Depending on the organization or business, employers are seeking essential skills and experience for each job. But even though these skills are extremely important, there are specific “soft skills” that employers also look for when hiring people for their organization.
Soft skills relate to a set of personal skills that individuals possess, which makes them good employees no matter where they work or what they do. When we think of soft skills, we are thinking of personal qualities, attitudes, verbal and nonverbal behavior, and personal habits that make an individual pleasant to work with, and a valuable member of any team.
Individuals with impeccable manners and an ability to be understanding, fair and compassionate are the type of people most of us would like to work with. It is also someone who possesses a strong work ethic and will do what it takes to get the work done, that organizations like to hire and employees want to welcome as a new member of their team.
1. A Positive Attitude
A positive attitude can do wonders in turning a department or company around. Having employees who possess a positive attitude can also be contagious; and for employers, it’s important for them to seek that kind of energy since it only takes a few negative people to bring down a department or even the organization as a whole.
2. A Strong Work Ethic
Hiring people that possess a strong work ethic is key to the success of any employer. First off, a strong work ethic cannot be taught. When individuals begin working in a new organization, they either have it, or they don’t. Many contributing factors go into making a strong work ethic like how a person grows up to the value they place on doing an excellent job. These innate attributes are totally out of the control of an employer no matter what type of training they provide or the type of supervision an employee gets.
3. Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills
The ability to be a good communicator cannot be overrated. To succeed in the workforce, employees need to know how to communicate as well as listen to work effectively with supervisors, co-workers, and clients.
4. Problem-Solving Skills
Since problems are inevitable, employees who can find solutions to daily challenges that arise are most valuable to an organization. Employees who are unable to find a solution to a specific problem but are willing to seek out the advice of others also makes for a competent and trusted employee.
5. Time Management Skills
As a results-oriented employee, good time management skills are key to getting assignments accomplished and finishing them on time. Employers benefit from hiring employees with good time management skills because these employees know how to prioritize work that is time sensitive.
6. Flexibility
The way company’s do business in today’s competitive marketplace, is changing all the time. It is the ability to remain adaptable that helps an organization move forward and stay with the current times.
7. Work Well in a Team Environment
In the past employees would often seek jobs that aligned with their desire to either work independently or work in a team environment. In today’s workforce, much of the work is often done in teams; but there is also a need for employees to work independently to get the daily work accomplished.
8. Computer/Technological Skills
Almost all jobs today require basic computer skills and technological knowledge. Whether it be for record-keeping, spreadsheets, detailed notes, or presentations, employers will want to know a candidate’s level of computer and technological knowledge to establish if they can do the basics of any job.
9. Project Management Skills
Individuals going about the daily routine of their job will need to know how to prioritize and plan each activity to be able to get the best job done in the least amount of time.
10. Self-Confidence
Self-confident employees can detach themselves personally from any challenges that they experience on the job. Self-confidence gives employees a sense of strength as they pursue their personal goals as well as those of an organization.
11. Ability to Accept Constructive Criticism
There is always room for everyone to grow and learn and the employee that can take constructive criticism and use it to improve their performance will be seen as a valuable team member to any organization.
12. Strong Research Skills
With strong computer and technological skills being one of the top 12 soft skills employers seek, employees who can do the basic research and have the ability to gather important information for projects, and identify how and what competitors are doing to make themselves successful, is a sought-after skill that many organizations want.
