There are a variety of different things that employers look for when they are hiring new talent. One of them, which often goes overlooked by candidates, is soft skills. Although not known by many, soft skills have a chance to make or break your chance to move on in the job process.
Soft skills are qualities that are important for a well-rounded employee, and it’s important that you highlight them early and often throughout the hiring process. Whether it be conveying them through your resume or showcasing them in an interview, showing a company that you’re capable of more than just “data analytics” or “project management” is extremely important.
Soft skills can be a variety of things; and it’s important that you highlight the right ones that are necessary for the specific job you’re applying for. However, these five soft skills are universal and will definitely help you differentiate yourself from the other candidates no matter what the position is.
1.Leadership
Leadership is one of those soft skills that is easier to include in a resume than in an interview. In fact, many resumes feature a “Leadership” section specifically for highlighting this soft skill. Including leadership skills on your resume will show the company what you’re capable of and will allow you to easily elaborate on in your interview.
Leadership is something that every employer is looking for out of its employees. It’s a necessary skill for collaboration and it also shows the employer that the candidate has accountability. Being a leader means taking responsibility for your actions, and admitting when you have done wrong. When you share your great leadership skills, your interviewer will be able to see what kind of character you have and how you’ll fit in on a team.
2.Respect
Respect is a soft skill that is almost specifically designed for the interview. Now, there are some ways to show respect in a resume, but for the most part you want your respect to shine in the interview. Be polite, say please and thank you, and always make sure you talk in a tone of voice that conveys the respect you have for your interviewer.
If you show respect to those around you during (and before) your interview, you’ll definitely stand out to the company. Managers want respectful employees, and showing you’re respectful in an interview will go a long way.
3.Enthusiasm
Employers love enthusiasm, especially in the hiring process. No company wants to hire someone who isn’t excited about the position, so this one is crucial. This is easy to do during the interview as well as after the interview. All you have to do is show your passion for what you’re applying for. Enthusiasm isn’t anything extra you have to do – it should just come naturally, which makes it easy to convey.
By showing you have enthusiasm, you’re showing the company that you’re all in. You’re showing them that you’re ready to give it 110%. This can be conveyed in a variety of ways, but the easiest way is by saying it. Whether it’s at the end of the interview or in the thank you that you send after, let the company know that you’re excited about the future with them, and it’ll pay off in the end.
4.Confidence
As Willy Wonka said it best, “Well you do seem confident and confidence is key.” The last three words of that quote could not be more true. No matter what you do in life, it is important to be confident in your ability to complete any task. This can be conveyed through resume bullets, as well as in an interview.
When you show a future employer that you have confidence, you show them that you are fully competent for the job you have to complete. They will trust you to out your all into something if you are confident in your ability to perform. If you’re confident in yourself, then that makes it easier for a company to have confidence in you.
5.Work Ethic
This is your meat and potatoes right here, your catch-all. The best part about this one is that you can convey it in your resume AND in any interview setting. When writing bullets for past jobs, talk about how hard you worked and prove it with numbers. When asked about past projects, talked about how much you focused to get the job done. Because this is so important, highlight at every opportunity possible.
Your work ethic can go a very long way for you. After all, you would be getting hired for a job in which you will have to work. If you can explain your past work ethic and how those experiences will help you in the future, then any interviewer will know you are capable of doing what is listed on the job description (and more!)s
