Being a skillful worker does not just mean being good at your assigned position, but having other skills that can be applied to certain tasks or that help you beneficially work alongside others.
In an apprenticeship, skills can be learned, honed and created that will last you your whole career. So when you are in an apprenticeship or internship, what skills are you looking to sharpen? Here are some important skills that you should try to grow during any job.
1: Communication
Communication is not simply limited to responding to emails quickly and professionally, it means being able to listen, speak, and write with a high level of professionalism. Listening may be the most important piece of being a good communicator because if you do not know how to listen intently, you will not be able to respond with an educated response. Additionally, being able to communicate with clients and have them feel understood and heard is hugely important.
If a customer feels that they have not been understood, they are less likely to purchase or come back for service again. Speaking and writing professionally is a skill that everyone should have for any type of job, as it will help you set yourself apart from other job applicants and make you appear educated and well-thought.
2: Flexibility
Being flexible with hours, workloads, and assignments is an essential skill to have for any job or career environment. If your employer needs you to handle multiple jobs at once, you need to be able to prove that you can work with multiple assignments at once, without dropping the ball on any of them.
Additionally, the work environment of today is constantly changing and evolving as technology and science progress. Having the ability to change up the method or style that you are working in is a skill heavily sought out by employers. Being adaptable to changing work atmospheres or loose job descriptions is critical to today’s job market.
3: Interpersonal Skills
Knowing how to talk to people, getting along with people who are different than you, and collaborating with people is highly valued by employers who often have employees work in teams.
Completing projects as groups is a very important aspect to your toolbox of skills. Managers and people who work as leaders of teams need to understand motivation, diversity, and build relationships, especially with their subordinates. Managers and team leaders who make their employees or team members feel valued and important are more well-liked by those they lead, and therefore have an easier time working with them.
4: Decision Making and Problem Solving
Solving problems, quick thinking, and fast (yet smart) decision making are crucial to any job environment. Being able to think critically and solve issues are skills that are in very high demand these days. Identifying problems and proposing solutions are key qualities that any employee should have to help further the organization they are working for and receive recognition for their work.
Rationalizing choices and creating quick and practical solutions are integral aspects of any employee or employer, and skills like these are what propel many businesses forward. This skill set is also important to have in day to day life to help your life flow smoother, and have practicality.
5: Leadership
Leadership, in any job position, is a core value that employers look for. Being able to lead a group, team, or task-force without brutalizing anyone is very important. Understanding the values of the people on your team or in your group will help you become a sympathetic leader who is respected and admired by those working under them. Creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and value is important.
Any leader of any type of group should be able to see the individual talents and skills of the people in their group and maximize the way those skills are being used or applied to the project or challenge. Motivation is key in leadership, as well as team or group morale. If the energy is good, the work will be good! Think of the Beach Boys song “Good Vibrations.” Bringing good, positive vibes into the team will produce a final product where that shows.
6: Public Speaking
Being able to speak with confidence in a public setting is a skill that many people struggle with, but is sought after by many employers. This skill requires self-confidence and knowledge of self as well. Although this may seem like the most impossible skill to get from this list, it most definitely is not.
Public speaking is so important for presentations for clients, managers, corporate managers, and so on. Being able to confidently sell your ideas, product, or even the financial report from that month will make employers see the pride and confidence you have in the work you have done for them, and clients will feel that they are getting all the information they can get.
7: Creativity
Being creative is a key aspect of many jobs, though not all. Not every position you work in will require you to have out of the box thoughts, although it helps in every job to have some type of idea-factory in your mind.
Creativity is of high value where it is needed, and when seen by employers is often rewarded, so try to think out of the box on your next assignment!
8: Morals, Ethics, and Integrity
Having a strong moral and ethical code is highly valued by employers. Organizations want to see that you are not racist, sexist, homophobic, or xenophobic. They also want to see that you will abide by their code of ethics, as each business typically has.
Your co-workers will value a person who is strong in their ethical standing, and values everyone and fights for equality and equity for everyone.
9: Taking Critiques
If you can handle your work being critiqued and altered, you will do great! Learning through mistakes or changes is huge.
Understanding where things could have been better, and adapting your performance to incorporate those critiques is vital to any work environment. Feedback should be appreciated, not shunned, since feedback (whether good or bad,) is what can make you a better worker and help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.
10: Work Ethic
Being a hard worker is critical! Showing that you are willing to go the extra mile and always do your best despite any adverse challenges is so important to your career and any job position you hold.
Going above and beyond what is asked of you is what gets you promotions, raises, and bonuses! Your employer will see how valuable you are and reward you in kind.
Nick Jones
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