Career Skill Assessment

I’ve interviewed 100s of job seekers worldwide and noticed this: Top performers share 9 essential soft skills: 1. Initiative    • They don’t wait to be told—they make things happen. • They identify and tackle problems early. 2. Read the Room    • They pick up on emotions and unspoken cues. • They adjust their approach based on the energy of the room. 3. Focus on Impact    • Busywork isn’t their focus; meaningful work is. • They cut distractions to maximize productivity. 4. Communicate Clearly    • They keep it simple—no room for confusion. • They get to the point and stay concise. 5. Put the Team First • Personal credit takes a backseat to team wins. • They’re quick to support others to reach shared goals. 6. Own Their Actions    • Mistakes become lessons, not setbacks. • They hold themselves to a high standard. 7. Stay Calm Under Pressure    • Stress doesn’t shake them—they stay adaptable. • They maintain focus and keep moving forward. 8. Solve Problems Creatively    • “Impossible” isn’t in their vocabulary. • Obstacles are just challenges to overcome. 9. Listen to Understand • They make people feel heard and valued. • They ask questions to truly understand others. These skills don’t just solve problems. They build lasting solutions. Master them, and watch the impact in every step of your career. ♻️ Agree? Repost to share with your network. 📌 Follow Amy Gibson for actionable leadership tips.

The sustainability career path no one tells you about: 1. Learn the frameworks, acronyms, and tools (EPR, SBTi, LCA, ISO…). 2. Realize most stakeholders don’t speak that language. 3. Get great at translating targets into plain English. 4. Realize people don’t care about targets, they care about trade-offs. 5. Get great at connecting impact to P&L, risk, and brand. 6. Realize decisions still happen without (or despite) the evidence. 7. Get great at influence without authority: narratives, coalitions, timing. 8. Realize org politics and incentives beat logic on most Mondays. 9. Get great at choosing leverage points and letting go of the rest. 10. Finally understand the job was about people, not spreadsheets, all along. Tools, ratings, and policies change every year. Human nature doesn’t. Sustainability is people work. Invest accordingly.

It's a good time to go green. Globally, the hiring rate for those with previous sustainability-related job titles or skills is 46.6% higher than the hiring rate for the workforce overall, according to new data from LinkedIn's Economic Graph. This means green talent is far more likely to secure a job these days, and honing specific skills could be a competitive advantage for job seekers. That includes responsible sourcing, resource efficiency, corporate sustainability and energy management, which is the fastest-growing green skill worldwide. In the U.S., strategic program planning is the fastest-growing green skill. What's more? These skills are helpful to professionals who aren't even in traditionally green roles. For the first time, the strongest growth in green hiring is occurring in roles that previously required no green expertise, suggesting these skills are becoming mainstream. What's your best advice for workers looking to grow their green skills — and leverage them on the job hunt? Weigh in below. And see more LinkedIn data on this topic here: https://lnkd.in/g873CzHT.

This is the most permissionless time in history. 10 years ago you needed a $100k real estate degree. Here’s what actually matters in 2025: I asked 6 top real estate executives what skills they hire for. None mentioned financial models that real estate grad programs teach. They all wanted to know one thing: do you know how to run a building? Here's why: I published a newsletter about what real estate executives think of MSRE degrees. These are people who hire every day. Jamie Hodari of Industrious said: "What's an MSRED? Too many people from these programs just learn RE finance, which takes four hours. How you run things is what matters." Here's what executives want: 1. Operations Over Analysis What Leaders Want: • Running buildings well • Making tenants happy • Filling spaces fast Real leaders want people who can run properties well. • Keeping value on site • Finance is just the start The job is about hands-on work, not just math. 2. Tech Fluency Is Key Must-Have Skills: • How tech helps property value • Where AI fits in work • When blockchain makes sense Knowing how tech helps real estate is key now. • What new tech matters • Which tools are just hype They want people who know which tech is worth using. 3. Real Assets Are Growing Beyond Old Groups: • Data centers change the game • Green rules matter • What counts as "real" is growing Real estate now means many more things than before. • Big funds look at all assets • Experts need deep know-how Today's pros must see the whole picture. 4. Stories Beat Spreadsheets The Big Surprise: • Story skills beat math skills • Your name opens doors • Good stories move money Being able to tell why a deal works beats perfect math. • Trust counts more than ever • Slides > formulas People back people they trust, not just numbers. The truth is clear: • Schools teach models • Bosses hire for street smarts • Programs push cap rates Schools teach theory, but firms need real skills. Read my full piece linked in the comments. What do you think MSRE programs miss? 

