Companies are generally looking for a wide variety of skills in their recruitment efforts. However, there are two sets of skills that are key to successful hiring of the best people. These include hard skills and soft skills.
The Difference between Hard and Soft Skills
Hard skills are easy to identify because they are evident in candidates’ work histories. They may include the ability to understand tough industry concepts, specialized training and certifications, the operation of work-related equipment, and knowledge of certain products and processes. Soft skills, often referred to as “people skills,”are harder to spot. They may include strong interpersonal communication, the ability to multitask, and the capability to think creatively to solve problems.
Top Soft Skills Hiring Companies Look For
As a job seeker, it’s important that you are doing a good job of developing and demonstrating the soft skills you have for potential employers. This can put you at the front of the pack when trying to attract the right recruiters. Here are the top soft skills that employers prefer:
- Relationship Building – A candidate who is able to become a part of the team and foster positive work relationships with colleagues is golden to recruiters. Find ways to focus on this and get recommendations from your peers that prove this.
- Adaptability at Work – Your ability to be flexible and adaptable in many situations on the job is what will help set you apart from other candidates. Include some achievements on your resume that show your adaptability at work.
- Strong Communication Skills – When you love people, you also love communicating. Work on your verbal and written communication skills, learn to be a better communicator in all aspects (customer service, conducting meetings, doing presentations, etc.) and be able to show this off during interviews.
- Problem Solving – You care about the work you do and therefore you are skilled at being able to work through any and all obstacles that may come up. Use your work experiences to develop this soft skill; have a few examples to talk about, and you will be snatched up by a great future employer.
- Professionalism and Maturity – Over time, employees learn corporate-level soft skills that include etiquette and tactfulness in certain business situations. Working with a mentor will help you develop these skills.
- Supertasking – The old term of multitasking has now been renamed as supertasking and it’s taken on new meaning in terms of soft skills. No longer are you expected to do several things at once, but be able to do a few things at the same time really really well.
- Lifelong Learning – Employers are paying attention to learning in the workplace, and they are looking for experts in their chosen occupations. Embrace learning as a regular part of your career growth, sharing this value during interviews and on your resume.
- Global Thinking – The business world is not just a small corner office in a local neighborhood anymore. It’s morphed into a worldwide organizational approach to everything from communications to culture. Be sure to demonstrate what you think on a world-scale.
When you learn to show off your hard and soft skills, your value as a job seeker goes up exponentially. Looking for additional career or job searching advice? We can help. As the leading recruiting firm in Langhorne, PA and beyond, we can help you to develop these preferred soft skills too. Contact us today to learn more!
