KEY SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR

Employability skills and personal values are the critical tools and traits you need to succeed in the
workplace, and they are all elements that you can learn, cultivate, develop and maintain once yo have
identified the sought- after skills and values and assesed the degree to which you possess them. Remember to document them and market them( in your resume', cv & interview answers) for job search success. Below are some of the key skills that employers seek

1. COMMUNICATION SKILLS(LISTENING, VERBAL, WRITTEN)

By far the one skill mentioned most often by employers is the ability to listen, write and speak effectively. Successful communication is critical in business.

2.    ANALYTICAL/RESEARCH SKILLS

Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information if necessary and identify key issues that need to be addressed.

3.   COMPUTER/TECHNICAL LITERACY

Almost all jobs now require some basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially word processing, spreadsheets and email.

4.    FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY/MANAGING MULTIPLE PRIORITIES

Deals with your ability to manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments.

5.   INTERPERSONAL ABILITIES
The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers, is essential given the amount of time spent at work each day.

6.   LEADERSHIP/MANAGENT SKILLS

These skills deal with your ability to take charge and manage your c0-workers

7.   PLANNNNG/ORGANIZING
Deals with your ability to design, plan, organize and implement projects and tasks within an alloted time frame. Also involves goal setting.

8.   PROBLEM-SOLVING/REASONING/CREATIVITY
Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using your creativity, reasoning and past experiences along with the available information and resources.

9.   TEAMWORK
Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work- groups, you must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while attempting to achieve a common goal.

TYPICAL SALES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

These are a few questions and answers that will help you during a sales interview:

1. WHAT TECHNIQUE HAVE YOU FOUND MOST SUCCESSFUL IN HANDLING OBJECTIONS?

When answering this sales question acknowledge that objections happen frequently during the sales
 process but that you view them as a positive ratheer than a bad thing. An objection i s a request for more information from the customer and gathering and giving information is one of the key steps to making the sale.
Highlight how you view an objection as an opportunity to engage in conversation about something the customer is interested in. Then focus on an effective strategy that you use to work through the objection. These include the following key steps to handling an objection:

•  Listen and acknowledge the concern.
• Ask questions to clarify and ensure that you have gotten the real objection.
•  Empathise with the objection.
•  Put forward a proposal to overcome the concern.
•  Confirm thgat you have answered the concern.

2. IN THE CURRENT SALES ENVIRONMENT, WHAT IS TH EPROCESS YOU GO THROUGH TO QUALIFY A CUSTOMER?

This question is designed to evaluate your ability to assess what is a solid prospect and not waste your efforts in poor prospects. In tough economic conditions sales people can waste precious resources chasing every lead that comes their way. Focus on the characteristics of a good prospect including the actual needs of the customer, the customer's budget and the real authority of the customer to make the buying decision.
3. WHAT DO CONSIDER THE KEY SKILLS IN CLOSING?

Key points to keep in mind when answering this sales interview question are:

• Recognizing buying signals both verbal and non verbal
• Not attempting to close too early
• Familiarity with different closing techniques such as the alternate choice method etc.
• Allowing the buyer tghe appropriate time and silence to respond to the close.
• To stop selling once the sale is made

4. HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY FROM A SALE?

Sooner or later it will happen that it is necessary to walk away from a customer. This sales question is asked to determine that you do not walk away from opportunities too quickly or for the wrong reasons. You should have a walk-away strategy that is based on valid and consistent reasons. These could include:

• When legal and ethical standards may be compromised such as taking or paying a bribeor compromising your moral or religious beliefs.
• When time and resources do not allow  you to provide the acceptable standard of quality or when you know you cannot deliver what is being asked. This can be viewed as an invitation to failure when the time, energy and resources required to keep the sale or customer are no longer a good investment and the business becomes unprofitable.
• When the deal does not benefit both parties and is not a win-win situation particularly when it is one sided to your detriment.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS.
With these question you can give example sof books that are related to sales e.g How to win friends and influence people  - by Dale Carnegie.
 

PRACTICAL THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR INTERVIEWS RUN SMOOTHLY

1. Practise by going on interviews, even for jobs you have no intention of taking
2. Research the company thoroughly, use the internet, library and periodicals to find
  current information.
3. Know the company's market, products and goals.
4. Memorize some facts about the company and be prepared to cite them during the interview.
5. Formulate a list of intelligent questions to ask during your interview.
6. Talk to people who work or have worked at the company.
7. Hang around the building in the morning, noting how the staff dresses, as well as their body language.

                     TIPS & WARNING

•  Make sure you the Company's location. Go on practice run so that you know how much time you will need to get there.
• Remember your interviewer's name and title

        Reference
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