Must-Have Job Skills according to WSJ

Even as employers remain cautious next year about every dollar spent on employees, they’ll also want workers to show greater skills and results.

For employees who want to get ahead, basic competency won’t be enough.

To win a promotion or land a job next year, experts say there are four must-have job skills:

1. Clear communications

Whatever their level, communication is key for workers to advance.

2. Personal branding

Human-resources executives scour blogs, Twitter and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn when researching candidates, and it’s important that they like what they find.

3. Flexibility

The ability to quickly respond to an employer’s changing needs will be important next year as organizations try to respond nimbly to customers.

4. Productivity improvement

In 2013, workers should find new ways to increase productivity, experts say. Executives are looking for a 20% improvement in employee performance next year from current levels, according to a recent survey by the Corporate Executive Board, an Arlington, Va., business research and advisory firm.

Choosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor from

via Must-Have Job Skills in 2013 – WSJ.com.