In today’s hiring climate, there will always be a candidate who is better educated with a more impressive work history and experience. On paper, they look like just the right person for the job. How do you position yourself to stand out?
The changing landscape of working from home, remotely, and in-office has created a new playbook for everyone. Hiring managers today are looking at soft skills as a deciding factor in whether or not to hire a candidate. The Oxford Dictionary defines soft skills as personal attributes enabling someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with others. Evaluating soft skills creates a new comparison that’s more important than ever. Employers know that the ability to promote a positive culture and build a cohesive team that communicates is critical.
Include soft skills as examples on your resume or in your hiring conversations. Be sure to highlight how you use communication skills, time management, negotiations, and working independently to affect your success. How has your flexibility and analytical thinking, even if you work from home, helped the team achieve its goals? Show how your attention to customer service kept a client who was waffling or brought in someone new because you went out of your way to be helpful.
Employers should think about the soft skills they deem important to a particular position and be sure to include them as part of the job description.
You can no longer assume that because you’ve had work experience, a new hiring manager will know what you bring to the table beyond a list of duties suited to your past employment. Make a list of your soft skills and get comfortable describing them.
