| Companies across the UK are struggling to | | | | application. |
| fill positions because there simply aren't | | | | |
| enough properly skilled candidates available. | | | | Employers may be struggling to find the right |
| A skills gap exists in almost every industry, | | | | person for the job but they're still |
| be it IT, engineering, accounting or | | | | constantly receiving application letters and |
| specialized secretarial roles. This gap may | | | | CVs from prospective candidates. So what can |
| be specifically related to knowledge of that | | | | you do to help your potential employer |
| particular industry, but more often than not, | | | | realise that you have the skills and |
| the skills that are lacking are the most | | | | attributes they're looking for and make your |
| basic. | | | | application stand out from the rest? |
| | | | |
| Skills Shortage | | | | Having the right academic qualifications or |
| | | | years of experience behind you is not enough |
| Today's employers are looking for far more | | | | to prove your ability to do the job. Getting |
| than being able to read, write, follow | | | | some good vocational skills and |
| instructions or demonstrate initiative. | | | | qualifications can give you the edge over |
| They're also looking for more than just | | | | others. |
| academic qualifications, especially when | | | | |
| often all the candidates applying for a | | | | Improving Your Skills |
| particular job are likely to possess the same | | | | |
| ones. Employers these days look to appoint | | | | The Microsoft Office suite of applications |
| the candidate they believe is most capable of | | | | has become the standard software used in most |
| doing the job, rather than those who on paper | | | | office environments. There are several |
| have the best knowledge of it. Along with | | | | applications within this suite that you can |
| good team working and communication skills, a | | | | learn to master. For example, Microsoft |
| grasp of basic IT skills and evidence of | | | | Outlook is a tool for managing e-mail and |
| wanting to learn and gain new skills will | | | | contacts; Microsoft Excel allows you to |
| come high up on an employer's requirements | | | | create spreadsheets to store and manipulate |
| for prospective employees. | | | | data; and Microsoft Access is a database |
| | | | package enabling you to store and share large |
| Assessing Your Skills | | | | amounts of information. |
| | | | |
| So before you start filling out your | | | | Training courses in Microsoft Office |
| application form, it's worth considering | | | | applications are readily available either as |
| whether you really have the skills needed. | | | | online E-learning courses or by attending |
| You should consider what skills you do have, | | | | instructor-led Microsoft training courses. |
| those you need to brush up on, and those you | | | | Following completion of such courses there is |
| need to learn from scratch before you start | | | | also the opportunity to obtain the Microsoft |
| applying for jobs. You may just need to know | | | | Office Specialist (MOS) qualification, which |
| how to navigate yourself around a computer | | | | provides proof of the user's competency in a |
| and understand the latest software, you may | | | | range of Microsoft Office skills. Undertaking |
| need to gain a better understanding of | | | | such training courses will ensure that you |
| databases or spreadsheets, or you may need to | | | | are fully equipped with the skills that |
| gain very specific skills in a particular | | | | today's employers are looking for. |