Career Ideas To Fit Your Aptitude And Ability: 3

Today the focus is on Verbal Reasoning.

But First: Why Measure Ability?

There is general agreement that abilities are a valid predictor of performance. This means that where you have a high ability, you are likely going to be more able to cope with the demands of a specific environment. By better understanding your ability, this can help you to make an informed choice around jobs where you might reach your full potential while also gaining insight about where some struggles may be coming from. However, motivation and context also play an important role. Almost every skill can be learned with the help of someone who can show you how.

What Is Verbal Reasoning?
Verbal reasoning is the ability to understand concepts expressed through language, to think constructively and to apply logic when solving problems.

One example of verbal reasoning is the ability to hear some information about a problem, process the information, form a theory, and use this theory to evaluate and communicate the solution to a problem. If that sounds like something you can do, then you are likely to have high verbal ability.

Interests that may be associated with high verbal ability include:

· an interest in abstract word thinking and imagination to shape ideas and bring them to life

· a passion for reading and writing

· an interest in learning new languages and appreciating the uniqueness of language structures

· public speaking

Why Test Verbal Reasoning?

The reason that verbal reasoning tests are frequently used as part of psychometric assessments for employment in many different types of roles because the ability to problem solve, comprehend and reason logically is valuable across many sectors.

A verbal reasoning test can assess any combination of the following:

· Comprehension and analysis. These assess whether you can draw logical conclusions on the basis of text in front of you.

· The ability to evaluate arguments and statements from a piece of text.

· Vocabulary. Identifying words that have been used wrongly in a text or testing you on words that are similar and easily confused.

· The ability to extract and summarise key points from written information.

Verbal reasoning assessments don’t typically assess your ability to write – they are more focused on your understanding.

Being able to communicate your thoughts can make a positive difference in the workplace

Why is Verbal Reasoning so highly valued in the workplace?

Verbal skills are particularly important in fields such as marketing, customer service and PR where communication forms a vital part of the job. Verbal abilities are also highly valued in careers in law, teaching, public sector, retail or sales.

However, verbal ability is very much tied to problem solving and to be able to communicate your thoughts can make a positive difference in almost any workplace.

One of the most crucial elements of workplaces are social interactions and the ability to listen, convey understanding and express yourself can help you to stand out from the crowd and progress your career. This is true of both in-person or remote work. Most workplaces – in any sector - are at their heart dependent on people to bring about change, success or results.

Written and verbal communication, emotional intelligence and leadership are core skills in the future of work. Even as artificial intelligence and robotics continue to share work with us, people will still be critical for the tasks that rely on distinctly human skills that computers can’t yet replicate.

To be successful in the workplace of the future it is crucial to cultivate soft skills that influence how you think, work, and relate to other people.

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Career ideas for high verbal ability

Most jobs require excellent communication skills; however, there are some particular jobs that search for the best of the best when it comes to communicating with others.

Lawyers provide legal advice and counsel, gather information or evidence, draw up legal documents and prosecute or defend in court. Lawyers need strong written and communication skills and must be good at public speaking when appearing in court, delivering statements, and cross-examining witnesses. An efficient lawyer may need to find lots of information and learn to deal with the warfare of words. An innate ability to master language skills and deal with lots of information may also play a vital role in the study and practice of law.

Human Resource Specialists are responsible for recruiting team members, making calls and answering questions, interviewing potential candidates, and setting up meetings with managers. They need to use their communication and people skills to get their job done.

Public Relations Specialists are the public face and voice of an organisation. They serve as the spokespeople and release statements to the media. Public relations specialists mostly communicate with reporters but they also organise events to promote the business online and in the community.

Content Writers need a firm grasp of language and good writing skills to be able to explain a collection of ideas and concepts to readers from around the world.

Social Media Managers are often needed by entrepreneurs to reply to customer queries and manager a business’s social media presence. For those who have got intensive experience on social media and know how to communicate a message effectively, becoming a social media manager can be the ideal job.

Communications Executives write engaging copy for websites, blogs, articles, social media, and newsletters. They also look after the internal and external communications, including marketing a company’s image.

Journalists are storytellers whose role is to provide and share information accurately with the public; journalists need to practice active listening skills to interview countless sources before writing their stories. They also need determination to convince sources to open up and reveal their secrets. Journalists may need to have a strong memory capacity and the skills to present facts, data, and information in a clear manner. Within this field are further options like writing and editing, reporter, or a show host. Journalists are also very focused, attentive, and self-aware, making them an ideal choice for this profession. Additional languages can also enhance this career choice as knowing and interpreting various languages are vital for journalists.

