Thursday, June 20th

1️⃣ The No. 1 Skill Employers Want

June 20, 2024

In partnership with

What’s In This Email

  • The No. 1 skill employers want

  • How Kirstie Wang turned her creative side hustle into a six-figure business

  • The end of an Era: Taylor Swift announces tour will end in December

  • Margarita flights anyone?

  • Notable Spotlight: Lavender Wild

  • Notable Plug 🔌 

✍️ TAKE NOTE

The No. 1 Skill Employers Want: Strong Work Ethic is Hard to Find

As AI continues to reshape the workforce, job applicants with unique soft skills are in high demand. New research reveals that while communication and problem-solving are critical, a "strong work ethic" tops the list of desired traits but is also the hardest to find.

Key Takeaways

  • Demand for Soft Skills: Despite technological advancements, human skills like communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving remain highly sought after.

  • Top Priority Skill: A "strong work ethic" is the most prioritized skill for small and mid-size businesses and ranks second for large businesses.

  • Hard to Find: Employers across all business sizes agree that a strong work ethic is the most challenging skill to find in new hires.

  • Generational Differences: There is a perception among some business leaders that Gen Z employees lack a strong work ethic, affecting their hiring decisions.

  • Other Sought-After Skills: Employers also find it difficult to find candidates who are self-starters, possess critical thinking skills, manage time effectively, solve problems, are flexible/adaptable, and have industry-specific knowledge.

Why This Matters: Understanding the importance of a strong work ethic and other soft skills can give job seekers a competitive edge in the evolving job market. For Notable readers, especially those looking to enhance their employability, focusing on developing and showcasing these in-demand traits can significantly improve job prospects. The emphasis on soft skills highlights the irreplaceable value of human qualities in the workplace, even as technology continues to advance.


'I Could Never Go Back to Corporate': How Kirstie Wang Turned Her Side Hustle Into a Six-Figure Business

Kirstie Wang, the owner of A Jar of Pickles, transformed her creative side hustle into a successful six-figure business, leaving her Silicon Valley tech job behind. In this Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A, she shares her journey and the lessons learned along the way.

Key Takeaways

  • Starting the Side Hustle: Kirstie began A Jar of Pickles in college, driven by her passion for graphic design. What started as a hobby on Etsy quickly grew as she balanced it with full-time jobs in design and marketing.

  • First Steps to Success: Early marketing efforts focused on in-person craft fairs, eventually shifting to online strategies, particularly Instagram, which played a crucial role in building a loyal customer base.

  • Overcoming Challenges: Managing multiple roles was overwhelming, but Kirstie developed workflows and processes to improve efficiency, allowing her to maintain a balance between her business and personal life.

  • Consistent Revenue Growth: The business saw incremental growth, eventually reaching six-figure annual revenue. Setting small, achievable goals was key to this success.

  • Full-Time Leap: After eight years, Kirstie took her side hustle full-time, choosing the flexibility and growth potential of her business over her corporate career.

  • Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Kirstie emphasizes the importance of completing current projects before moving on to new ideas and balancing work on existing goals with exploring new opportunities.

Why This Matters: Kirstie Wang’s story is a testament to the potential of turning a passion project into a thriving business. For Notable readers, especially those contemplating a side hustle, her journey highlights the importance of patience, incremental growth, and strategic goal-setting. This example illustrates how dedication and smart planning can lead to substantial success, offering inspiration and practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

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 🌐 AROUND THE INTERWEBS  

Taylor Swift said her record-breaking Eras Tour will end in December, appearing to confirm the tour’s conclusion for the first time Thursday night onstage in Liverpool, England.

See the post below.

Taylor Swift performs on stage at the Paris La Defense Arena as part of her The Eras Tour, in Nanterre, northwestern France, on May 9, 2024. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

Give me one margarita… or more.

Sip on some margaritas this weekend at El Catrin where they are serving up delicious Mexican food and margarita flights!

See the video below.
@natdoumkos

Taco + margaritas = perfect toronto afternoon 🍹☀️ #toronto #torontofood #torontoeats #torontofoodie #torontotok #torontotiktok #torontolif... See more

🔦 NOTABLE SPOTLIGHT 🔦

Lavender Wild has always been about the connection of our communities and creating inclusive spaces for us to enjoy music together. After careful consideration, we will be bringing a fresh take on the event with a special lavender wild presents night at HISTORY in Toronto on Saturday, August 24th. Get ready for the hottest queer dance party of the summer filled with artists, DJs, drag performances & more!!

Presale: Thursday, June 20th @ 10am ET PW: CHORD
On Sale: Friday, June 21st @ 10am ET
Tickets: Starting at $45 + fees

🔌  NOTABLE PLUG

🎙️ Get Into It: Lateral podcast. Comedy panel game about weird questions with wonderful answers. Each week, Tom Scott is joined by three guests to ask each other questions with a sideways twist. There's no points or prizes - just reputation and bragging rights on the line. Listen on Apple or Spotify.

📄 Notable Hires: Project Manager, Office of the Chief Clinical Executives @ Ontario Health (full-time, Toronto)

🎓 Hope This Helps: Echobase. Easily Integrate AI into your business. Echobase is how teams query, create, and analyze from their files.

🌍 Notable Destinations: Toronto to Cape Verde ($1069 - $1400) Dates: July 6 - July 13. Click on this link to see the deal.

🧠 Today We Learned: Isidor Straus, co-owner of Macy's, and his wife Ida died on the Titanic after refusing a lifeboat to prioritize women and children.

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Notable Life is Canada for young professionals, entrepreneurs, and culture generators operated by The Notable Group. Notable Daily inspires ideas and sharpens the minds of over 40,000 top-tier professionals in competitive industries.

Disclosure: While we utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with certain aspects of content development, all information provided in our content is thoroughly vetted and edited by our team of humans. We strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of all information. However, we recommend that readers conduct research or seek professional advice to make informed decisions. This email may contain sponsored content.