Task 1 – What Employers want?
P1 explain the personal attributes valued by employers.
When you're looking to be employed by a company, the company will look for specific attributes in different areas. Such as;
Technical knowledge (hardware, software and security)
When you're looking for work in IT you are expected to have understanding of the hardware, software and security procedures used. The company is looking to employ someone who is going to make them money, your knowledge of the software used is crucial. For example, if you're a web developer you will need to know about coding and what tools you will need to use when designing the website.
Planning and organisational skills.
Planning and organising are crucial skills that required in the work place. Planning and organising your work will make the tasks much easier to complete. It will also help to reduce stress as you won't have to worry about missing deadlines or forgetting equipment you may need on a specific day. Planning and organising your work will also help your colleagues if you're working in teams for a task as it will help them to understand what needs to be done.
Team work
Team work
In any kind of work place, being able to working in teams is a must. Without communication with your colleagues work will not be completed to acceptable standard, if at all. Having the ability to work in teams will also make your work easier; being able to bounce ideas off one another will ensure the tasks are completed quickly and correctly. Not being able to work in a team can mean you being isolated from the rest of the employees making work much harder to complete and leaving you to fall behind and miss deadlines.
Dependable
Having the ability to have your colleagues depend on you is another key feature in the work place. This gives them confidence in you for work being completed without having to worry about it not being up to an acceptable standard or even missing the deadline completely. Being dependable can also mean your colleagues can come to you for advice with problems they're having, whether it be work related or personal, this will help you to earn the respect from your colleagues and become friends with them, another key attribute in the work place.
Confidence
Being confident, when it comes to work, is essential. If you have present a presentation to your boss and other employees, being confident will help to project your voice and get your point across without anyone missing what you have said. Being confident links in with team work, when working in teams being able to give your ideas and asking questions will help the group as oppose to just sitting in the corner keeping to yourself. In that respect, being confident will help when it comes to your own work and working independently. Confidence in your own ability will ensure you get work done and you won't have to worry about it not being up to the correct standard.
Working procedures
In the work place, getting to know the work procedures such as; Health and Safety, Data Protection and, perhaps most importantly, Company Policies. Being aware of the health and safety procedures is one of the first things you should be aware of, knowing where the fire exits/extinguishers and medical kits are an essential. Also knowing the correct uniform to wear, for example: steel-toe cap boots, hi vis jacket, hard-hats and goggles. Knowing the companies' policies is vital; violating a company policy could result in you being suspended from work or worse losing your job all together.
Time management
Time management is similar to planning and organising, in the same respect it keeps you up to date with tasks and making sure you are meeting deadlines. Another key feature of managing your time it ensures you're not late for work. Being late for work, especially on your first day, doesn't make a good impression and if it becomes a recurring problem you could be fired. Being late for work could also mean you fall behind on work or miss meetings about the day's tasks in which you would have to make up for in your own time.
Leadership skills
If you're working in a team, being able to take charge of the group could help further your career. Showing you have the ability to control a team will make your boss take notice and maybe think of giving you a promotion. Having leadership skills links with confidence, you must have confidence to take over a group activity. If you're leader of a group and the work is completed to a good standard the whole team will receive praise but most of the praise will go towards you. On the flip the side of that, you must be make sure the work is completed otherwise the boss could blame you for the whole thing, this could potentially hindering your career.
