If you're invited for an interview, use all the resources you can to learn about the company

1. Commercial awareness
According to doctorjob.com, this is the most vital quality employers look for in a new recruit – knowing what makes a company and the market tick. ‘As soon as you’re invited to a job interview, begin learning as much about the organisation as you can,’ says Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary, Brendan Barber. ‘Use all the sources you can find – the internet, newspapers, libraries, well-informed friends and corporate literature – to find out what your potential employers are all about.’

2. Confidence
Show that you’re dedicated to the job, the company, and you believe in what you’re doing.

3. Initiative
Employers want to know that you’re not the kind of person to panic when faced with an unexpected turn of events. Show that you can keep a cool head and approach problems logically.

4. Organisation
Show you can prioritise your time and workload, and that you’re efficient enough to make your deadlines, even under pressure. Be willing to delegate, too – you can’t do everything.

5. Take responsibility
Your colleagues need to know you’ll be supportive of them in a crisis – particularly if you’re leading a team.

6. Communicate effectively
In the latest CIPD/KPMG quarterly Labour Market Outlook, 40% of employers put communication skills in their top three required attributes of new recruits. Whether you’re giving praise, providing constructive criticism, or defining goals and to-dos, you have to figure out how much to say and in what order. Get to the point.

7. Honesty
Tell it like it is. Present things in a straightforward but balanced manner.

8. Listening
Keeping people motivated means listening to them, asking them questions, and understanding their issues.

9. Negotiation and persuasion
Another vital soft skill is being able to get your way when necessary, but also understanding and acknowledging where the other person is coming from.

10. Ability to work in a team
A recent Microsoft survey found that teamworking is one of the top skills required by employers. That’s the case for management-level jobs, too; if you can lead but can’t follow, you’re a dictator.