Do You have the 4 Skills Employers Want?

Even in one of the fastest growing industries in America, like health care, it's no secret: The job market is competitive. Students who are enrolled in a health care training program at Concorde have a unique vantage point to draw from during their interviews that other peers may not: the accelerated nature of their program.

Getting the skills you need

Employers that serve on our Program Advisory Committees and partner with our graduate employment teams tell us that, in addition to the technical skills required in a position, they are looking for entry-level candidates who are well-versed in soft skill areas. It's an idea that isn't new but a recent LinkedIn report says that organizations still struggle to find.

That's why "we start preparing our students for interviews from Day One," said Kate Velarde, Graduate Employment Specialist at Concorde's Grand Prairie campus. We encourage students to approach their classes, clinical's and communication as professionals in training so that when they do meet with an employer it feels like second nature.

One way to do that is by considering how the intangible, less-obvious lessons actually make all the difference. You have them, thanks in part to your accelerated health care training program! Your job is to be able to demonstrate, through stories and examples, that you've successfully implemented those into your life.

Drawing from your classroom, clinical and/or volunteer experience is "a great way to demonstrate your expertise, education, passion, and skills," said Cheryl Chambers, a Graduate Employment Specialist at Concorde's campus in San Bernardino.

The 4 skills employers are looking for

Think about how your accelerated health care training program required you to be great at things like:

• Time Management - Think about juggling multiple classes, responsibilities with family, school, jobs, and commitments outside of class. Your whole life is an example of how you've had to slay this area in order to be successful!
• Collaboration - An accelerated health care training program is not something that you do alone. Whether it's an example of working with your cohort, coordinating with your family to meet expectations or working with an associate to overcome a challenge, collaboration is what makes all this work! Translate that to a team environment? No problem!
• Communication - The first two skills really can't exist without communication. It's easy to say "I'm a great communicator." But, how can you use a real-life example to show that? "An example of when my communication skills were tested is..."
• Leadership - Complacent people rarely opt for an accelerate health care training program. Preaching to the choir, but it's not for the faint of heart. Have a few examples of how you had to step up and take charge to make something happen.

It's not surprising that these four things are the very ones highlighted in the aforementioned LinkedIn article as the top soft skills that employers are looking for in new hires!

Remember, your resume should highlight these things as accomplishments rather than duties. Your interview is the time to expound on what they saw on your resume through stories and examples.

Get the extra help you need

Work with your Graduate Employment Specialist to develop your portfolio and refine your storytelling, because even though they are your experiences, it takes a bit of practice to get your point across clearly and succinctly!