Soft skills are usually not the first thing we think of when determining what makes us an appealing job candidate. However, they should be taken just as seriously as hard skills because they are just as important. When making a list of your hard skills, you should also think about your soft skills and how they can benefit you in your future position. Here are 5 of the most important soft skills employers are looking for now and will continue to look for in the years to come.
Being flexible:
Flexibility is such an important skill for today’s employers; they increasingly value employees who are flexible with their work schedule and can be depended on. Companies like to know that they have employees they can count on in case they need them to stay late or come in early one morning to finish a last minute project. Not everyone can adapt to last minute schedule changes, so if you can it’s a definite advantage.
Networking skills:
Regardless of your industry, networking with your fellow professionals is an important aspect of the job world. Being outgoing, professional and friendly is what will help you network and perfect your networking skills. As such, make an effort to attend networking events on a regular basis. Not only will this help your professional career development, but it will improve your communication skills and make you more valuable to employers.
Finding Solutions:
Employers look for people who bring solutions to the table when problems arise. Knowing how to find solutions, how to present solutions, and when to do so is critical to success in any job.
Learning different roles:
Gone are the days where each employee had one job and one job only. In today’s job market the more you are willing to learn about different positions and departments at a company, the easier will it be for you to find a job. Employers prefer candidate who are eager learners and not afraid to step out of the box to learn a new skill. This way, employees can share workloads and cover for each other during leaves and vacation times. The more you learn about the company and its functions, the more invaluable you will be to them.
Working in a team:
Teamwork is an important part of any job and lacking this skill is sure to hinder your job search. You may not always agree or get along with your coworkers, but learning how to work together and aim to reach a common goal is very important. Most companies undertake large project or tasks, which require employees to work in a team, so be prepared to encounter such assignments and keep a professional and respectful atmosphere at work.
Talk to your employment coordinator today to learn more about soft skills and how your coursework and studies help to develop your soft skill set.
