By Nirmit Parikh
Ever since the job market turned more competitive in the past decade, both employees and employers have faced diverse hurdles. On the one hand, aspiring candidates seek openings that could facilitate greater career progression. On the other hand, employers want more than just technical or hard skills. Instead, they wish to hire people who also possess soft skills that can set them apart from the average candidate. Jobseekers also need to be more aligned with the prospective employer’s company culture.
Decoding Soft Skills
In such a scenario, candidates must research a company’s background thoroughly before going for an interview. Prior research would help them understand the organisational values, vision and past achievements. As a result, candidates as well as the hiring firm will be well placed to ensure relatively better interview outcomes.
As stated earlier, soft skills are considered extremely important nowadays. To elaborate, soft skills are interpersonal, non-cognitive yet essential elements. These include communication skills, teamwork and leadership attributes that enable candidates to collaborate and work successfully within a group. In turn, these qualities help employees solve problems by communicating effectively and adapting to changing situations.
Unlike hard skills that are tangible, measurable and can be acquired via formal training, soft skills are intangible and may be fostered through experiential learning and continuous personal development. Conversely, while hard skills can be industry-centric, soft skills are valued across all industries, setting them apart from tangible skills.
Nonetheless, note that specific soft skills can be segregated selectively. For instance, while a person possessing strong communication skills will work extremely efficiently in a team, those with robust problem-solving abilities would be better placed in managing unforeseen situations. Therefore, it is imperative to know what interpersonal skills can be best cultivated in select silos to extract optimal performance and professional outcomes from candidates.
Sought-after Skills
Consequently, it is necessary to identify specific soft skills sought after by employers. Here are some popular soft skills that potential employees should know about and cultivate:
Effective communication and interpersonal skills: Good interpersonal and communication skills can be valuable in any industry. Clear, concise communication helps candidates articulate their thoughts coherently and convey them effectively. Effective communication apart, HR managers seek those who are patient listeners because this allows them to gain crucial feedback and work accordingly. Patient listeners can also interact with others politely and empathetically, whether in person, on the phone or through email. Such candidates can be particularly successful in the service industry and customer care roles. Joining communication and grooming classes could assist in developing these traits.
Problem-solving and critical thinking: People who can evaluate complex situations speedily, draw the appropriate conclusions and propose suitable solutions are most favoured by companies. Critical thinking is also useful when dealing with large amounts of data and then drawing the right conclusion. Problem-solving skills can be enhanced by working in diverse scenarios, taking part in brainstorming sessions and practising logical reasoning.
Teamwork and collaboration: Candidates capable of putting their best foot forward while working solo as well as within teams are most valued by employers. Collaborating smoothly with other team members and accomplishing collective goals harmoniously could provide better results on team projects. Teamwork and collaboration skills can be developed by taking part in group projects, seeking the opinion of other team members and valuing others’ contributions.
Flexibility and adaptability: In the dynamic digital era, flexibility and adaptability to the evolving work environment are vital. Companies prize professionals who can navigate challenging circumstances and continue thriving even when using new tools and technologies. To cultivate the twin qualities, people should step out of their comfort zone regularly by voluntarily accepting tough assignments that can trigger continuous learning and greater growth.
Leadership and assertiveness: Although all functions may not require leadership qualities, employers still want to make sure the people they hire have these capabilities and can work without breaking down under pressure. Assertive individuals have a natural inclination towards leadership and are capable of managing difficult situations more proactively. Leadership qualities and a proactive mindset can help in driving more productive outcomes and higher organisational growth. Leadership skills may be imbibed by handling projects and seeking mentoring opportunities to guide newcomers and junior team members.
Accountability and ownership: Not all projects turn out successfully. However, even unsuccessful ones may lead to tremendous learning experiences that benefit all team members. In such situations, the person leading the project must accept accountability and take ownership of this failure. Such a practical, fearless attitude is the hallmark of a true leader. Candidates who own up to their drawbacks during an interview without making excuses end up highlighting the leadership streak. While such an honest attitude is largely an intrinsic personality trait, this could also be cultivated by imbibing and understanding the importance of assuming full ownership and accountability.
Deadlines and time management: Respecting the sanctity of deadlines via efficient time management is a key soft skill that can be a game-changer in service industries as well as other domains. Adhering to deadlines despite varied constraints while producing quality work is possible through effective time management. Employees who master time management could advance much faster in their careers while also building a reputation for discipline, resilience and professionalism.
Those who tick all the above boxes will then be on the fast track to higher career progression in diverse domains.
The author is founder and CEO of apna.co. Views are personal.