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The top 3 skills international students need to compete in the covid/post-covid jobs market

Finding a job after such a turbulent global event is understandably a daunting thought. The landscape might have adapted to the new normal, some industries may have changed recruiting tactics or perhaps you’re not sure where things have changed and how to find this information. What’s important is that despite any of the obstacles from the past year, you’re meeting the requirements of employers and the best way to do that is to enhance your skills so that you’re a clear match for the role. Make it easy for them to see not only the skills you do have but your potential for success. There are certain skills across all industries that will help you stand out from the crowd. We’ve put together the top three that appear time and time again.

Leadership

Remember, it’s not just managers that need leadership skills. Possessing the ability to present yourself as a leader will show an employer what you’re capable of. Being able to remain clear and calm during stressful or uncertain times and being self-aware is a good start but if this doesn’t come naturally to you there are ways to improve this. There are fantastic leadership courses available such as Common Purpose which can help you identify areas of growth or speak to your institution to see if there are any available courses or online support. Being a good leader is a mindset, having compassion, being flexible and open to new ideas will help you understand that mindset before managing a team yourself. Try to remain curious about your industry and engage where you can while studying, this will help you understand what areas come naturally to you and where you could add training or work experience to get you up to speed.

Communication

Being able to communicate clearly has become even more important over the past year, with so many teams still working remotely it’s become imperative to ensure that you’re able to share ideas clearly from a remote location. This new focus isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon as there are many ways this has improved ways of working across the globe. Communication is a skill that often appears as key, but how do you show employers you can communicate well? One way to demonstrate this is by knowing how to pitch yourself to an employer. By understanding what they’re looking for and how to present your skills in a concise way is a great start. Practice by creating you elevator pitch and try to work on your body language and how this comes across in virtual situations such as interviews.

Problem-solving and critical thinking

University advice site Top Universities note that “37 percent of employers considered problem-solving and critical thinking among the top soft skills candidates lacked.” In a time when fake news is an issue online, you need to be able to identify which facts are real. Using critical thinking to determine answers rather than allowing your gut feeling to lead you. Using rational analysis will enable you to understand the wider implication of the information you are sharing and the cultural impact. Be curious and ask questions to find your answers and dig deeper to consider more than one point of view. If you’d like to connect with global employers and jobs, register with GradLink for the latest news, advice and jobs for international students.