Name: Mayesha Yousuf.

ID: 14305031.
MBA
2th Semester.
Session: 2017-2018.
Department of
Human Resource Management.
University of Chittagong.
 Project on
Changing Skill-Sets for Candidates’
Employability in a Neo-Normal Life

Submitted to:
Dr. Md. Aftab Uddin
Associate Professor
Department of
Human Resource Management
University of Chittagong

Submitted by:
Mayesha Yousuf
ID: 14305031
MBA
2th Semester
Session: 2017-2018
Department of Human Resource Management
University of Chittagong
Date of Submission: 14th February, 2021.
Young people like us, are graduating into one of the toughest job markets in decades because of
this pandemic. Unemployment is rising, companies are stopping recruitment and the global
economy is set to experience the deepest recession since World War Two, according to the World
Bank. This neo-normal life has changed the old-normal that we were used to.
Before starting, I tried to explain the meaning of skill-sets and employability.
Skill-Set
A skill set is the combination of knowledge, personal qualities, and abilities that is developed
through one’s life and work. It typically combines two types of skills:
 Soft skills
 Hard skills
Soft skills are interpersonal or people skills. They are somewhat difficult to quantify and relate to
someone's personality and ability to work with others. Hard skills are quantifiable and teachable.
They include the specific technical knowledge and abilities required for a job.
Employability
In simple terms, employability is about being capable of getting and keeping fulfilling work.
Employability can also be defined as “having a set of skills, knowledge, understanding and
personal attributes that make a person more likely to choose and secure occupations in which they
can be satisfied and successful.”
Candidates’ employability depends on three different things:
 Knowledge (what does the candidate know)
 Skills (what would the candidate do with the knowledge)
 Attitudes (how the candidate approach things)

