Do you know the number of students who graduated last year? A report from AISHE (All India Survey on Higher Education) states it’s around 3.66 crores. Probably you can be one of them. If you, are you ready for a job? 

How do you access yourself? You might have done well in your college but there are plenty of other skills employers look for. Especially in this COVID pandemic where more people are looking for a job, you can grow your opportunities with your skills. 

In this article, we will discuss skills needed to reduce the skills gap. Wait, what is the “skills gap”? The “skills gap” is the difference between the skills employers expect and the skills applicants possess. These skills are divided into two categories, hard skills, and soft skills. 

Difference Between Hard and Soft Skills 

Hard skills are job or work specific and you can learn them. For illustration, knowledge of programming languages for a software engineer is considered a Hard Skill. Typing is another example of a hard skill that you can learn. 

On the other hand, soft skills are non-measurable and generally not teachable too. They are person-specific and are irrelevant to the job or position. Creative thinking and time management are the best examples of soft skills. 

Companies always prefer candidates possessing relevant hard skills and more soft skills. Let’s dive deep into the topic by knowing some common hard and soft skills. 

Some Important Hard Skills 

Analytical Skills

Analytical skills include the organisation of data to extract meaningful information from it. If you are someone who can pull out critical insights from a database then companies will surely prefer you over others. 

Computer Skills

Digitalisation is at its peak and everything is shifting towards computers. Therefore having basic to high-level knowledge about computers can add more value to your CV. You can do a crash course or learn common things like MS Office, Email, Database Management, and Graphics over the internet. 

Writing Proficiency 

Writing proficiency is very important for every job. You must be good at writing emails, notes, and letters. Also, make sure that your resume doesn’t have any grammatical errors for a better impression. 

Some Important Soft Skills

Leadership 

Leadership is the most demanding soft skill. If you have the potential to build teams, guide, encourage, and motivate your coworkers then add leadership as your primary soft skill. 

Work Ethics

Every company prefers employees who are punctual about their work. Your work reflects your dedication to the job. Therefore, always meet the deadlines and recheck your projects to remove mistakes. 

Communication Skills 

Your ability to interact with others both verbally and non-verbally is very important. Having good communication skills and the mastery to deliver your message most effectively will earn you more points during the interview. 

Summing Up  

Most employers believe that the skills gap is the main reason for an applicant not being selected. We propose you work on your abilities and master as many skills as possible. There are numerous other skills that are not mentioned above including Public Speaking, Technical Skills, Presentation Skills, Adaptability, and Teamwork. Regardless of these, also think about the skills you need in your profession.