LML BULLETIN
Three Employment Tips That Pay Off
Whether entering or re-entering the workforce, you need to be strategic to gain employment in this competitive job market. Here are three proven strategies to help you succeed:
TIP 1: Know the Skills Required
According to the U. S. government’s occupation database of 35 job skills needed in today's dynamic job market, four are cited as most important:
1. active listening,
2. speaking,
3. critical thinking, and
4. reading comprehension.
Translated, these mean a successful job candidate needs to be a good listener, a thoughtful speaker, a sound thinker, and a reader who grasps content.
TIP 2: Assess Your Current Skills.
Your Learning Patterns play a vital role in your performance of each of these skills. Use the following questions to assess your skill level in each category:
Active Listening:
- Sequence: Do you listen carefully when being given directions?
- Precision: Do you intentionally attend to the information being given?
- Technical Reasoning: Do you wait until the speaker has finished before jumping into problem-solving mode?
- Confluence: Do you concentrate on what is being said so you can absorb essential information?
Speaking:
- Sequence: Did you ensure mutual understanding and confirm details during conversations?
- Precision: Is the person showing they understand your message?
- Technical Reasoning: Does your way of expressing your thoughts make sense to you--to them?
- Confluence: Have you jumbled or seamlessly organized your main points?
Critical Thinking:
- Precision/Technical Reasoning: Your employer wants to know you can be trusted to make good decisions and work independently. How can you demonstrate your ability to solve problems and analyze a situation? Ask thoughtful questions that get below the obvious surface issues!
- Confluence/Technical Reasoning: If the opportunity arises, provide examples of creative/practical solutions you have used in other work situations.
Reading Comprehension:
Knowing how to read fluently is the key to success in today’s labor market.
- Precision & Sequence: Are you able to analyze and summarize what you have read?
- Precision & Technical Reasoning: Are you able to analyze what you have read and visualize the problem?
- Precision & Confluence: Are you able to analyze and interpret what you have read?
- You may need to ask yourself, “How can I forge, intensify, or tether (FIT) my Learning Patterns to read (Precision), organize (Sequence), use (Technical Reasoning), and even creatively apply (Confluence) what I have read to the task at hand?”
TIP 3: Develop the Skills Required.
- Practice Active listening. Before each job interview (over the phone, the internet, or in person), practice your active listening skill.
Here is a resource to help you:https://www.thebalancecareers.com/active-listening-skills-with-examples-2059684 - Practice Speaking: Remember that speaking can mean face-to-face, on the phone or via electronic messaging.
Here are some ideas: https://fremont.edu/top-10-tips-for-effective-workplace-communication/ - Practice Critical thinking: You can include some key words in your resume and cover letter. Be prepared with examples of how you used critical thinking:
Here is a resource to help:https://www.thoughtco.com/critical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063745 - Practice Reading comprehension: Give some examples of how you read for understanding and apply that to what you were expected to do. Here is a resource that may help: https://www.criteriacorp.com/solution /measure_reading_comprehension.php
Your Turn
To make these tips pay off, take a more proactive approach and register for “Standing Out: Empowering Yourself to Employment,” at no charge. Delve deeper, prepare better, and make your application/candidacy stand out among all the rest!