What do our specialist Recruitment Consultants and clients look for most in candidates when it comes to soft skills?
Our team has a comprehensive understanding of the hiring landscape, client preferences, and candidate evaluation. Through our experience, client interactions, and access to industry insights, we are positioned to identify and validate the soft skills that employers prioritise when selecting candidates.
According to LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends report, approximately 92% of employers in 2023 believe that soft skills matter just as much, if not more, than technical skillset. So, whether you’re currently building your resume with limited experience, or switching careers/jobs, ensure your top soft skills are not only highlighted in your written profile but more importantly, that they are reflected in how you present during interviews.
Communication
A fundamental skill for working in any successful team as it helps people to converse, set expectations, listen, and collaborate clearly and effectively.
Teamwork
Hand-in-hand with communication, teamwork ensures collaboration and that all parties share the workload – diversity of skills in a group or collaborative setting can also improve project outcomes.
Proactivity
An ability and willingness to initiate behaviour or produce circumstances that address issues before they arise – doing this consistently demonstrates drive and motivation.
Problem-solving
Helps you to identify the root of a problem, analyse potential solutions and decide what the best course of action is – employers will look for this in any job in any field.
Flexibility and adaptability
Being able to adjust easily to changing circumstances is a critical skill. This type of person can keep up with moving priorities, projects, and technology within their workplace.
Time management
Practising this skill ensures increased productivity, the production of high-quality work, improved workplace confidence, and on-time delivery of tasks
Soft skills can be developed and improved with practice and understanding and it is important to note that the specific soft skills prioritised may vary depending on the role, industry, and organisational culture.
Many employers throughout a person’s work lifecycle will assess soft skills in the hiring process, and therefore it’s crucial to demonstrate these when meeting and networking with new employers or employees.
In an interview scenario, our team recommends relating each of the above traits to a specific example where possible, to demonstrate capability and exposure.