Key competences and the labour market
It is regarded that the key competences are knowledge, skills and attitudes that are necessary for self-fulfilment, employment and active participation in society.
Due to their significance the Recommendation of the Council of the European Union on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning was published in spring 2018. The authors of the document argue that the aim of the recommendations is to provide equal opportunities for the EU citizens so that they can achieve success in their private and professional lives. This is how the list of 8 key competences collected and defined by the Council of the EU was created:
The key competences are:
- communication in the mother tongue
- communication in foreign languages
- mathematical competences and basic scientific and technical skills
- digital competences
- the ability to learn
- civic and social competences
- initiative and entrepreneurship
- cultural awareness and expression
As you can see, most of them are also useful in the labour market. Unfortunately - the studies concentrated on education often prove that schools do not meet all expectations in terms of the development of interpersonal skills or key hard and soft competences, which can be used when looking for a job and or preparing a CV.
The report of the World Economic Forum shows that by 2025 the most desirable skills on the labour market will include:
- analytical thinking and innovation
- the ability to learn
- creativity
- comprehensive problem solving
- critical thinking ability
- team management
- flexibility
- stress resistance
Thus, the key competences of an employee include both skills and character traits useful at work.
The study, conducted by CareerBuilder, showed that employers primarily look for candidates who are reliable, positive about their duties, flexible and effective in communication.
Based on the CareerBuilder study and the LinkedIn report, positive traits that employers pay attention to have been identified:
- Creativity
Creativity is one of the most desirable qualities in employees. Too often associated only with the art world, it is in fact a universal ability to create links between seemingly unrelated phenomena and generate new ideas. Introverts are very often creative.
- Reliability
73% of employers want to have people on board who will not fail in the most difficult situations. A reliable employee is a real treasure!
- Positive attitude
72% of employers say that a positive attitude is an important character trait of an employee. A positive attitude is about more than just saying "I can", but believing that we are really capable of doing something.
- Strong motivation to work
This is an important character trait that is appreciated in candidates by 66% of employers. There is nothing surprising in this, because a motivated employee is someone who does not require anyone to artificially make tasks more attractive. This is a person who looks for new solutions and opportunities for self-development on his own.
- Ability to work in a team
60% of employers realize that people who can cooperate with others are valuable candidates. They help to build a healthy work environment in the company, where everyone strives to achieve a common goal.
- Good work organization
If the employee is an organized person and knows how to set priorities in relation to the tasks performed, his attitude will be appreciated by 57% of employers.
- Stress resistance
57% of employers hope that the candidate for a given position will be able to control their emotions and deal with stress in difficult situations. This feature also means the ability to work under time pressure.
- Flexibility (ability to adapt)
This feature is appreciated by over half (51%) of employers. By adding flexibility to the list of characteristics, the person indicates that they can adapt to any situation. A potential employer will certainly believe that such a person can adapt to changing conditions and will be able to change priorities if necessary.
- Independence
Everyone wants employees who can perform tasks independently and be able to make the right decisions themselves, if necessary.
- Work ethics
Work ethic is a character trait the presence of which in a CV is appreciated by as many as 73% of employers. It means determination to work hard and efficiently, while complying with the rules and regulations in the workplace. A work ethic is a set of principles and moral values that guide employee’s performance.
- Self-confidence
It turns out that self-confidence and the associated assertiveness are quite important features. 46% of employers look for candidates which are self-confident and believe in their own skills and abilities.
- Decision-making abilities
This is a character trait desired by employers, especially in positions that require a high degree of independence.
In order to stand out from other candidates and efficiently enter the labour market, it is also worth developing the so-called detailed professional competences
Sources:
- Recommendation of the Council of the European Union on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning – https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.C_.2018.189.01.0001.01.ENG
- Linkedin report - https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/top-skills-and-courses/the-skills-companies-need-most-in-2019-and-how-to-learn-them
- Career builder report - https://press.careerbuilder.com/press-releases?sd=4/10/2014&id=pr817&ed=12/31/2014
- Future of jobs report - https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2020