In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the way companies and recruitment agencies search for talents. From a focus on hard or technical skills, the emphasis is now on soft skills. These skills of the future demonstrate a candidate’s work ethic and overall character, playing a significant factor in how well of a fit they are for the company’s culture and goals.
With 67% of hiring managers opting to select candidates with strong, soft skills despite weakness in hard skills, it has become crucial for HR professionals to identify candidates with the right balance of technical knowledge and soft skills to help them achieve success in the workplace, and by extension, foster company growth.
The infographic below discusses the top eight skills recruiters should look for: critical thinking, emotional intelligence, technical know-how, good communication, teamwork, leadership, negotiation and persuasion, and creativity.
Problem-solving is a common challenge in the workplace, regardless of rank or position. Critical thinking and creativity are valuable skills for candidates to have as it demonstrates their ability to analyze any problem, come up with the right solutions, and implement these solutions effectively.
Good solutions also require candidates to look beyond what is typically done and offer something out-of-the-box, unorthodox, or innovative.
For start-ups that promote team productivity, excellent communication and teamwork become vital for creating harmony within the team. Candidates with these skills can listen to multiple viewpoints and effectively share their message while efficiently collaborating with others who may have differing views.
Successfully closing projects is dependent on how well members can communicate, delegate tasks, and take on responsibilities, all while building positive working relationships with one another.
Meanwhile, negotiation and persuasion, and leadership are necessary for any role, not just for executive or managerial positions. Leadership represents a candidate’s ability to take the initiative and manage tasks. In addition, negotiation and persuasion involve the ability to confidently and compellingly present ideas and expertly navigate possible disagreements to reach a compromise.
At their cores, these skills are helpful not just for the candidate’s ability to perform their designated roles, but also their capability to survive and thrive in the workplace.
