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CIPD survey looks at key marketable skills for job seekers

According to a survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), job seekers need to develop flexible skills and a flexible mindset to stand out from the crowd in a difficult jobs market.

The CIPD conducted an online poll of over 100 HR professionals and drew on the results of the quarterly Employee Outlook survey of over 3,000 employees. Both groups identified transferable/flexible skills as the key attribute applicants should be demonstrating in the current climate: in the HR poll, almost half agreed (45%), while in the employee group, 47% identified such skills as the most marketable.

Claire McCartney, resourcing and talent planning adviser at the CIPD, said: "It is interesting to see that a flexible mindset and skills are considered more important than more traditional achievements such as qualifications and technical or professional knowledge.

"In addition to flexible skills and mindset, business acumen, interpersonal skills and customer service skills are all very important in helping people stand out from the crowd in today's turbulent economic climate. These findings should be encouraging to those who are considering a change of career or for graduates who have to broaden their search to find work. They suggest that in today's current climate, demonstrating the right attitude and fit with culture go along way."

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