Business Awareness

One of the many Employability Skills. This includes having an understanding of the organisation you are interested in. If you are to enter into a career or start employment within an industry sector, it is usually a good idea to have an idea of what is involved in that industry sector. There’s little point having a fanciful notion of an industry only to find it doesn’t live up to your expectations.

If you are completing an application form, or being asked to attend an interview, it really is essential that you do some background research on the industry sector and also the organisation that you are applying for a job. Employers expect a potential employee to have a reasonable idea of what they are involved with, including potential competitors and how an individual might be able to contribute to the success of the organisation. In addition, consider potential career prospects within a business or organisation.

One common complaint from employers is that potential employees often turn up for interview without having found out anything about their company. This shows a lack of many transferable skills including a lack of interest, initiative, research ability, problem solving, business awareness, planning, and decision making, to greater or lesser extents. These interviewees do not often turn into an employee.

The individual who does this elementary research, basically spending a minimum of an hour online should provide enough background information to help impress a potential employer.