If you're up all night swotting for that all-important exam that will get you a high distinction bachelor's or post grad degree, it may not be enough to help you land a job anymore.
You will probably also have to brush up on your etiquette, interpersonal skills and attitude, say senior management of major companies.
Talk, talk, talk
Cecil K Dewars, vice-president of a two-wheeler manufacturing company, says that good communication skills are paramount: "A prospective candidate needs to have excellent interpersonal skills, be clear and precise while communicating, possess the ability to read and understand explicitly what is being communicated and be precise in giving instructions."
Colonel Chana, vice-president, business development in a construction company, adds that candidates for the managerial level should be good business and human resources managers. "Even if the person has strong technical skills, he should have good teambuilding capabilities since he's not going to do the work himself. He needs to be able to relate to his team-mates."
Got an attitude
Though interpersonal skills are crucial, they come second to attitude, says Neeraj Khanna, managing director and CEO of a global BPO firm.
"A candidate with the right attitude makes the transition into a role seamlessly while working with existing employees," he says.
And Lokesh Raj, senior recruitment manager in an ITES company, agrees. "If the person has the right attitude, other skills can be developed," he says.
Mind your manners
Interpersonal skills and attitude apart, etiquette is also important, says Neeraj: "Mannerisms, communication skills and social etiquette is important for overall work culture, especially keeping the organisation's image in mind."
And making that first impression depends on etiquette as well. "So grooming, overall appearance and etiquette are important," says Rajiv Rastogi, head, brand management in an Indo-Japanese electronic entertainment and consumer durable company.
But it depends
If it's a candidate with all these attributes versus another with a higher score, Cecil says, "I'd pick the former over the latter." But that's not always the case, says Colonel Chana, "For office-bound jobs that require good technical skills, I'd pick the person with a better score. But for a managerial job, good communication skills are important."
However, Rastogi would choose candidates with better marks. "They will pick up other required attributes when they start working in an environment where others are well-groomed."
Winning attributes
Social capital:
Organisations used to focus on human capital. But now, it's also about social needs. It requires good networking and relationship skills within the organisation for people to succeed.
Tolerance for ambiguity:
Nothing in the world is straightforward or clear any longer. So the candidate needs to have a sense of tolerance for ambiguity.
Play the accordion:
As an instrument , the accordion expands and contracts. Similarly, an individual should be able to do one job above, below, right and left - you need to be a specialist at one thing and a generalist as well.
Think long-term:
Earlier, only senior management was invited to think long-term . Now it's essential for all employees to do so.
Source:ET
You will probably also have to brush up on your etiquette, interpersonal skills and attitude, say senior management of major companies.
Talk, talk, talk
Cecil K Dewars, vice-president of a two-wheeler manufacturing company, says that good communication skills are paramount: "A prospective candidate needs to have excellent interpersonal skills, be clear and precise while communicating, possess the ability to read and understand explicitly what is being communicated and be precise in giving instructions."
Colonel Chana, vice-president, business development in a construction company, adds that candidates for the managerial level should be good business and human resources managers. "Even if the person has strong technical skills, he should have good teambuilding capabilities since he's not going to do the work himself. He needs to be able to relate to his team-mates."
Got an attitude
Though interpersonal skills are crucial, they come second to attitude, says Neeraj Khanna, managing director and CEO of a global BPO firm.
"A candidate with the right attitude makes the transition into a role seamlessly while working with existing employees," he says.
And Lokesh Raj, senior recruitment manager in an ITES company, agrees. "If the person has the right attitude, other skills can be developed," he says.
Mind your manners
Interpersonal skills and attitude apart, etiquette is also important, says Neeraj: "Mannerisms, communication skills and social etiquette is important for overall work culture, especially keeping the organisation's image in mind."
And making that first impression depends on etiquette as well. "So grooming, overall appearance and etiquette are important," says Rajiv Rastogi, head, brand management in an Indo-Japanese electronic entertainment and consumer durable company.
But it depends
If it's a candidate with all these attributes versus another with a higher score, Cecil says, "I'd pick the former over the latter." But that's not always the case, says Colonel Chana, "For office-bound jobs that require good technical skills, I'd pick the person with a better score. But for a managerial job, good communication skills are important."
However, Rastogi would choose candidates with better marks. "They will pick up other required attributes when they start working in an environment where others are well-groomed."
Winning attributes
Social capital:
Organisations used to focus on human capital. But now, it's also about social needs. It requires good networking and relationship skills within the organisation for people to succeed.
Tolerance for ambiguity:
Nothing in the world is straightforward or clear any longer. So the candidate needs to have a sense of tolerance for ambiguity.
Play the accordion:
As an instrument , the accordion expands and contracts. Similarly, an individual should be able to do one job above, below, right and left - you need to be a specialist at one thing and a generalist as well.
Think long-term:
Earlier, only senior management was invited to think long-term . Now it's essential for all employees to do so.
Source:ET