What people think marketing is: ~ A few trending reels. ~ A good-looking feed. ~ Maybe some hashtags. What it actually is: A multi-disciplinary skill stack that takes YEARS to master. Here’s just a glimpse: ~ Psychology – understanding why people buy ~ Copywriting – saying the right thing, the right way ~ Storytelling – building emotional connection that drives action ~ Branding – shaping perception with consistency and clarity ~ Sales Strategy – guiding people from interest to decision ~ Funnel Design – structuring steps that convert browsers into buyers ~ Analytics – interpreting data to optimize performance ~ Design Thinking – creating content that’s not just pretty, but purposeful ~ Positioning – making your brand stand out in a crowded market ~ Content Strategy – knowing what to post, when, and why ~ Market Research – understanding your customer better than they know themselves ~ Offer Creation – crafting irresistible value ~ Community Building – turning audiences into loyal fans ~ Platform Algorithms – knowing how IG, LinkedIn, YouTube actually work ~ Crisis Management – protecting brand reputation under pressure ~ Email Marketing – building trust and nurturing leads long-term ~ Retention Strategy – keeping customers coming back ~ Collaboration & Influencer Strategy – extending reach through trusted voices ~ Trend Analysis – jumping on what’s hot without losing brand identity ~ Time Management & Systems – juggling 10 things at once and still delivering excellence Marketing isn't “just content.” It’s a full-blown ecosystem. The best marketers? Strategic. Creative. Data-obsessed. Respect the craft. If you're in the game— 👉 Which one took you the longest to master? Drop it in the comments. Let’s show ‘em what this work really takes. 💥

🎯 Why Most Business Problems Remain Unsolved (And How to Fix That) Last week, I had the privilege of facilitating a Problem Solving & Business Acumen workshop for our teams at L'Oréal Indonesia. 💡 The Problem We All Face (But Rarely Talk About) Here's an uncomfortable truth: we're wired to jump to solutions. In business, this looks like: ✔️ Launching promotions without understanding why sales declined ✔️ Hiring more people without diagnosing process inefficiencies ✔️ Copying competitor tactics without validating if they fit our context The cost? Wasted resources, frustrated teams, and recurring problems that never truly go away. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023, analytical and critical thinking are the #1 and #2 most important skills for workers. Yet, most of us were never formally taught how to think critically or solve problems systematically. 🛠️ The Problem-Solving Process: A Step-by-Step Guide Step 1: Define the Problem (Don't Jump to Judgment!) 📝 Craft a Problem Statement with 6 components: "How can [responsible party] improve/reduce [reality] to meet [expectation] within [timeline] without [anti-goals], in order to fulfill [reason]?" Example: "How can the product team launch a new product on time in Q4 2024 without sacrificing key processes, in order to meet the sales target?" Step 2: Find Alternatives (Issue Tree + MECE) Once the problem is clear, break it down using an Issue Tree. For instance, if mascara sales dropped -14% YoY: 📦 Placement → Gondola compliance, visibility, signage 🎁 Promotion → BOGO mechanics, POS materials 💰 Price → Elasticity, perceived value 🎨 Product Claims → Content freshness, reviews 🔥 Competition → Share of voice, endcap presence ✅ Ensure hypotheses are MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive)—no overlaps, no gaps. Step 3: Test Your Hypotheses Don't fall in love with your first idea. Run quick tests: 📊 For a skincare serum declining in pharmacies, we tested: ✔️ Hypothesis A: Reduced pharmacist advocacy is the issue → Micro-detailing pilot in 10 stores ✔️ Hypothesis B: Cold chain OOS drives lost sales → Warehouse SOP audit + temperature logs ✔️ Hypothesis C: Execution gaps suppress promo ROI → Endcap compliance audit Each hypothesis had clear KPIs and timelines—no guessing, just data. Step 4: Make the Decision (Impact vs. Effort Matrix) Not all solutions are equal. Prioritize: 🟩 Quick wins—do this! 🟦 Strategic bets 🟨 Fill-ins 🟥 Avoid Focus on low effort, high impact moves first. Build momentum, then tackle the big bets. 🚨 What Happens When We Skip These Steps? A mascara brand saw sales drop -14% YoY. The reaction? "Let's run a BOGO promo!" The result? Sales stayed flat. Why? Because the real issues were: ❌ Poor gondola compliance (only 68% correct facings) ❌ Weak influencer share of voice ❌ Competitor secured prime endcap space The lesson: Solutions applied to the wrong problem = wasted budget and missed targets.

