Are you a team player? Are you a flexible person? These are the soft skills employers look for when narrowing down candidates to hire. In today’s market- having both hard and soft skills plays a very important role in getting hired for the positions you want. Hard skills are usually abilities that can be specifically defined and measured. An example of a hard skill would be knowledge of Microsoft Excel or a specific program. Soft skills revolve more around personality and the ability to work with others. Some of the more specific soft skills that employers look for are flexibility, teamwork, ability to communicate, creativity, problem solving, confidence, and accepting feedback. Why these skills are so important is the fact that they are harder to acquire.
These skills may be more difficult to develop but not impossible. Here are a few pointers on how to sharpen your soft skills:
Be aware of what your body language says about you. Are you appearing negative or closed off? Eye contact and smiling will go a long way in making managers and coworkers feel welcome when speaking to you. A confident attitude and friendly persona can make anyone feel at ease. Try and avoid negative body language such as sighing, crossing your arms, poor posture, and frowning. These small but powerful gestures can be what makes or breaks you during an interview or in the work place.
Time management and multi-tasking are also very valuable to employers. They want to know that you’re using your time in the best way possible and exhibiting good work ethic. Staying on task while at work and taking time to plan your day out are great ways to show your boss that.
Teamwork and the ability to work and communicate well with others is another important soft skill. Managers want to know that you can accomplish goals with other coworkers. A way to improve on this is to have an open mind when it comes to the people on your team. Try to keep communication open to everyone involved and have a flexible outlook on different ideas and opinions. Also, clearly outlining responsibilities is a sure way to keep the team running smoothly and ensuring everyone is aware of their part in the project.
One of the most important soft skills we hear employers refer to is accepting criticism and learning from previous mistakes. It’s one of the most difficult skills to add to your repertoire but also the most rewarding. Being criticized is never fun, but handling yourself with grace will show your employer that you understand they have good intentions and only want to see you thrive as an employee. When receiving feedback on your performance, listen carefully. Your manager may just be giving you the keys to success! With every failure or mistake is the opportunity to grow as a better employee and as a better individual.
These are just a few examples on how to improve your soft skills. Being confident, adaptable, and goal oriented will make you a unique and desired employee in any job market.