Hard skills can be trained while soft skills are harder to teach and takes time to fully develop. Soft skills are the elements that build up and strengthen relationships in the workplace.It reflects how people conduct their tasks and behave in the workplace environment. Soft skills usually include personal qualities, attitude and behaviour of an employee when they are at work.
In therecruitingprocess, modernemployerstend to look for candidates that possess strongsoft skillsratherthantechnical skills that candidates have learned from school. Soft skills can vary depends on the nature oftheprofession. For example, positions such as Customer Service, Human Resources or Marketing requires better efficiency insoft skillsin order to perform their taskssuccessfully. Therefore, more and more organisations have begun to hire for soft skills and train for technical skills later on.
Read more: Should Organisations Invest in a Leadership Development Plan in 2018?
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Top 5 softskillsfor young professionals
1. Communication
Communication is one of the most important skillsina professionalworkplaceas it is the factor to connect people and exchange information. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and even slow down the workflow, preventing the success of completing given tasks.
In your interactions, both in-person and online, you want to be clear, kind and professional. When speaking, be sure to make eye contact, speak up and use body language that conveys confidence.Thisisthe mostcrucialskill sinceitrevealshow peoplewillperceive youas a professional.Effective communication helps buildrelationships with colleagues and results in better understanding, resolvesconflicts,inspiresinnovationand eventuallyboostthe team’sperformance.
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2. Attention to details
Recruiters have to look at hundreds ofrésuméevery day, so if you have a typoinyourprofile, it may mean that you’ve just disqualified yourself. Show that you are detail oriented from the beginning will increase your chance of getting hired.
Get into the habit of slowing down to notice more details in the long run.It is crucial to remember to double-check all of your work, including reports, meeting notes and even emailsbefore submitting them. A detailed staff is a trusted, valuable staff who gets their hands on important and decisive taskswithin the organisation.
Read more:Don’t let the fear of being wrong holding you back
3. Interpersonal skillsand collaboration
A successful project rarely depends on one person’seffort –it is the mutual work of the whole team toward a common goal.In today’s workforce, much of the work is often donein teamsbut there is also a need for employees to work independently in order to get the daily work accomplished. Everyone has different talents and responsibilities,being able to collaborate well with your co-workerswillresult in the most quality outcome.
4. Problem–solving
Problem–solvingskillsprove employee’s abilityto work independently and think critically to findthe most suitablesolutionsfor specificissues.Problem–solvingis shown by how you prioritise and plan to finish a project in the most effective waywithinthe shortest timepossible.
Being able to think on your feet makesyoustand out from others.Critical thinking and problem solving are all about using logic, rather than emotion, to identify, understand, analyseand finally work to solve the issue. Cultivatingproblem–solvingskill will also help you to prepare and equip yourself with leading skills to becomeasuccessfulleaderin the future.
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5. Adaptability
The way companies operate nowadays isn’t the same as before andisnot going to stay the same in the future either. Companiesdependon their employee’s ability to adapt to changes and keep the organisationatthe forefront of the business trend, thus achieving great success.
When a projectiscarried out, things can go different ways from your plan, and it depends on your skill and flexibility to adapt and pivot around the changes. An individual with a high level of adaptability will be able to fit themselvesintothe ever-changing landscape of a business. He or she will be able to work efficiently both independently and in a team environment, will think strategically, and will be able to accept criticism and improve upon faults or mistakes. The person will possess innovative ideas, but will also have the ability to execute.
Read more: [Infographic] 10 most valuable technical skills
Employers are always looking for people who can show initiative and solve problems on their own, without complaining or burdening the boss. Instead, pause, think methodically, research possible solutions, and take action.
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Fill the “skill gap”to prepare for the professionalenvironment
There are many ways to develop your soft skills early atthe starting point of your career.Knowing what organisations look for in a candidate and cultivate your skill set to meet the requirementswill differentiate yourself and increaseyour chances of getting hired or promoted.
Read more: Blurring Your Employee’s Skill Gaps and Unlock Their Potential
Demonstrate your soft skill set through your internship, school activities or previous jobsthatshow youreagerness to learn and develop constantly. During the screening process, the recruiters will look through your résuméto check for details that reflect your soft skills. Possessing strong soft skills enable you to work well with others, communicate clearly and solve problems effectively. And while hard skills will get you the job, soft skills will help you truly shine through your work.
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