The social distancing and work-from-home has become very common. And for this, the skill-sets
that the candidates’ need has changed.
This explanation will first focus on the candidates’ employability skill-set that the employers’
desire, and then gradually shift the focus on the additional skills which is necessary to adapt the
changing work method and environment.
Skill-Sets for Candidates’ Employability
Employability skills are very desirable to recruiters because they're valuable in almost every job.
They're also much harder to teach than specific technical skills, so a candidate who already has
them is very attractive to prospective employers.
1. Communication
All employers look for job candidates with strong communication skills. These refer to one’s
ability to deliver information clearly to others. Employers want employees with strong written,
verbal, and nonverbal communication skills. Part of being a strong communicator also includes
being a good listener; employees need to be able to understand the questions and concerns of their
clients and listen to their employer’s directions.
2. Leadership
Employers look for good leaders because they can benefit organizations in many ways. A leader
plays an important role in ensuring that team shares the same vision as the company and works in
unison with other teams and departments to achieve a common goal. Additionally, leader can
develop strategies for achieving objectives, keep the team constantly motivated and monitor work
performance to produce better results for the company. Leadership skills are important at every
level.
3. Technology
Companies search for candidates with technical skills to help them use the latest technology and
stay ahead of their competitors. Depending on the job, the technology skills needed may vary
greatly, from word processing and sending email to video editing and using programming
languages. If a candidate can grasp technology-related concepts and learn how to use new
technologies quickly, then he/she may be more attractive to employers.
4. Reliability
Reliability makes candidates’ more employable because it promotes trust between candidates’ and
employer. A reliable employee can consistently complete tasks on time, deliver quality work and
make minimal mistakes.
5. Problem-solving
Problem-solving involves identifying key issues and their implications, having a clear
understanding of problems and determining the most effective solutions. For more complex
problems, candidates’ need to know how to divide them into smaller parts that are easier to
understand and more manageable. This skill can set a candidate apart from other job candidates
because they can help the potential employer maintain an efficient operational process and achieve
objectives more effectively. A good problem-solver can play an important role in troubleshooting
issues, which can enable the team to overcome obstacles and solve complex problems.
6. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking refers to the ability to understand, analyze, and interpret information and draw
conclusions. In any job, an employee will have to assess situations and solve problems. Employees
need to think logically and make sensible judgments.
7. Teamwork
Teamwork is important in almost any work setting. If an employee works on a number of group
projects, they need to be able to get along well with others and carry their share of the workload.
Even if an employee does not do a lot of team projects, they still need to be able to work well with
colleagues and managers.
 8. Self-management
Self-management refers to the ability to perform job duties satisfactorily with little or no
supervision. For higher-level employees, it also means delegating tasks to ensure you complete
them on time. Additionally, self-managed employees can motivate themselves to deliver solid
work performance consistently. Employees with self-management skill can help supervisor or
manager save time and effort simply because they need minimal guidance and assistance from
them.
9. Professionalism
Professionalism is the conduct, behavior and attitude of someone in a work or business
environment. Professionalism leads to workplace success, a strong professional reputation and a
high level of work ethic and excellence. Employers expect the candidates’ to be committed to
delivering the best standards, adopting the right procedures and maintaining the highest levels of
confidentiality.
10. Organisational Skills
Organizational skills are the abilities that let one to stay focused on different tasks, and use time,
energy, strength, mental capacity, physical space, etc. effectively and efficiently in order to achieve
the desired outcome. In most jobs, employees’ are expected to take responsibility for their own
workload.
Changing Skill-Sets for Candidates Employability in a Neo-Normal Life
The term ‘new normal’ that we have heard so much about in recent weeks suggests that the changes
the socio-economic environment is undergoing as a result of the coronavirus crisis. When
restrictions were first imposed, organizations had to transform their businesses, their operating
models and the working locations of their people overnight. Now that people are getting used to
this situation, new employment opportunities are emerging, employers’ are now looking for those
candidates’ who are accustomed to the neo-normal socio-economic environment and some specific
changing skill-sets.
1. Leadership
Having good leadership skills is not strictly about supervising or managing others. Instead, it’s
about communicating strategy and vision while encouraging others and embracing feedback from
colleagues and superiors. Being self-aware and holding oneself accountable is particularly
important during these challenging times.
2. Flexibility and adaptability
Being flexible and adaptable made us to except the current situation. It’s also a crucial skill that
every employer will be keeping an eye out for. As businesses worldwide see a stark rise in the
number of employees being able to work from home, it’s likely this new way of working will last
even after the pandemic passes. While being flexible in work was once aligned with geographic
mobility, it is now about having an open mindset, being able to work well under pressure, adjusting
to new and unexpected deadlines, prioritizing tasks and, in some instances taking on additional
responsibilities.
3. Critical thinking
Data published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 37 percent
of employers considered problem-solving and critical thinking among the top soft skills candidates
lacked. In an era where navigating fake news and contrasting data is a daily struggle, it’s critical
that one is able to think clearly and rationally to objectively evaluate information in order to make
informed decisions.
4. Tech savvy
Even before coronavirus the growing digital skills gap was apparent across business worldwide.
In fact, 82 percent of job vacancies now require digital skills of some kind. However, the pandemic
has accelerated the desperate need for specialist digital skillsets to help businesses become more
aligned with today’s myriad technologies and platforms.
5. Communication and emotional intelligence
Communication and social intelligence go hand-in-hand and there is still a need for genuine human
connection and understanding in every job role.
To have good emotional intelligence is to be aware of, and demonstrate empathy for, others’
emotions and behaviors which is crucial, especially when people are feeling uneasy. And this is
also where good communication skills are critical; as many of us continue to work from home,
clarity in emails and at virtual meetings is a must to cement trust and retain high productivity
levels.
6. Creativity and innovation
Even though machines and digital technologies take on roles in analytics and business operations,
human beings are still unique in being able to think outside the box.
Creativity is not only associated with typically creative professions either – it is essential across
every industry and sector. In the coming years, the business landscape is going to need to evolve
and adapt rapidly – for example, anyone aspiring to work in business will need to be able to tap
into their creative mindset in order to steer a business through challenges and opportunities that it
faces.
In this environment candidates need the ability to learn and re-learn. With industries closing down,
with people losing their jobs, with organizations redesigning their business models, we will all
need to be able to adapt – whether that’s learning new skills, new technologies, new ways of
working and perhaps even new jobs and careers. Whatever the circumstances, our work life is
changing and we need to be able to adapt.