REVEALED: Skills UK employers demand the most

Posted 7th June 2019 • Written by recruitmentgrapevine.com • • • • •

There are numerous traits that employers will look out for when hiring new candidates, from punctuality and appropriate experience, to a set of qualifications that will match the job role. However, there are a variety of ‘soft skill’ factors that hiring managers are also on the look-out for.

New research from job board CV-Library reveals the top skills employers look for in candidates include the ability to adapt (71.5%), resilience (57.5%) and being able to balance work and personal life (29.2%).

The study, which surveyed 300 UK employers on the top skills they believe are most important in a potential hire, found that companies are most interested in applicants who have a willingness to upskill (39.7%), an ability to adapt (71.5%) and a keenness to network (16.4%).

“The world of work is constantly changing, influenced by a range of factors; from technological advances and rapidly evolving jobs, to a change in employee expectations and a rise in remote working,” said Lee Biggins, Founder and CEO of CV-Library.

“Employers have a duty of care to their workers and with workplace stress and economic upheaval seeing no signs of disappearing, it’s no wonder that companies are prioritising candidates that can excel in these areas.”

In addition, 89.3% of employers revealed that they take a proactive approach to helping their staff members upskill.

67.4% believe it is important to do so to help develop employees’ careers in the company, while 63.3% say it is crucial to retain top performing members of staff.

Meanwhile, 17.7% feel that upskilling will help to overcome nationwide skills shortages, and 52.6% hope it will help businesses remain competitive against other companies.

Biggins added: “As human beings, it’s natural to want to feel as if we are developing in our careers and learning new skills is a huge part of this. This means employers must invest in boosting skills within their workplace: whether that’s through internal or external training or investing in new technologies.”

Source: recruitmentgrapevine.com