the best people for open positions with our pre-employment assessment test. This software provides a snapshot of an applicant's skills, abilities, and personality to provide employers with more accurate information to determine if they are right for the job. Check out our page for more details on the assessment test!