To become a top data analyst you need to be a strong problem solver! Follow this structure to find the real reasons behind business problems: 1. 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: Start by clearly stating the issue. For example, “We’ve observed a significant decrease in sales in the UK over the last few days.”   2. 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: Collect relevant information such as order processing times, customer service interactions, inventory levels, and active marketing campaigns.   3. 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: Use tools like SQL, Python, or Excel to analyze the data. Look for patterns, trends, and anomalies that could point to the root cause.   4. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀: Brainstorm all possible reasons for the issue. Use methods like the 5 Whys technique to investigate each potential cause more deeply.   5. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘀: Test your hypotheses against the data to see if they are supported. If not, refine your hypotheses and test again.   6. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Once you’ve identified the root cause, support the business by showing possible solutions to address it. Monitor the results to ensure the issue is resolved. 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁: We notice an increase in customer lead time and here’s how we tackle it. 1. 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: “Customer lead time has increased by 20% in the last three months.”     2. 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: We collected data on order processing, sales forecast deviation, and shipping times.     3. 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: We found that the actual sales were in line with the forecast, and shipping times had remained constant. However, order processing times had increased significantly.     4. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀: We checked factors such as outages in warehouses, staffing issues due to high sickness rates, and process inefficiencies resulting from operating close to maximum capacity.     5. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘀: Data revealed that a spike in the sickness rate had reduced the available workforce.     6. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: We proposed to increase capacity buffers by 5% to 10% during the winter and hiring additional temporary workers to address the situation in the short term.   Following this approach for your root-cause analysis, you will become a valued problem-solving partner for your stakeholders. How do you ensure you’re addressing the root cause of an issue and not just the symptoms? ---------------- ♻️ 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 if you find this post useful. ➕ 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 for more daily insights on how to grow your career in the data field. #dataanalytics #datascience #rootcauseanalysis #problemsolving #careergrowth

