What skills do you need to get your dream job? As it turns out, knowledge and experience is not enough. Soft skills are becoming more and more important. Not only in marketing or PR agencies, but also in companies looking for programmers and IT specialists.
Hard skills are mostly measurable abilities. That is why employer pay attention to specialist knowledge, foreign and programming language skills or knowledge of some specific software. Soft skills are more linked to your personality, i.a. the ability to develop relations, communication skills or emotional intelligence. Practicing these skills requires a long, thorough work on oneself. But it pays off. As it turns out, training in soft skills is increasingly becoming a priority for HR specialists, team leaders and managers.
According to data from LinkedIn, 57% of senior leaders believe soft skills are more important than hard skills.
Currently, people responsible for human resources in companies recruit on a market which is candidate-driven. Many employers must face the challenge of hiring a qualified industry specialist who would meet their expectations and easily fit in the organisation. The best candidates realise how important continuous development is – both for hard and soft skills. In order to get their dream job and develop their career, they need to prove to the potential employer that they are worth investing in. They are aware that the modern labour market is mostly based on the partnership and mutual satisfaction of the employer and the employee – said Joanna Zajchowska, Recruitment Manager at Devire.
We chose TOP 5 soft skills of the greatest importance on the labour market today:
- Creativity – thinking outside the box, creative approach to solving problems and developing new solutions is of essence nowadays;
- Persuasion – a revolutionary idea, good strategy or best solution is only the beginning – you should also be able to persuade your client or team. An employee should be a trusted “guide” who directs others towards the right action;
- Cooperation – team work only seems easy on the surface. A perfect team member should be able to cooperate efficiently with others, despite the different characters and personalities;
- Adaptation – companies expect their employees to be ready to step out of their comfort zone, cope with changes in the company and the industry, respond to these changes, and see new development opportunities;
- Time management – employers search for people who are consistent, able to plan their work and systematically fulfil their tasks to achieve the objectives set as soon as possible.
How to develop your soft skills?
First of all, you should work on yourself and develop your ability to build strong relations with others. This is a very challenging task, one that requires a lot of self-discipline and involvement. Participating in courses and trainings is a good idea. A certified coach can assess the level of your personal and interpersonal skills and give some valuable advice.
How you present your competences in your CV is also very important. It is worth focusing on the employer’s needs indicated in the job offer. Remember to always be honest. At a job interview, the recruiter may ask you to give evidence of your skills by discussing examples of situations in which these were of use.
If you need any help, a Devire consultant will help you create an interesting resume that will highlight your strengths. Check our job offers and send your CV!
