Skills Every Employee Should Have

Finnegan Pierson

No matter what industry you work in, as an employee, you want to equip yourself with the best skillset possible so that you can benefit your company. Prepare yourself by choosing a useful major in college and taking practical courses. However, once you have graduated and are working for your company, you should continue to improve the following skills.

Public Speaking

Talking to large groups of people is a valuable skill for any company, whether your business sells paper or cars. You need to be able to deliver a convincing sales presentation to potential investors, but you also must know how to talk to your coworkers about mutual goals. Community colleges offer classes in public speaking nearly every semester, and depending on how old you are, you may qualify for free classes. If taking a class is not an option, ask a more experienced sales representative for tips. You could also look for online classes.

Leadership

Not everyone wants to be the boss. However, leadership exists at every level of a company. Taking a leadership seminar will give you valuable insights into guiding your teams and will boost your resume. Volunteering for extra responsibilities will also give you hands-on leadership training. For example, by taking the lead on a sales project, you will learn how to effectively guide a group to complete a goal, even though you will not learn about official strategies.

Conflict Resolution

Knowing how to carry out conflict resolution is applicable to any workplace setting. Many outside organizations offer training in conflict resolution, or your human resources department may have a company-specific one. In these courses, you will learn how to mediate between two people who have either a personal or professional issue. Then, you can help them with strategies such as active listening and I-statements, which are when people use “I” to explain their emotions rather than “you.”

First Aid

Companies that specialize in emergency response require their employees to have certifications for skills such as first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. However, emergencies can occur in any environment, and having knowledge about emergencies could save the lives of your clients and coworkers. You can take courses from the Red Cross or your local police department. Not only do these courses give you the skills you need, but they also provide equipment such as a CPR mask.

Digital Literacy

Most companies are at least partially digital. You probably have to email clients and coworkers, and you may also have online recording systems for sales. However, having more than a basic knowledge of computers is always a plus. Take classes to become certified in the use of a specific kind of word processing software. You can also take more advanced courses to learn about HTML and other programming languages so that you can help develop your company’s website. Other digital literacy certifications involve social media usage and marketing.

Time Management 

Time management is a hard skill to teach, but if you can master it, you will save your company lots of money and work more efficiently. Ask your supervisor for feedback about your time management, and pay attention to instances when you seem to be running late or when you miss deadlines. Then, find strategies that will help you reclaim your time. Log out of all social media accounts while you are at work. Set alarms for the ends of breaks so that you remember to go back to work. Every time you set a meeting, write it down in your calendar and make sure to budget enough time for it. After every major project, analyze your progress and see if you are getting better at managing your time.

Customer Service

You may not officially be a customer service representative, but you probably still have to work with customers. Learning how to speak to customers honestly and helpfully will prevent misunderstandings between you and your clients.

Take the time to master these skills, and you will save your company money and become a more valuable employee.