After being put through their business acumen paces week-on-week, this weekend sees the final of Lord Sugar’s Apprentice on BBC1.  In its twelfth series, the final sees the last few hopefuls battle it out for a £250,000 investment into their business idea.  Speaking about the programme on TV show ‘Good Morning Britain’ earlier this week, Nick Hewer, Lord Sugars former advisor, said ” it does a great lot of good for young people to teach them the basics on business” which raises the question of the basic skills employers look for in a candidate?  We ask Simon’s his top 5 basic skills that employers look for:

1. Initiative – This is a big asset in my company and I am lucky enough to have staff who have the skills to think ahead and get things done. There’s nothing worse for an employer than having to hold hands and babysit staff in the workplace, we all want someone who can hit the ground running and use their initiative.
2. Integrity – Over the years I’ve learnt some valuable lessons in business, but one that’s always stuck with me is to let your handshake mean more than pen & paper. Yes, in order to run a business effectively you need to cross the t’s and dot the i’s by singing on dotted lines, but your handshake and what you promise to deliver should always live up to expectations.
3. Common sense – There’s an old saying that goes ‘You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink’ and unfortunately the same can be said for common sense.  We all have our ‘blonde moments’ but common sense in the business place is crucial, little mistakes can cost a company thousands which is why this skill is a top priority for employers.
4. Focus – It’s great to be flexible in your role and adapt as the business changes, but the ability to stay focussed in your role is crucial so that you reach your personal targets within your job duties, and in turn help to meet the company’s objectives.
5. Drive – It may be questionable if drive is a basic skill, as it’s not something you teach but something that lies within you. With drive, comes the determination to succeed and this is by far the one attribute that makes a candidate differ between good and greatness.

Who do you think will win this year’s show?  Do you think they are employable candidates?  Or, have they tarnished their career through reality TV?

What are the skills you can offer a client?  Or, what skills do you look for when hiring talent?