If you are like so many other professionals throughout North America, you probably have found yourself with some extra time on your hands lately. As such, it is the perfect opportunity to beef up your resume and add some in-demand soft skills to your repertoire. Today we’re covering the five most in-demand soft skills in 2020 and how you can develop and nurture them during this time of growth.
Creativity
When all of this is over, you can almost be certain that employers will ask how you spent your free time during quarantine. Make sure you have a great answer! Get in touch with your creative side, whether or not it’s “professional” or not is up to you! Consider taking a course in Photoshop, or engineer a creative marble course with your kids. Expressing your creativity will tap into previously uncovered soft skills and widen your horizon.
Persuasion
You may already be working on this skill more than you think. Have you convinced yourself to resist the temptation of the “Are you still watching?” prompt on Netflix? Have you argued with your kid about finishing their online schoolwork? There you have it; you’re an expert in persuasion. Professionally, consider creating a plan for yourself and what you want out of your career during this time. That way, in the future, you’ll have a clear guide of your desired direction and the steps it will take to get there.
Collaboration
Believe it or not, isolation is a great time to work on your social skills. Take this opportunity to expand your virtual professional network. Post frequently on social media sites, follow companies you admire, and craft custom connection requests to leaders and peers in your industry. With stay at home orders in place throughout the world, people are craving connection and will be more willing to collaborate than ever before.
Adaptability
Of all the soft skills, adaptability is arguably the most important. And COVID-19 wielded unbelievable power in forcing the whole world to adapt at once. Almost every single person throughout the globe has been affected. Whether you were laid off, forced to work from home, or suddenly found yourself overhauling your day-to-day procedures to ensure the utmost safety, you most certainly showed adaptability during this time.
Emotional Intelligence
There has truly never been a better time to work on your emotional intelligence. Empathy is a necessary skill in today’s climate, so look around you for opportunities to act with compassion and respect. If you take a step back from almost any obstacle you witness or face, you’ll be able to better assess the big picture.
Soft skills are an important part of your resume and what you bring to the table as an employee. If you are lacking in any of these five areas, take this time filled with so much unknown as an opportunity for growth.
