WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.450 In this topic 00:00:00.450 --> 00:00:04.590 we're going to talk about what employers want and expect from their potential candidates a 00:00:04.779 --> 00:00:08.489 Really good place to start is with the Department of Labor's competency model 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:15.449 It's a great foundational piece to help you understand some baseline competencies that employers expect you to show up with on the job 00:00:18.340 --> 00:00:21.930 At the bottom of that competency model is the foundational layer 00:00:21.930 --> 00:00:29.519 And basically it's made up of what we call personal effectiveness competencies. You might have heard these referred to before as soft skills 00:00:33.370 --> 00:00:39.300 So what is the difference between a soft skill and a workplace competency well something like integrity 00:00:39.300 --> 00:00:44.520 We be considered a soft skill whereas experience with spreadsheets would be considered a workplace competency 00:00:47.620 --> 00:00:52.860 Another characteristic of personal effectiveness competencies is that they are what we call portable skills 00:00:53.199 --> 00:00:58.919 Meaning they aren't tied to any one job or industry. They're actually skills that we can apply across a broad range of settings 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:07.048 Research tells us that if employees have these skills. They are more likely to perform well on the job 00:01:07.450 --> 00:01:12.390 These are the kinds of skills that employers expect their new hires to come to the job with already 00:01:12.520 --> 00:01:16.229 Not something that they need to be trained in or coached after they've been hired 00:01:19.990 --> 00:01:23.369 Next let's take a look at each of these competencies in a little bit more detail 00:01:23.369 --> 00:01:28.709 I want to help you understand from the point of view of the employer some of the questions that they might be thinking about as 00:01:28.710 --> 00:01:30.710 You go through the job hiring process 00:01:33.759 --> 00:01:36.929 The first one we're going to take a look at is interpersonal skills 00:01:37.030 --> 00:01:41.549 Some of the things that the employer might be thinking about is does this person know how to play well with others? 00:01:42.009 --> 00:01:47.459 Do they have manners can they empathize with their teammates? Do they know how to be an active listener a 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:52.500 Second competency is integrity 00:01:52.690 --> 00:01:58.679 Some of the things that they might be wondering about are are they fair? Are they a thha chol are they trustworthy and honest? 00:02:02.020 --> 00:02:05.790 Number three in our list is professionalism. What does that mean? 00:02:05.800 --> 00:02:10.979 Well some things that they might be thinking about or will they be on time? Do they have a positive attitude? 00:02:11.380 --> 00:02:16.499 Are they able to keep their personal problems outside of the workplace? Are they helpful do they gossip? 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:21.839 The next one on our list is initiative 00:02:22.480 --> 00:02:26.610 Some questions there are are they self-motivated resourceful and creative? 00:02:26.950 --> 00:02:32.729 Are they willing to get things done without being told will they do more than required? And are they a problem solver? 00:02:36.489 --> 00:02:39.299 Dependability and reliability is the next competency 00:02:39.730 --> 00:02:46.080 some questions that they might be thinking about as they speak with you is do they finish their tasks and meet deadlines do they follow 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:50.940 Up and keep commitments. Do they show attention to detail and are they able to work independently? 00:02:54.940 --> 00:02:58.049 Number six on the list is adaptability and flexibility 00:02:58.870 --> 00:03:00.760 What does that look like? 00:03:00.760 --> 00:03:05.699 Well some questions there are can they handle changing work conditions? Can they stay open to new ideas? 00:03:06.250 --> 00:03:12.779 Are they flexible enough to handle rapid change surprises and challenges and are they able to deal with role changes? 00:03:13.420 --> 00:03:15.420 and 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:22.709 Finally number seven, which is lifelong learning some things that they may want to know is do they want to learn new skills 00:03:23.230 --> 00:03:26.759 Do they take the initiative to learn and set goals? Are they curious? 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:32.850 Do they value knowledge and skills and do they take opportunities for formal and informal learning whenever they get the chance?