A New Look at Soft Skills

Soft Skills

In today’s competitive job market, having experience and an education speaks volumes to potential employers. Yet, that won’t necessarily land you the job. For some, the term soft skills bring to mind the general adaptability and office etiquette organizations require. But, what if that was merely scratching the surface of where you should be as a professional?

Here are some of the top Soft Skills employers are looking for:

Positivity: Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a hot word amongst today’s leading professionals. A perfect example of high EQ is how we react to setbacks and criticism. Significant differences remain between the ability to do the job right and getting the job done right with a smile on your face. Our ability to convey optimism and control emotions professionally, even in the most stressful of situations, can be the defining factor in being considered for a position. For more on EQ Soft Skills check out this article 9 Soft Skills Every Employee Will Need In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Reliability:  Founded on work ethic; reliability represents the level of trust an employer can put in an employee. A large portion of fulfilling this trust comes with integrity. This means meeting commitments and owning up to mistakes. No one enjoys an “excuse maker.”  

Delegation:  Even those working outside of a leadership or management role can benefit from putting delegation into action. Delegation requires prioritizing work obligations, using effective time management, and having the ability to trust either yourself or others to perform the task successfully.

Listening:  Whether it is in general conversation or the workplace, often, we find ourselves thinking about what to say next instead of listening. Being quick to respond can come across as arrogance or being irresponsible in your words. Employers are looking for those that listen with an intent to understand and process before responding. 

  Even when we feel confident in our current skill sets, it’s a great idea to reflect on the traits or areas we struggle with and look for ways to improve. As a professional, having a continual desire to improve upon our soft skills indicates to potential employers our level of dedication as an employee. 

For more information and an in-depth look at soft skills most employers seek out, check out this article by The Balance Careers.