Hard skills get you interviews. Soft skills get you hired. 92% of hiring teams want soft skills ≥ hard skills (Deloitte) This is more true than ever as AI enters the hiring process: ↳ AI analyzes your video interview ↳ AI interprets your answers to application questions ↳ AI reads your resume But employers know that: 💜 AI can't match human empathy 👋 AI can't match human emotional intelligence 🧠 AI can't match human discernment/critical thinking So it's critical you show what it would be like to work with you through the interview process. Here are soft skills that matter most  ⬇️ (and how to prove you have them in an interview) 1. Strategic Communication ↳ Effective in-person and digital communication ↳ Handles sensitive conversations with grace Proof: ↳Tell a story about a difficult conversation you handled well. 2. Agility ↳ Embraces change (even when it's uncomfortable) ↳ Quick to learn new tools and approaches Proof: ↳Share a time when you managed the unexpected. 3. Emotional Intelligence ↳ Reads the room (virtual or physical) ↳ Navigates workplace dynamics well Proof: ↳Share examples of teamwork in your answers. 4. Critical Thinking ↳ Makes smart judgment calls ↳ Evaluates AI output with discernment Proof: ↳Discuss a difficult decision you made. 5. Integrity ↳ Builds trust through transparency ↳ Does what's right, not what's easy Proof: ↳Talk about a time you did the right thing. 6. Influence ↳ Inspires others to follow your lead ↳ Speaks up and speaks out when needed Proof: ↳Share when you found a mistake and spoke up. 7. Cross-Cultural Fluency ↳ Works effectively across time zones and cultures ↳ Respects diverse perspectives Proof: ↳Show you are comfortable with different opinions & people. 8. Digital Collaboration ↳ Handles hybrid team dynamics ↳ Builds relationships across screens Proof: ↳Have examples of when you worked virtually 9. Time Mastery ↳ Manages asynchronous work ↳ Knows how to prioritize Proof: ↳Talk about your calendar management process. 10. Resilience ↳ Bounces back from setbacks ↳ Stays calm under pressure Proof: ↳Discuss how you keep your cool when faced with a challenge. 11. Networking ↳ Builds authentic relationships ↳ Connects with key stakeholders Proof: ↳Show ability to be at ease with yourself in new situations 💡The good news? These skills can be learned!💡 Which skill do you think is most crucial? Share your thoughts below! 👇 ♻ Repost to help your network learn career-advancing skills! ➕ Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more like this.

According to the LinkedIn 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, green talent is growing 3.4 times faster than overall talent demand. Yet only 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥. This gap is reshaping what the future of work looks like. Between 2020 and 2024, global green talent grew by 27 percent, while India grew even faster at 32 percent. Green job postings on LinkedIn increased by 22 percent last year. Sectors like renewable energy and construction now show 40 percent higher demand for green skilled professionals, and finance and consulting have seen a 26 percent surge in ESG and sustainability related roles. Sustainability is no longer a specialised domain. It is becoming a foundational capability across industries. In Asia Pacific, where green upskilling demand is rising the fastest worldwide, India is among the top markets where the gap between green skills demand and supply is widening at the quickest pace. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐛. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲. From client work and observing teams, one pattern is consistent. Professionals who can translate sustainability into everyday decision making get invited into different conversations. Their work becomes strategic rather than transactional. 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 Sustainability strategy Environmental management Circular economy thinking Carbon accounting Renewable energy systems ESG reporting Climate risk assessment People who start using language like “we optimise for resource efficiency” or “we evaluate material impact before execution” begin to stand out. They signal readiness for a future that is already here. Sustainability is becoming a marker of credibility, not a job title. 𝐀 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 Relevance in the coming decade will belong to those who embed green thinking into their current roles long before they apply for a green job. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲? Source: LinkedIn Green Skills Report 2025 #LinkedInGreenSkills #COP30 #FutureOfWork #CareerGrowth #Sustainability #GreenSkills #GreenerTogether #LinkedInNewsIndia

After reviewing thousands of executive resumes throughout my career, I've noticed a clear pattern: candidates often over-emphasize technical qualifications while undervaluing what truly sets them apart - their soft skills. Data from 'Finances Online' confirms what I've observed firsthand: an overwhelming 91% of recruiters prioritize soft skills on resumes, with 16% considering them MORE important than hard skills. As an executive search specialist, I can tell you that at senior levels, technical competence is assumed. What differentiates exceptional leaders is their mastery of these five critical soft skills ⬇️ 1. Time management: Don't just claim you're organized. Highlight specific instances where your planning abilities delivered measurable results under pressure. 2. Communication: Demonstrate how your communication style has influenced stakeholders, resolved conflicts, or driven organizational change. 3. Adaptability: In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, showcase how you've successfully navigated uncertainty and embraced new challenges. 4. Problem-solving: Illustrate your analytical approach with concrete examples of complex problems you've solved and their business impact. 5. Teamwork: Highlight collaborative achievements that demonstrate your ability to build consensus and leverage diverse perspectives. The key distinction between average and exceptional candidates? The latter don't merely list these attributes—they provide compelling evidence through specific accomplishments. Are you ready to transform your resume from a list of duties into a powerful narrative of leadership and impact? Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #leadershipdevelopment