At a time where the UK is facing a huge skills shortage, national qualification awarding body Ascentis has revealed what employers consider to be some of the most-desirable skills and abilities that are needed when applying for entry-level jobs.

By looking at existing employability data, what the most popular entry-level roles are, where people are securing employment and by using its own educational expertise, Ascentis has concluded that having the following attributes are key for a successful entry-level job application:

Confidence

Resilience and determination

A desire to learn

Having some transferable skills

Being able to work with others

Interviewing skills

Ascentis claims that being confident, resilient and determined can demonstrate to employers that an individual is work-ready and therefore more likely to hit the ground running will quickly add value to their company. On top of this, the right transferable skills can be imperative to make work integration much easier. Ultimately, this can save an employer time and effort when getting a new starter up to speed on their role.

Research has also shown that individuals who can work well in a team and how effectively they can communicate during their interviews is often pivotal to secure a position. The latter is particularly relevant as it’s often the main opportunity for someone to showcase why they’re an ideal candidate.

Entry-level roles are popular with younger demographics as they offer the chance for them to start and begin developing a career. However, such roles are also available to any age group and to people from all walks of life. Moreover, the scope and availability of UK entry-level jobs continue to rise, with recent market analysis showing that some of the most in-demand roles are within the transport sector, the NHS, education, retail and also care and cleaning.

Another misconception people have about entry-level jobs is that they are all low pay. The reality is that with the right mix of the above attributes, job seekers can secure an entry-level role that offers a salary that’s much higher than the current average wage.

According to research, some of the highest-paying entry-level jobs include:

Auditor – average annual base salary £34,992

Software Engineer – average annual base salary £35,934

Product Manager – average annual base salary £38,000

These positions are more likely to be secured by those with past experience from other roles, whether in or out of the relevant sectors. This is another example of how transferable skills can be an important aspect for strengthening an individual’s entry-level employability.

Diane Sammon, head of product development for Ascentis, a further education charity commented saying “Transferable and soft skills are absolutely essential for entry-level candidates, for example, confidence is something job applicants and learners often struggle with when embarking on something new and often life-changing such as entering the job market or going back into work from a long time out of employment.

Determination is another soft skill that shows strength of character often after overcoming adversity and this can then help them to achieve in terms of qualifications and own goals either short or long term. It also shines through in important areas such as interviewing.

Many hiring managers for entry-level roles and even more senior roles often look for these soft skills and in some circumstances regard them as more important than job experience as they believe that skills can be taught but character and personality are harder to teach.”

As a leading awarding body for education and training, Ascentis also believes that those looking to secure an entry-level job may wish to either boost or refresh their own personal attributes through courses like those within its Employability & Work Skills qualifications. These can specifically help those who, for instance, may feel they are not as confident as they could be, or who may need support recognising their own transferable skills. The support available is also specifically tailored to improve personal employability, ultimately helping those seeking entry-level roles and above to secure a new career.