Top 10 Skills That Make You Indispensable
Worried about your job security? Looking for a new one? Find out the skills you need to land your dream job – and survive that next round of downsizing.
10. ANALYTICAL SKILLS
The ability to problem solve is key to becoming an indispensable employee. People with strong analytical skills are the kinds of employees that are able to figure things out on their own and without supervision. These are also the kind of employees who managers are willing and eager to give responsibilities to—and once you have others relying on you, you’re in a good position.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
9. ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Taking your time to make sure you’ve crossed your “I’s” and dotted your “t’s” means you’ll produce quality work. Managers want employees they can rely on to do the job as well as (or better than!) they can. Make your work count and you’ll always count to the team.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
8. MOTIVATION / ENTHUSIASM / ENERGY
Employers are looking for people who accept assignments and responsibility with enthusiasm, who are motivated to take on more, and who are energetic personalities. People who show all these are just more pleasant to work with and that can go a long way.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
7. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS / TEAMWORK
Working on a team means dealing with different personalities and attitudes. People with good interpersonal skills are able to work in teams without their personal feelings getting in the way and without creating problems. That’s really valuable to a manager.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
6. CUSTOMER SERVICE
Having good customer service skills are important even when you’re not working in a retail environment. When you interact with your supervisors and co-workers, think of them as your customers. You’re selling your ideas or work to them, and if they find this “shopping” to be a positive experience and valuable for them, you can be sure they’ll come back again.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
5. RELIABILITY
Being reliable means more than just being on time and showing up when you are scheduled to work. It means being available to stay late and to come in at the last minute. Employers need people who are going to make their job a priority and hold on to the people they feel they can rely on for those last minute needs.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
4. PROFESSIONALISM
Professionalism is more than just dressing appropriately and communicating correctly. It means handling yourself calmly, respecting those around you, and keeping negativity to yourself, not just when you feel like it, but, importantly, when you don’t feel like it.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
3. ETHICS
It’s better to do what is right rather than what you see others in your workplace get away with. Employers want people they can trust and who will follow the ethics of the workplace, rather than follow the people around them.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
2. RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY
It’s important to be the kind of person that can be supervised by anyone. Work with your supervisor, even if you don’t really like him, and accept what he asks without questioning (unless it’s a productive question). Show your boss that you’re the type of person who he can rely on to be a team player.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
1. BECOMING INDISPENSABLE
Okay, so I followed your advice for #10–2 and now what? What does being indispensable even mean? It means being the person that your employer can’t bear the thought of you not being there. It means being the person that your employer in some way sees as an extension of himself. It means going above and beyond, it means viewing the company and its goal as an extension of yourself and your goals. The employee with this outlook—this is the employee that not only keeps her job, this is the employee that gets promoted to a better job.
Take charge and make change. Watch GET TO WORK, Mondays 10:30p, for an unfiltered, uncompromising look at Strive, an organization dedicated to getting America back to work.
Author: Katherine Strickle, Assistant Director of Career Services at STRIVE
