Give Yourself The Edge: Important Skills Every Single Professional Needs

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Every field of work is different. Each one has their own specific requirements and needs that they want professionals to fill. That being said, certain skills are hugely valuable no matter what career you’re interested in pursuing. In the modern professional marketplace, there is much less of a premium put on finding candidates to mold from scratch. Instead, everyone searching for work, from job seekers to freelancers, are expected to have a baseline of skills. Without these skills, it’s going to be much harder for anyone to take your seriously. With that in mind, here are some skills that every single professional should have.

Networking

Have you ever heard the phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? Sadly that phrase turns out to be pretty accurate. As much as it would be nice to say that it’s always the most qualified people who get the most work, that’s not really the case. Clients and employers are inherently biased against people that they’re familiar with. Being able to network and effectively communicate with people is an invaluable skill. Don’t think that you can get away with handing someone a business card and rattling of the details of your resume. The key is to speak to people naturally. It’s also important to focus on letting people know what you have to offer to them. Don’t focus on what other people can do for you.

Presentation

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Another place in which your communication skills can make all the difference. The ability to be able to express your ideas to other people in as clear and engaging way as possible is such an important skill. This extends beyond your skills with public speaking. While that is extremely important, the way in which you structure your presentations is just as crucial. If you’re using powerpoint for every single one of your presentations, there’s a decent chance you’ve fallen behind. There are plenty of presentation tools available to you that go beyond Microsoft’s classic program. For a great list of presentation software that you can use, make sure to check out The PR Authority.

The handshake

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This might seem like the most obvious, pointless skill to develop in the world of business. But it’s seriously shocking just how much of an impact that a poor handshake can have when meeting someone. People will often have made their minds up about you within thirty seconds of meeting you, and you’ve got to make that time count. Being able to make a good first impression starts with a firm handshake. If someone goes to shake your hand and you offer them something that feels like a dead fish, you’ve basically hamstrung any networking opportunity you might have had. Make sure that your grip is firm and that you’re maintaining steady eye contact. Don’t forget to smile. A smile can make all the difference to how someone perceives you when you first meet.