TV Reporters need to be prepared at any moment with no script and no teleprompter. All of these require impressive communication skills.

Radio DJs and Broadcasters are able to maintain composure while under pressure and feel confident talking in front of potentially thousands of people. If you are fun to listen to, have an interest in current trends and can engage your listeners, this could be a perfect fit

Editorial jobs require intense data collection, revaluation, and reviewing of information, articles, and stories published in daily media and communication platforms. Editors need to have impressive knowledge about vocabulary, grammar and command of language and sentence tone.

Sales Representatives are responsible for approaching and selling a company’s products to customers by identifying leads and educating prospects with presentations, phone calls, or training. They need to master excellent communication skills to sell their products.

Customer Service Representatives assist customers with product enquiries, complaints and any other questions. They are also responsible for placing orders and scheduling deliveries. Customer service representatives are expert communicators with the ability to multitask.

Marketing Managers have many responsibilities, such as building strategies, budgeting and reviewing advertising material such as print, radio, TV commercials, and digital marketing. They need to have strong negotiation skills, along with a keen eye for detail when proofreading press releases or advertising copies.

Marketing Analysts develop innovative ways and ideas to create something fascinating and unique. These roles require intense research and creativity and marketing analysts may spend a lot of time gathering new ideas for market growth, sales expansion, client acquisitions, and providing innovative ideas for of branding and e-commerce. This work may suit an individual who likes to grow and develop ideas and thoughts.

Financial Advisors help people with long-term financial planning, such as investments, pensions, life insurance, and mortgages. Financial advisors need to communicate complex information to their clients in an understandable way, so good communication skills are a must. These roles may be a good fit for someone who also holds strong numerical skills.

Teachers work in a field that is all about communication. Teachers need to communicate with children in a way that children understand. As a multistakeholder role, teachers also need to communicate well with parents and with faculty management as well as maintaining the record keeping and lesson planning elements of the role.

Lecturers draw on expressive and language skills to communicate their ideas and keep classes engaged in deep and emerging concepts. An interest in research and the academic circuits are a strong advantage in this field.

Interpreters act as liaisons and translate documents for the corporate, multinational and public sectors. They help break down the barriers between people who speak different languages. There is increasing demand for interpreters in the healthcare and community sectors.

Translators have an innate interest in learning and mastering new languages and are required in government offices, language departments and the fields of language development and diplomacy.

Social Workers can work with a broad sector of society and need strong communication skills to mediate between family members and systemic structures. With a strong focus on record-keeping, social workers draw on a range verbal skills to complete their work.

Occupational Therapists help patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities recover and improve their daily living skills. They need good communication and listening skills to explore what is wrong with a patient and proactively suggest treatment options.

Speech and Language Therapy as a role may suit people with an interest in linguistics and communication strategies who are motivated to contribute positively to the speech and language needs of others.

Counsellors and Psychotherapists are trained to understand the needs and desires of a client without judgment. They offer support and guidance to help people process their area of concern in a safe space. Counsellors may also need to consult with other professionals which also draws on good communication skills.

Career Advisors help students and adults evaluate their interests and abilities. They need strong communication skills to support clients who are exploring career options.

Sport Coaches teach, train, and motivate athletes who compete to win. They need proper communication skills to make the players understand how to win the game.

Politicians debate and present topical and persuasive ideas. They tend to value knowledge and are driven to understand the facts and context of a situation. Political roles may suit those who can express public opinion of the and provide clarity on policies and decisions that may impact society. They also inhibit a powerful ability to lead and organise groups and determination, patience and innovation may also be traits that suit a politician portfolio.

Authors create new text such as an articles, poetry or fiction and tend to be masters of language and written expression. The art of writing requires a lot of brainstorming and composing elements of language to produce pieces of literature. Those with strong visual-linguistic talents might like to consider a writing career.

Sources

How to pass verbal reasoning tests for graduate jobs (gradireland.com)

Top 16 Essential Soft Skills For The Future Of Work | Bernard Marr

WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2020.pdf (weforum.org)

What can I do with a linguistics degree? | Prospects.ac.uk

10 Potential Careers For Individuals With High Verbal Linguistic Intelligence - Number Dyslexia

20 Jobs to Consider if you have Good Communication Skills (lead-academy.org)