₦airaland Forum

Can this make FP?

It should come as no surprise that a college degree alone is no longer the golden ticket to a good career that it once was. It certainly helps, but the letters on your diploma are no longer a guarantee of a good job. In fact, employers are looking more at valuable soft skills, like teamwork and communication skills, when making hiring decisions.

What employers want.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recently released the results of a survey, in which they asked hiring managers what skills they would prioritize when recruiting in 2015.

The results might surprise you. Here are the top 10 responses:

Ability to work in a team structure
Ability to make decisions and solve problems (tie)
Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
Ability to obtain and process information
You’ll notice that the first five are all soft skills, that is, skills and attributes that make a person able to interact with others effectively. They’re all part of your EQ, your emotional intelligence quotient. And you won’t find many college courses specifically dedicated to these skills.

Ability to analyze quantitative data
Technical knowledge related to the job
Proficiency with computer software programs
Ability to create and/or edit written reports
Ability to sell and influence others
The second half of the top ten does focus more on specific skill sets, including an analytical mindset, good written communication skills, and computer proficiency.

Highlighting and improving your analytical skills.

I have highlighted the ever-increasing importance of data skills in many of my post. A lot of the skills listed here relate to our ability to make better fact-based decisions. Our world is becoming an increasingly digital space and without a sound understanding of how to use computers and how to turn data into insights job seekers will increasingly struggle. One recommendation is to make 2015 a year to focus on your data skills.

But you won’t get a job in 2015 (and beyond) if you can’t demonstrate your proficiency with the softer skills either.

Highlighting and improving your soft skills.

If you feel your EQ or soft skills might be lacking and damaging your job prospects, consider the following:

Have you highlighted your soft skills on your resume? It could be that simply drawing attention to your ability to work in a team setting, for example, might make you more attractive to hiring managers. Be sure to keep these traits in mind when describing your past job responsibilities and when answering interview questions.
Have you taken steps to improve? If you can readily identify one or more of the five skills above as a challenge for you, take steps to improve. If, for example, you know that time management has been an issue in the past, invest in a book or program to help you improve, and feel free to mention it if appropriate in an interview.
Have you received quality feedback? If you’re uncertain whether your soft skills are up to snuff, consider asking a few trusted friends and colleagues for their feedback. Ask them to be specific in helping you identify areas for improvement. Because you can’t improve if you aren’t aware of any shortcomings.
In a CareerBuilder survey, 71 percent of respondents said they valued EQ over IQ when making hiring decisions, so it’s important to make sure your soft skills are sharp.

As always, let me know your thoughts on the topic. How have you improved or highlighted your soft skills on the job? I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments below.

Your relationship with your boss is a unique one. Maybe your manager is very friendly and acts like your BFF. Maybe he or she is more like a drill sergeant, more interested in keeping things in line than making friends.

Either way, there are certain words and phrases you should avoid with bosses and managers if you hope to get ahead. These rules apply to everyone from shop clerks and warehouse employees all the way up to VPs and C-level executives. Because words matter, especially when talking to your superior at work.

Try to avoid saying:

Maybe, soon, possibly
These are hedging words, meaning you’re not taking a direct stand on something. If your boss asks you a direct question, give him or her a direct answer. Managers like employees who are decisive.
My bad.
First of all, what are you, 12? This kind of language says that you know the boss wants you to admit you made a mistake, but you don’t think it was a very big deal. Here’s a hint: If your boss thinks it was a big deal, you should too.
That’s not fair.
Even if a situation isn’t fair, saying so makes you come off sounding like a petulant child. Find a different way to bring up your objection.
Everybody and nobody.
These are generalizing words that get thrown around so much that they don’t mean anything. Does everybody in your industry really do that thing? Be specific rather than making broad generalizations.
That’s not my job.
Another important hint: if your boss asks you to do something, it’s part of your job. Unless it’s something that you actually do not know how to do, it’s better to just suck it up and do it. If you are consistently given tasks that aren’t in the scope of your job description, it may be time to have a conversation with the boss or look for another job.
You didn’t do…
Starting sentences like this with “you” immediately gives off a blaming tone. “You didn’t give me clear instructions,” is much more confrontational than, “I didn’t understand your instructions.” Try starting your statements with “I” instead of “you.” This also works when talking to your boss about your coworkers. Instead of, “Susan didn’t complete the report,” you could say, “I had trouble doing my part because the report was incomplete.”
I can’t work with Susan….
Or Joe, or anyone else on your team. Interpersonal problems are just that: interpersonal. You can ask your boss to help mediate a tough situation, but you don’t want to make it sound like an ultimatum, as in, “If she doesn’t go, I do…”
I just booked my plane tickets!
It’s never a good idea to book a trip without first asking for the time off. It makes you seem entitled. Managers are much more likely to feel good about granting your vacation request if it’s actually couched as a request.
I’ll try.
Saying that you’ll try indicates the possibility of failure. Take Yoda’s advice: “Do, or do not. There is no try.”
He’s a jerk, she’s lazy, and other gossip.
It’s not a good idea to gossip with your boss, even if he or she initiates it. If you say things like this to your boss unprompted, it could be libel and a termination offence. If your boss wants to gossip with you, try answering non-committally and changing the subject.
Of course, these are just my top 10; there are plenty of other words and phrases that should probably be on a no fly list around your boss. What would you add to the list? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Pls I have a friend who is 34 years and does not even have a girlfriend simply because he is a shy guy. He has a job ( earns at least 120k monthly). Pls how can I help him? Advice needed

;DYes I agree.

