Soft skills are not as easily measured or quantified, but they still important to employers as you are job hunting. They include qualities like motivation, flexibility and respect for authority. Because the list of soft skills can be extensive, you may wonder which ones to focus on and have examples ready to go for interviews. Here are five you can concentrate on.
Communication. Communication is at the core of success. Without the ability to speak well and have good relationships, you won’t get very far in negotiation or trying to lead other people. Fortunately, you can demonstrate your ability to communicate fairly easily during the hiring process. Making sure your resume is clear and concise is one way. Following up with thank you notes or emails is another. And during the interview itself, make eye contact and have specific stories ready to tell to support your answers.
Growth Mindset. A grown mindset simply means you see the possibility to grow in adversity. To have more of a fixed mindset means you are defeated easily. For example, let’s say you’re a salesperson, and you give up the first time you hear the word “no” from a potential client. You want to quit as you think you’re no good at sales. This is a fixed mindset. Having a growth mindset means looking at the situation differently and considering how you can use different tactics the next time to close the deal.
Emotional Intelligence. Qualities like empathy and understanding are involved in emotional intelligence. Empathy shows people that you have respect for them, and there is little more important than people believing you respect them, at work or otherwise. You could simply show this quality during an interview by picking up on something your interviewer says about having a tough morning and showing concern. Look for ways like this throughout the interview to showcase this soft skill.
Adaptability. Let’s face it, the only thing that is consistent is change. If you’re the type of person that is resistant to change, this may be a negative to an employers. Again, there are simple ways you can show this during an interview process. For example, if your interviewer wants to alter the time of your appointment, be accommodating and flexible in rescheduling and then don’t mention being inconvenienced when the interview takes place. Other than simple examples like this, have other stories ready to tell where you were flexible on the job.
Time Management. Being able to manage your time well is another quality sought out by employers. If you don’t know how to schedule your day to complete your work on time, you won’t be of much use for a company. One easy way you can demonstrate strong time management qualities is be early for your interview and show that you took the time to be properly prepared. Look for these small but significant ways you can demonstrate soft skills all throughout the interview process.
What Soft Skills are Employers Looking For