SKILLS FOR SUCCESS

SKILLS -4-SUCCESS

SKILLS NEEDED

ON THE JOB!

Most employers would agree that their best employees have several things in
common. They have the basic skills that enable them to learn their jobs quickly and
perform their duties accurately. They have the training and knowledge of office
procedures, and the skills needed to operate various office equipment. They also
have personal characteristics and work habits that make them valuable additions to
their office support work teams.

Basic Skills Needed By Office Workers

For most office jobs, employers look for workers who have basic skills in
several important areas. They want to hire workers who:

Communicate well with others, possess problem-solving skills, work
productively and efficiently, produce accurate work, are flexible, possess
good human relations skills, have good math skills and write legibly.

Communication Skills

As an office worker, you will find that you must communicate frequently with other employees and with
customers. Good communication requires good speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.

When you speak, use the right words to express your ideas. Speak clearly and concisely.

To listen carefully, you must be alert and atentive. If necessary, take notes during a conversation to
help you remember what was said.

You must be able to read and understand instructions about the tasks you are assigned.

Office workers also communicate through written messages, such as letters, memorandums, informal
notes, and reports. Your written messages must be clear, complete, concise, correct an courteous.

Problem-Solving Skills

When a problem occurs, you must be able to
think through it in a clear and logical manner
and determine the best approach for handling it.

Accuracy

To be an effective office worker, you
must be accurate in your work. Errors
cost money.

Flexibility

Interpersonal

Skills

Office workers must be able to
get along with coworkers,
supervisors, and customers. To
get along with others, you must
treat them with courtesy and
respect.

Math Skills

Arithmetic skills are used daily by most
office workers--in completing invoices,
figuring discounts, adding columns of
figures, and even centering tables.
Even though you may have a calculator
to help you perform such tasks, you
need to understand the operation you
are performing in order to know when
to add, subtract, multiply, or divide.

Clear Handwriting

Office workers frequently complete
forms and write materials that must be
read by someone else. Words, letters,
or figures that are poorly written may
be misread and cause costly errors.
Because others will read what you
write, it is important that you have a
clear writing style.