Looking for the top 10 soft skills employers love? Look no further! Today we’ll talk about 10 soft skills that employers love to see in candidates they’re looking to hire.
We will explain each soft skill and tell you WHY employers love them in today’s post. 💗
What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are defined as “traits that employees exhibit as part of their character that could assist them and others in their career and day-to-day work,” according to Dictionary.com. They are also known as “interpersonal skills.” Examples of soft skills can include flexibility, emotional intelligence, and leadership soft skills.
Another way to understand soft skills is to think of them as the opposite of “hard skills.” Hard skills are “skills you learn through training and that are measurable,” also according to Dictionary.com.
Why are soft skills important?
Certain soft skills are vital to successful teamwork. If we don’t have soft skills, communicating and working together effectively would be extremely challenging, if not impossible.
Soft skills + hard skills = the perfect combo.
Top 10 Soft Skills Employers Love
10 – Professionalism
Definition: Demonstrating integrity, ethical behavior, reliability, and maintaining a positive attitude in daily interactions with those inside and outside your organization
Employers love… professional candidates. The ability to act with respect and carry yourself in a positive manner is something employers love. Having a positive outlook at work is a great way to stay motivated and add to a positive company culture.
Examples of professionalism:
- Remaining calm and respectful during an escalated customer service call
- Wearing appropriate attire for your work environment
9 – Active Listening
Definition: Listening with 100% of your attention on the speaker, understanding their message, and responding/reflecting on what was said
Employers love… when a candidate has the ability to stay present and focus on whatever event, conversation, meeting, call, or feedback they’re a part of.
Examples of active listening:
- Maintaining eye contact during a company meeting and asking clarifying questions
- Paraphrasing a client’s concerns on a phone call and offering solutions based on their needs
8 – Work Ethic
Definition: the values and principles that guide your mindset towards work, acting as your compass each day
Employers love… a strong work ethic. If you are reliable and can independently stay on-task throughout the day, employers will trust you. Trust is vital for success.
Examples of work ethic:
- Taking ownership of the daily tasks you need to complete
- Continuously striving to work hard and do your best each day
7 – Critical Thinking
Definition: objectively analyzing and evaluating information as it comes your way to form a reasoned judgement
Employers love… when they interview a candidate who can think critically. People who can intake information, consider the context, and form a sound judgement show promise. Great ideas come from independent thinkers.
Examples of critical thinking:
- Receiving news and thinking critically before assuming it is true
- Assessing unexpected setbacks that can come along in a project
6 – Time Management
Definition: managing your time effectively to complete prioritized tasks and understanding how/when to complete your workload
Employers love… when staff are on-time to meetings, can manage their schedule, and prioritize tasks based on importance.
Examples of time management:
- Understanding and sticking to your daily schedule
- Starting and stopping meetings at the designated times
5 – Collaboration
Definition: working together with others to utilize strengths and contribute positively to group efforts
Employers love… candidates that work well with others. Respect and valuing different viewpoints are key to effective teamwork.
Examples of collaboration:
- Colleagues from different departments collaborating on a project
- Valuing different perspectives while problem-solving during a monthly meeting
4 – Reflection/Self-Awareness
Definition: the conscious understanding of your thoughts/behaviors and the ability to reflect on actions and improve moving forward
Employers love… working with people that reflect on their mistakes and strive to improve. We all make mistakes, but it’s how we learn from them that matters.
Examples of reflection/self-awareness:
- Openly accepting feedback in your performance review and applying it to your future work activity
- Identifying an area you can grow in and creating a plan to meet your goal
3 – Emotional Regulation
Definition: ability to manage one’s emotions under any circumstance
Employers love… when candidates express emotional regulation. Control over one’s emotions lends itself well to the professional world. Having a job is hard work. As human, we experience a range of emotions. Exercising control in a healthy way is a highly sought-after skill to have.
Examples of emotional regulation:
- Remaining clear and calm while delivering difficult news to an upset employee
- Ability to manage stress while working in a high-intensity workplace
2 – Problem Solving
Definition: the act of finding solutions to challenges or obstacles to reach a desired outcome
Employers love… to see strong problem-solving skills. Hiring managers look for candidates who can independently tackle challenges and find innovative solutions. This saves time, money, and leads to increased efficiency and productivity in the workplace.
Examples of problem solving:
- Analyzing sales data to prevent shortages and reduce excess inventory costs
- Identifying conflict on your team and facilitating communication to find a solution
1 – Communication
Definition: effectively conveying and exchanging information, ideas, or thoughts between individuals or groups
Employers love… candidates who communicate effectively, frequently and in ways that work for everyone. Communication is everything in the workplace, especially now with more ways to connect than ever before.
Examples of communication:
- Delivering news in a clear, direct, and timely manner
- Sending teammates frequent status updates to keep everyone on the same page
In Conclusion…
Soft Skills make the world go round. Without communication or problem solving, working with others would be virtually impossible. Recognize the soft skills you have and focus on them during your next interview. If there are soft skills you’d like to have, start working towards those as well. You can always improve your communication skills or utilize tools to improve your time management. It’s never too late to learn something new!
Haven’t had a smooth job search? Currently hiring and need a helping hand?
Reach out to Chief of Staff KC with any questions you may have, and we’ll pair you with a dedicated recruiter that is motivated to find the right fit for you. Let’s get started.