Five ways to build your communication skills

If you are interested in coursework as a way of improving your skills, many colleges and universities offer degree and non-degree coursework and/or certificate programs in areas such as public speaking and business communication.  If cost is a consideration, Educationportal.com has a list of 10 universities that offer free online writing courses, some of which can even be taken for college credit.As the workforce continues to evolve, employees are asked to work on project teams with greater frequency.  The most successful teams are the ones that communicate effectively internally with team members, and externally with stakeholders.  Volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Taproot Foundation and The Community Corps can offer you the chance to work with others as part of a professional team in a less pressurized environment. In an honest moment, most people would admit that the idea of speaking in public produces at least some level of anxiety. Yet in the business world, particularly as your career advances, it’s likely that you’ll be asked to do just that, at least once.  Consider joining an organization such as Toastmasters International, which offers a chance to shed the anxiety, build confidence, and learn to deliver quality speeches and presentations in a non-judgmental environment.View the list »
Start a professional blog that demonstrates your expertise.  There are many easy to use blogging platforms such as Wordpress & Tumblr that do not require a great deal of technical expertise to use.  In addition to giving you a space to write, blogging offers two additional advantages.  One, you’ll have the chance to establish yourself as s subject matter expert, which could make you more attractive in the eyes of a potential employer.  Two, it can improve your search engine visibility—this is important for recruiters who may be searching for someone with your skills.

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Regardless of your level of experience, industry, or chosen career field, the ability to communicate effectively is the most sought-after skill by employers. In the modern workplace, virtually every job requires frequent communication of some kind: whether sending internal e-mails to company employees, communicating by phone with customers in a call center environment, or presenting a business plan to members of the board. For this reason, it is essential that job seekers look to enhance their communication skills.

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The best opportunities will go to job seekers that can successfully demonstrate their ability to communicate across platforms, and who can successfully demonstrate to potential employers how they will use those skills to have a positive impact on the business. If you are in the job market, here are five things you can do to build your communication skills:

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  • Start a professional blog that demonstrates your expertise.  There are many easy to use blogging platforms such as Wordpress & Tumblr that do not require a great deal of technical expertise to use.  In addition to giving you a space to write, blogging offers two additional advantages.  One, you’ll have the chance to establish yourself as s subject matter expert, which could make you more attractive in the eyes of a potential employer.  Two, it can improve your search engine visibility—this is important for recruiters who may be searching for someone with your skills.
  • In an honest moment, most people would admit that the idea of speaking in public produces at least some level of anxiety. Yet in the business world, particularly as your career advances, it’s likely that you’ll be asked to do just that, at least once.  Consider joining an organization such as Toastmasters International, which offers a chance to shed the anxiety, build confidence, and learn to deliver quality speeches and presentations in a non-judgmental environment.
  • As the workforce continues to evolve, employees are asked to work on project teams with greater frequency.  The most successful teams are the ones that communicate effectively internally with team members, and externally with stakeholders.  Volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Taproot Foundation and The Community Corps can offer you the chance to work with others as part of a professional team in a less pressurized environment. 
  • If you are interested in coursework as a way of improving your skills, many colleges and universities offer degree and non-degree coursework and/or certificate programs in areas such as public speaking and business communication.  If cost is a consideration, Educationportal.com has a list of 10 universities that offer free online writing courses, some of which can even be taken for college credit.
  • If you have some level of comfort with your communication skills but are looking for a way to enhance them further, consider freelance consulting.  Websites like Elance and freelancer.com can offer you a chance to write concise but compelling business proposals compete for paid, typically virtual assignments.  This can give you the real-world experience of proposal writing and client communications without the added pressure of having to pursue clients independently.Was this article helpful?  Do you think it could help someone else?  Like it on Facebook, give it a +1, tweet it, or e-mail it to your friends.I welcome your comments, questions & feedback.  Leave a comment below, or send me an e-mail at baltimore.jobsearchexaminer@gmail.com.Subscribe and get notified by e-mail when my next article goes live:  Hit the ‘Subscribe’ button above, and then check your e-mail for a confirmation message to complete your subscription.
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, Baltimore Jobs Search Examiner

Warren White brings more than 12 years of HR, recruiting, and career coaching experience, providing strategic guidance and leadership to individuals and organizations throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Warren has been an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since...

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