Mônica Zionede Hall, the Founder and CEO of FELIZ Consulting just gave a lecture for the students of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) on 28th September 2020. This lecture will be linked to the Summer Internship Program organized by the Department of Communication Studies, HKBU.

The lecture will be a Career Talk in which the Founder of FELIZ will be enlightening the University students about the key factors that can help them build and propel in their respective careers, talking about communication skills, first impressions and branding.

It is necessary to educate students on how to go about pursuing their careers even before they step into the field of Internships. It is important to possess technical skills, but there is another set of skill-set which is a must in today's competitive world to get ahead of your competition: “Soft Skills”.

What are Soft Skills?

Soft Skills are a collection of interpersonal skills, i.e., the ability to communicate and build a relationship with others.

What makes them so important in career development?

Soft Skills have gained significant importance over the years. Nowadays, these skills are getting referred to as "professional skills" rather than "soft skills" in the HR space of top companies worldwide. Organizations are investing heavily in training programs, coaching, and mentoring that help build such skill-sets in their workplace - emotional intelligence, resilience, communication skills, presentation, personal branding and presence, feedback, leadership, and so forth. These skills will only become more important in the future.

Therefore, students should develop both their technical skills and their interpersonal, social skills. They should also develop the habit of asking more questions, becoming active listeners, attending webinars, events, and putting themselves “out there.” In general, if you display a genuine interest in learning, you will go further in your career.

Let’s take a look at the three skills which can get developed through coaching, mentoring, regular practice and training:

1. Communication Skills

How do we survive in the corporate world?! In the corporate world it is crucial to communicate well with your co-workers, managers and employees. Even if you are a believer in put-your-head down and get-things-done, you can't escape communication for achieving productivity and maintaining strong working relations at all levels of an organization.

Poor communication in the workplace will lead to an unmotivated staff who will begin to question their abilities, confidence, and eventually the organization.

What are the required communication skills, “soft skills” for a stable career?
➢ Become an active listener
➢ Show respect to your colleagues
➢ Always be willing to ask questions
➢ Stay open-minded, Broaden your outlook
➢ Display a positive attitude
➢ Be aware of your body language
➢ Be empathetic

If students learn new presentation skills, practice and make these communication tools part of their day to day behaviour, right from their Internships, they can build a strong foundation for their careers.

2. First Impression

Do first impressions matter? When it comes to any top company, your First Impression will indeed be a Lasting Impression on them.

Be it your internship interview, job interview, or your first day at work, your first impression can make or break your career. People whom you interact with throughout your professional career can judge your personality within the first few minutes. Therefore, it is imperative to present yourself in the best way possible.

What can you do to make the best first impression?
➢ Be well-groomed
➢ Dress formally or according to the company culture
➢ Be respectful to everyone
➢ Be punctual, never arrive late
➢ Maintain your posture while standing/sitting and be aware of your body language
➢ Always listen to the other person
➢ Smile and be aware of your facial expressions

You will not get a second chance to make a good first impression, therefore, seize your opportunity in the first meeting.

3. Personal Branding

Your personal branding is made of three elements:
- You as a brand,
- You awesome you and
- Your value added to others

Your resume and cover letter of course also display your professional journey. On the other hand, your personal brand depicts your character development over the years.

The importance of Personal Branding has risen so high that it has become unavoidable. The concept of Personal Branding is how you identify, position, and promote yourself in the world. Building up your personal brand involves self-presenting yourself creatively and strategically so that you stand out among others. In simpler terms, Personal Branding decides how people will see you and what comes to their mind when they think about you.

How can you build your personal brand?
➢ Look at the 3 elements of Personal Branding according to FELIZ Consulting
➢ Check your intention x perceptions
➢ Assess your performance, growth, and goals
➢ Build social media profiles, especially LinkedIn
➢ Audit your online presence
➢ Be Proactive and add value

Building a strong personal brand will not only help you in furthering your career but also help others get influenced by you. The sooner you realize the importance of personal branding and start working on it, the better it is for the career.

In Conclusion, as the modern professional world becomes more competitive with each passing day, it is becoming highly essential to teach and train students about the importance of Soft Skills. This training needs to begin from the university level so that students can start reaping benefits right from their Internships. Fast-paced competition is evident everywhere, especially workplaces. Therefore, students need to be aware of developing their soft skills along with their technical skills, before they get left behind in their careers. Please visit our website at www.felizconsulting.com to know more.