Harvard Independent

While having a formal education is certainly a good way to break into some industries, don't fret if you didn't earn a college degree. There's still hope! In order to get the job you want even without a degree, here are the three qualities you must possess.

Soft Skills. You cannot obtain these skills by getting a degree. The following skills are deemed as the most important by the employers.

Being enthusiastic Friendly personality Being punctual Have the ability to get along well with others Professional appearance and mannerism Be genuinely interested in the job that's offered

Making Connections. Great jobs are given to so-and-so's cousin or the head honcho's friend's grandson each and every day. If you want to meet with the same success, you will have to make and tap your connections effectively.

You have to step outside of your comfort zone and come to life when you meet others when you are trying to make connections. Sometimes, striking up conversations in coffee shops or grocery store lines is what you have to do. Another thing you should do is Make a proactive effort to find out a little more about the people who surround you in your daily life. You never know who might be sitting next to you on a train or standing next to you in line for a movie.

And don't neglect those contacts you already have. Taking the time to analyze the people you know and whom you have recently met is a must. Any ideas who can potentially help you in your job goal search? Who have you forgotten to ask about job opportunities? If you feel at all embarrassed about networking, remember that it's never begging if you go in to speak to someone full of confidence, high energy, and optimism. You may, in fact, be doing them a favor if they can put you in touch with somebody who actually ends up hiring you and this also makes your friend look good. The bottom line is that you'll never know whether your connections can work for you until you try.

Market Research. When applicants do their homework, then employers appreciate this. To clear up any confusion, market research can also help. When you discover how the industry you're interested in works with other industries, you may find that some of unlikeliest contacts are the ones who can help you the most. So don't wait around for a job to find you. Go out and do you research, talk to your contacts, and bring the job to you!

When it comes to the three qualities above, your ability to successfully utilize and tap them depends on how well developed your job market skills are over all.