Getting any kind of job can be tricky, whether it’s part time for beer money or a graduate job when you finish uni. Being able to sell yourself in a way that will appeal to your employer will give you a real advantage. To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together a list of a few key terms and phrases for your CVs and applications. Back these up with a some examples and any sane employer will be falling over themselves to give you a job.
Commercial awareness
This is a big one with employers and might sound a bit ominous but you don’t have to start reading the Financial Times cover to cover to get it. It just means being aware of how the business world operates – that if Tesco cut the price of beans, for example, it’s going to have an impact on the other supermarkets and may drive their business strategy.
Ability to work under pressure
Like most things in life, at work there will be quieter times and busier times so employers need you to be able to cope when the going gets tough, rather than hiding in the cupboard and hoping it all blows over. This is something that often comes up in interview questions but thankfully you should have a prime example of when you’ve coped well in a stressful situation – your exams.
Teamworking skills
You’ll be working with other people to some extent whatever role you go into. Teamwork is all about give and take so it’s important to have examples of times when you’ve taken the lead and others when you’ve followed. Being able to listen to other people’s ideas is essential.
Problem solving
Your supervisors won’t want you to come running every time there’s a little problem – though you need to know your limits and ask for help when you need it. Think of a difficult situation you’ve overcome as an example. It doesn’t have to be something you did on your own either; knowing to ask for help when you need it is an important attribute – but do concentrate on what you did to solve the problem.