At the beginning of cult classic Pretty Woman, a character wandering through downtown Los Angeles opens by asking, “What’s your dream?”
A few simple words, filled with a world of opportunity.
So … what’s yours?
I don’t know that I necessarily dreamed of working at a credit union, but here I am 16 years later, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I found my place in the working world. The people I work with and the people I get to meet every day make all the difference.
As an HR specialist, my mind is always on recruitment for IHMVCU — and I get to talk to a lot of curious, talented and amazing people in our community every day. Some know exactly what they want, some don’t, and that’s OK. Whether you’re in the market for a new job now or if you’re wondering what kind of education you need for your future career, just remember: certain technical aspects can be taught, but it’s the soft skills that’ll get your foot in the door.
3 SOFT SKILLS TO BECOME MORE EMPLOYABLE
1. Communication
Your social skills and how well you listen and engage with others can make or break their customer experience. Being able to hold conversations with customers, ask questions and determine their needs is key.
2. Work ethic
This is a trait you can’t really “teach,” but people with a strong work ethic are motivated, eager to learn, reliable and able to work independently.
3. Adaptability
Particularly in the financial industry, things are always changing. It’s important to show you’re willing to tackle challenges as they come and be flexible to changes that arise.
To find out if your dream job matches your skills and goals, keep these questions in mind:
- Do I know my personality and/or strengths? Try taking a 16Personalities assessment (some even provide possible career paths based on your results).
- What am I passionate about, and how can that be integrated into what I want to do?
- What are my top three values?
- What do I dislike?
- What does success mean to me?
As you begin to interview for your next (or first) job, keep company culture in mind. The term is thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean?
Gourmet coffee bars and on-site gyms do not a culture make (though they certainly don’t hurt, am I right?). A good company culture has the right leadership in place to support, encourage and develop employees, which in turn helps create a more productive workplace.
To get a feel for a potential employer’s culture during your interview, don’t be afraid to ask your own questions, like:
- What it’s like to be part of the team, and can I meet them?
- What does a bad day look like, and how do you navigate through that?
- As my manager, how will you ensure I succeed?
- What do you like most about working for this organization?
- Are there advancement opportunities and if so, what would that path look like for a top candidate?
Regardless of your background — whether you’ve graduated college or are working your way through trade school — your future is full of endless possibilities. By flexing the right skills, you’ll be on your way to achieving your dream in no time.