If you ask me..........................

nairaman66: Yeah, all to the detriment of Mikel.. For a sec, I thought the award was for Nigerians by the several winnings of Nigerians at the start! Joking!!

Collectively Nigeria won more awards

Abu Mikey:

E pain me reach preek

E for pain you reach tow tow, yaya deserved the award. He had more playing time, more goals, more assists and more caps than mikel. Yaya all the way, there's hope for mikel when yaya retires. Next year

Funny, nice one bra

Dry and obsolete joke, it aint funny no more

Why do you want to sell it, is it faulty? How much is it going for?

EMPTY HEN are tifs looking for the slightest opportunity to fleece unsuspecting customers of their hard earned money. Charity is probably their directors daughter, niece or a close relative

How much last?

is that the last price? pls ask if he'll sell for 12.3 million?

Publicity stunt things

Still no rethink

JideTheBlogger: I tire oo

Chi chi abeg when my turn go reach

Good thing ASUU has called off its strike so these jobless kids can go back to school, "concentrate on studies" and allow us enjoy our dear nairaland

3 Men You Should Avoid
Once you’ve done your research about how to get a guy, it’s common to want to put all that you’ve learned in action. However, you must be careful!
Below are three types of guys that you should stay clear of while in the dating scene. Sadly, these types of men are often glamorised; making them seem like viable options, but they should be avoided.
• The “Violent” Guy: No one believes that they will ever be in an abusive relationship, but it happens. These kinds of guys have a way of creeping up on you.
They may seem perfectly calm and then are suddenly physically or verbally abusive in their behaviour. There’s no excuse for his behaviour. It starts out subtle so that you will brush it off.
He also gets jealous easily. When he feels intimidated by his partner, he will undermine your sense of worth in order to gain control. Guys who may be violent are usually control freaks and are more likely to flip out about something seemingly insignificant.
Another version of this guy is the dark and quietly violent type. He doesn’t follow society’s rules. He cuts in line, drives fast or makes inappropriate comments.
He feels superior to everyone else and acts like he’s entitled to anything he wants. These are the guys romanticised in the movies. Although outwardly he's an out of control jerk, we're suppose to believe he's actually just a quiet and deeply troubled man, who just needs the love of a good woman to fix his life.
• The “Ladies Man”: Unfortunately, these men see dating as a sport. He brags about his sexual escapades and prowls for more. Just one woman, no matter how incredible she may be, never satisfies his appetite.
If you’re looking for a one-night stand; he’s your guy. Most commonly called a player, he is very good with women. He will treat them very well all while dating more than one at a time. Of course, catching him in action with another woman has no affect on him.
Therefore, slashing his tires will only bring satisfaction for a short while. Before you know it, he’ll be back in the game once more. Men like this usually have wondering eyes, and can be sometimes hard to get in touch with by phone. But more importantly, they will most likely honestly tell you of their dislikes about relationships.
Once again, women are often lured into thinking these men just need to meet the right woman, who will settle him down. Although this might be true for some, do you really want to take the chance of just being another pawn in his game?
• The “Fake”: Sadly, no matter how many times you go out, you will never get to know this guy. He has many secrets and lives many lives. This guy is likely to travel often and has a solid justification for every misunderstanding that you may have. More than likely you will never meet his family or any of his friends.
Although a little mystery can be sexy, too much mystery should send up a field of red flags. If you ask him a direct question, and he refuses to give you a straight answer, you should consider that a clear sign that this is not a guy you should be with.
They tend to be drifters and will use you and your resources until he’s on to the next life. These men are habitual liars and have no remorse for their victims. Stay away!
Be careful ladies. These men are out there waiting for their chance with someone like you! Don’t be a victim.

[quote author=Desxter]No mata wat she stole! _ dt torture was barbaric and inhumane .. She stole pepper she gt tortured by people who steal more than pepper!

If she's labelled a theif _ those men re thieVz _ rapist_ wicked_ dare devils_ hearthless _ evrything negative put together!
The women should have saved everybody all this wahala and not steal any pepper. What do you think?

ToyinDipo: ---

It used to be NICON NOGA HILTON HOTELS kids

"2nd" they should not rest on their oars till the game is over

Ask google. Google like the police is your friend.:-) :-)

Five nigerian nurses are usually unprofessional in their discharge of duties. Still trying to figure out why those is general hospitals are easily irritated and ready to bark at you at the slightest of provokation.