Employees should have:

 

Technical Knowledge - All employees, no matter what job your going for, should have a basic understanding of not only what the company is doing, but how they are doing it. For example, if you're going to work for a big IT firm, then you should understand the tools that they use - whether it be hardware, or software. If you know how a company uses such hardware, then you will have a massive advantage over someone who doesn't.

 

Some understanding of Health and Safety - Most of which is simple - don't leave wires trailing across the floor, or have too many plugs in one socket - however some pieces of health and safety are much harder to understand, and will give you the edge over an opponent in an interview, and you will be a massive help to the company. They could give you an extra position where you are in charge of making sure everyone is safe. They want someone who shows that they know what they're doing, but also safely.

Time Management skills - It's quite simple to say that you're going to get something done within a set time, but actually doing it is harder. Saying that you're definitely going to get this really hard piece of work done in 10 minutes is probably not true - or it's not been done to the best of your ability. Companies don't want people who spend their entire day working one thing - they want people who are hard working, and can multiple things done, in a short space of time. Or on the other hand, they may want someone who spends an entire day to try and improve something. Either way, you have to make sure you use your time wisely.

Team Working - Companies want people who can get along with their other members of staff, and can work together to make sure that everything is working at optimum performance. They want people who can share ideas, not keep them to themselves. You never know, someone else working with you could be that last piece in the jigsaw.

Numeric Skills and Creativity - Whilst you may have thought that you've finished Maths for ever, companies want people who are still math-literate. If you're going to go into any sort of IT, Maths will probably be involved, whether it be coding, or system admin. Companies are much more likely to bring you on board if you can show that you have a fundamental knowledge of Maths. Linking in to Maths, is Creativity. They want people who can think outside the box - people who can be that missing piece, someone who can offer a different insight into what they're doing, and how it's going wrong, or how to improve the system. Companies would snap you up very quickly if you can show them you have the ability to offer something different than others.

Determination - Determination is a huge way in showing how successful you will be, and how successful you will be to the company employing you. It will help onto achieve your goals, but the companies goals too. They want someone who can spearhead a new campaign, program, advert, piece of software etc. They don't want someone to sit back and ride along all-day everyday. Be the reason your company succeeds, and you will have multiple job offers.

Independence - You must have independence to be good at a job. Employers want people who can use the multiple resources around them - not to just sit and ask them questions. Companies don't want to spoon-feed you, they want you to find things out for yourself. If you can do that, you can even teach others what you have learnt.

Tolerance - If you are working in a high-stress environment, or for example, at a call centre, employers want people who aren't going to react, and become rude etc. If you were working in a call centre, and someone phones you saying they demand the manager, and that they are never using your service again - you must use your other skills to make sure that the person is happy by the end of that phone call. Be determined to keep this person with you - and be tolerant of what the person is saying to you. Companies don't want hot heads, they want people who can manage themselves and others.

Leadership Skills - If you possess, and show that you have leadership skills, its probable that you will work your way up the job ladder - and any company will recognise that. They will quickly want you to be a leader, to help junior members of staff when they are challenged, and to feed back to your bosses. Companies need not only workers, but leaders.

Self - Motivation - You will posses an awful lot of skills if you show that you are willing to work, and that you want to work. There is a big difference, and a company will rate you exceptionally highly if you show that you are dedicated, and will always be a reliable member of staff.