5 personal development skills for job seekers

Every human being when they wake up they are very motivated that they will do something good at work today. In the first 15-20 minutes of entering the office their motivation is all gone.

Hardy Alexander is an Executive Coach, Founder & Director at Triune Global and is on a personal mission to inspire more people to their success and growth. He shares his thought about the personal development skills for job seekers as well as for those at work.

What do you mean by personal development skills for job seekers?

In a job seekers perspective, personal development is the skill or development capability developed or learnt by a person to achieve personal or career goals. To me entering a new area of learning to achieve success is personal development. 

What is the difference between self and personal development?

In a way both are same, because when you do personal things, self development is happening and vice-versa. However if you look at an interesting analogy, personal development is like looking at a horizon and planning what should be done to reach there. For job seekers he decides what type of company he wants to work for and what capabilities he has to develop. 

Entering a new area of learning to achieve success is personal development. 

On the other hand, self development is when a person looks at the skies and plans how far I can reach. What should I do to take my capabilities to the highest level possible. 

If we think of Carl Lewis or Osain Bolt, for their self development they did regular practice and broke their own record. In addition they won competitions. To win world championships, they did personal development. Self development is focused on reaching my own full height or potential, whereas personal development is for achieving a goal. 

One apt example for personal development is Sergie Buka, who had no close competition but he continuously broke his records. 

What personal development skills do job seekers require to succeed in job interviews?

For every person, personal development is a main area. Since our context here is job seekers, a job seeker should know what the organisation is looking for in him.

Education is enabling you. But what you want to do you can develop. 

Personal development skills for job seekers

Communication Skill

Firstly, their communication skills. It is not whether you speak a language, but whether you communicate clearly with co-workers. Are you a good listener? Do you interrupt when others speak? Ability to communicate is an important personal development skills for job seekers.

Interpersonal skill

Secondly the company sees whether you are problematic. Do you relate with coworkers? Interpersonal skills is an essential personal skill for job seekers.

Problem Solving ability

Third is the problem solving ability. In the existing situation does the person know how to solve the problem or what are the ways the person solves the problem.

Adaptability

In the job environment there are lots of changes happening. Each company has its own environment. Are you adaptable to the situation? So adaptability is important. 

Leadership

Another important skill is the leadership skill, which means taking initiatives. Many times we compare leaders with the designation of a manager. Here leader doesn’t mean manager. Here leader means whether you take no what is your designation. Do you have a vision to do new things? 

You cannot control negative thoughts, but you can replace them with useful thoughts.

What counselling would you give someone who wants to develop skills in addition to their educational qualification?

I am not just a counselor but also an executive coach too. Other than counselling I take people to a reflective thought process of one on one coaching. They are asked ‘what do you want to do?’ or which job makes you feel excited? Working for money or for self fulfillment. When such questions are asked people get clarity of what to do in their life and what industry to join.

I am a metallurgical engineer, but I got a job in sales. On the very first day my engineering became zer. I haven’t used engineering in my 30 years career.  But the Engineering knowledge helped me develop in analytical and critical thinking areas. Education is enabling you. But what you want to do you can develop. 

What are the shortcomings of those who come to you, and how do you help them overcome their shortcomings?

When people who come to me talk about their shortcomings, they have negative thoughts about themselves. I cannot do this. I am bad at this. 

When they meet me, with my executive coaching mindset I tell them, OK you can’t do all these. Tell me what all you can do? Your strengths? Things have you done well in your life? What things, when you do, make you feel happy? 

Then you realize that in these negative areas they had worked well, but somewhere in their journey they did not get the proper encouragement. They were not motivated or criticized badly, whereby they reached a stage where they felt they cannot do anything in their life. 

What capabilities they have, what they like to do, so called appreciative inquiry, when we talk more about their strengths. I ask them how to utilize their strengths to overcome their shortcomings. 

Then some of them say, “I could have done like this, why didn’t I think earlier’. 

Maybe they have done more difficult things. 

So they replace the negative thoughts with useful thoughts. You cannot control negative thoughts, but you can replace them with useful thoughts. Thus they feel good about themselves. When they feel good about themselves, they feel positive and take action. 

The job seekers are highly motivated, which comes down when they start working. Do you take training classes for the employees?

I have given training for employees in Corporate companies in India and abroad for one or two days, including outdoor training.

 I feel motivation is not outwardly focused. The employee might complain about Salary or work environment, however management and the organisation has the responsibility for intrinsic motivation to help the employees. 

Every human being wakes up motivated thinking they do something good at work today. In the first 15-20 minutes of entering the office their motivation is all gone. So what the management can do to create a motivating environment is important.

Conclusion

Message on how to stay relevant even after many years at work

Whether it is personal or self development, if we don’t do it, in these changing circumstances, changing circumstances then we will be left behind. We cannot move forward. If we have a personal vision to succeed in personal and professional life, not by defeating others. We have the desire to move forward for self fulfillment, then personal development skills for job seekers is important.