Stepping out of college into the corporate world, you think that your degrees and certificates are the true deciders and requisite of your success at a profession. You are mistaken!

Your employability skills or soft skills matter just as much as your degrees, because your degrees/ academic qualifications help you to use your knowledge in the practical scenarios. Your skills will set you apart in the day-to-day functioning in a corporate setup. The combination of both can bring you in a

win –win situation while you to step in, sustain and scale up the corporate ladder

What are employability skills?

Employability skills are a combination of soft skills, social skills, character, personality and actions. They are your response in terms of actions, communication – both verbal  and body; apart from your knowledge and capability   These are what will help an individual face situations, challenges, tasks and success.  

Communication skills: Your ability to communicate and put across your thoughts and ideas effectively without hurting any other individuals Position, Confidence, Ego or stature is important. Even harsh things if communicated gently and using proper words can effectively change the situation around.

Teamwork: Your ability to work harmoniously as a team member, taking on responsibilities, sharing your views, sharing blame and accepting criticism as a team without accusations is a must. 

Organization skills: The way you keep your files, your work and your desk organized speaks volumes about your ability to handle work and responsibilities handed down to you in an organised way. 

Initiative and planning: Your ability to initiative a task or put forth a plan or simply your ability to step up and take up a task without being told is important. 

Accountability and responsibility: your ability to take on accountability for a task at hand and responsibility not just when the task is successful but even if the task fails adds to your credibility as a trustworthy individual.   

Problem Solving: Are you good at solving a problem or do you panic in challenging situations? Your ability to deal with an issue and come up with effective solutions marks you out from the rest of the crowd. 

Grooming and Self-management: How you groom yourself, manage yourself and your work is also important. Walking into an interview in well ironed clothes but bad footwear or messy hair or an unshaven look is not impressive. Likewise, being unable to manage yourself, your time and your space gives out a negative impression. 

Adaptability and Technology: Your ability to adapt to a situation and your acceptance to learn new methodologies and new technology is important. This will help you grow as an individual and as a bankable employee for the company as well. 

All of these along with your certificate, your degrees and your individual personality are what make you acceptable and a member of the team and the company. There are many more skills that could aid in your being dependable, reliable, authentic, and genuine and the go-to person in an organisation. Your degrees are worthless if people do not like working with you. Be an employee or the leader every company is looking for, rather than just a dispensable paid worker.