Attention, young professionals who want to work in the Algarve: hurry to answer the first call to enter the job market, but not without first acquiring or improving those that are considered the new requirements of employers.
Willingness to follow orders? Forget it! Companies are now looking for autonomous, proactive and initiative-minded young people.
Deliver work on time? It is not enough! Employers want resilient young people with problem-solving skills and a taste for teamwork.
Possess an academic degree? It is convenient, but more than that, it is important to show a willingness to learn, as well as an interest in Computer Science and other languages.
So, know how to start walking the path to become the most desired professionals in the Algarve business fabric.
What do companies look for in young professionals?
They look for behavioral skills such as autonomy, initiative, resilience and the ability to solve problems, in addition to professional skills such as language and computer skills.
These are some of the attributes most valued by companies, which young people about to finish secondary or university education should know (and attend to!), in order to better overcome the obstacles that may arise when entering the job market in the Algarve.
This is because they have to face the high rate of unemployment among the younger strata, in the first place, and soon after, the difficulty in keeping the job they finally found, often in precarious conditions, fixed-term contracts or trial periods.
It is therefore essential that young professionals know what most companies are currently looking for:
proper training
Adequate training for the job is naturally one of the requirements of companies, although the course or the name of the university the candidate attended is not always a decisive factor in an increasingly competitive job market.
With access to democratized higher education, employers are also based on other differentials, some of which I will discuss below.
Autonomy, initiative and proactivity
Most companies in the Algarve are looking for autonomous professionals with the power of initiative to perform tasks effectively, even those that have not (yet) been assigned by the superior.
In addition to young professionals who are not dependent on instructions, companies are interested in proactive people who are able to propose new solutions.
Resilience and ability to solve problems
No matter how comfortable its position in the market where it operates, any company goes through adverse situations and faces problems, and that is why it is natural to look for resilient young people, that is, who face and overcome adversities with optimism, deal with the problems of positively, learn from mistakes and resist external pressures.
Most! In the current business context, young people who are not able to solve the problems that may arise are left behind! Critical thinking, the ability to anticipate a problem or solve it with relative ease, is a differentiating asset.
Desire to learn
Graduates, masters, doctorates? You are always welcome! But, for many companies, the desire to learn “compensates” for the lack of an academic degree, since the important thing is that the young person is willing to improve their knowledge levels and is curious about new learning, thus becoming more educated. , but also more versatile over time.
Emotional intelligence and a taste for teamwork
The so-called emotional intelligence, that ability to create and generate empathy and correctly interpret the reactions and feelings of others (and better manage your own emotions), is a highly sought after characteristic, not least because it promotes teamwork, fundamental to achieve common goals quickly and effectively.
Domain of other languages
Basic knowledge of English is not enough! Companies are increasingly aware that they live in a global village, where it is preferable to hire young people who speak English and, if possible, have a good knowledge of French and Spanish or Italian and German, among other languages.
IT knowledge
Regardless of the job to which a vacancy refers, companies favor candidates with knowledge in terms of Information Technology, since information technology is crucial in the technological business sector, but it is also important and transversal to all other professions, in the performance diary of different tasks.
adapting to change
Adaptation to digital tools? More than that! Companies are looking for young professionals capable of abandoning old habits, detecting opportunities and embracing new approaches.
What do companies have to offer?
A paycheck? Of course, yes, but today companies also offer more conditions to promote the well-being and quality of life of workers, and more tools for them to grow personally and professionally!
The objective remains – to increase employee productivity and, consequently, the profitability of the business – but now most organizations are betting on a less rigid hierarchy, which willingly accepts the sharing of opinions and gives constant feedback.
Companies in the Algarve also invest in professional training and avoid the turnover that has characterized institutional environments in recent years, retaining talent through more social support and growth opportunities, but also through the possibility of remote work and flexible working hours, which allows more quality of life.
A modality fostered by the pandemic that seems to be consolidated in a post-Covid context, bringing benefits to workers who spend less time commuting to work and gain more time with their families, for example.
In short, in a job market where the task assigned today is for yesterday, the well-being and quality of life of workers are essential factors, at least in companies with a vision of the future, which intend to contribute to a balance between personal and that, in the final analysis, brings happiness and promotes the competitiveness and productivity of the business.
And speaking of productivity, for young people interested in entrepreneurship and financial management, I advise you to read my next opinion article, which will address the techniques, technologies and precepts that every employer would like to see in an employee, as well as tips for everyone young people who understand (in their own right) that being “employed” is not the only solution to entering the job market.
Until then!
Author Luís Horta, professor of Informatics at the João de Deus School Group, is the author of his institutional website and responsible for the Group's external communication. 27 years of experience as a teacher in Secondary Education, 5 years of experience as a teacher in Higher Education, more than 1000 hours of adult training. Managing Partner of Webfarus Digital Marketing.
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