Why are Advanced Soft Skills NEEDED?

Let's jump right in. You are in the middle of a job search or seeking a career advancement and you feel confident with your knowledge level as it relates to your technical skills. Great start, but remember your competition also has all the professional skills the job requires, from the training to the industry knowledge and technical skills.

So what else is the recruiter looking for that will set you apart from your competition? It is your soft skills. Yes, what really helps job candidates to stand out from the rest are the soft skills employers desire and need from their new hires.?Since the pandemic, the new normal includes not only more remote work, but also an increased emphasis on productivity and collaboration. That means that key soft skills in the workplace are more important than ever, with some rising to the top of recruiters' wish lists this year and beyond.

What are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are an extension of you. They are personal skills - things you do that make you a great employee outside of the technical skills that are needed for the job. They may come naturally to you, or perhaps you've added some classes and training to your list to augment these abilities.

Top Soft Skills Employers Want to See

Here are just a few soft skills to consider and for you to rate yourself as to which skills you would like to move to the advanced level to improve your chances of being considered for your next career move.

- Creative problem-solving and innovation

With all the challenges our companies have had to face due to the pandemic and falling economy, employers are looking for contributors who can solve problems. They want to know that you can think logically and creatively to develop solutions to the problems or obstacles that arise from day to day.

Additionally, they are looking for you to come up with new ideas while addressing existing problems. And the more creative, the better; that kind of thinking leads to innovation and improvements within the organization.

- Communication skills?

This is a broad category and a very important skill to possess; it can include everything from how you converse with a client and colleagues to how well you get your point across in emails. The ability to communicate with clients and team members is essential. And, now that most communication is done through emails, chats, video, or phone conference calls, strong communication skills are more critical than ever.?Many companies have a global presence, and having proficient English skills is a must.

- A Growth Mindset?

When it comes to ensuring that your career has longevity you need to be able to grow and adapt to changes within your industry and the job market as a whole. With the increase in the mechanization of jobs and industries, having a growth mindset is essential.?

So, what is a growth mindset? Professionals with a growth mindset are motivated to reach higher levels of achievement by continuously learning new skills in order to move with a changing market. Essentially, it's being adaptable and willing to go above and beyond the soft and hard skills you already have.?Keep growing professionally and personally. Be a life-long learner.

- Collaboration

Collaborating with your co-workers isn't as easy as it seems. There are always those who believe that they know how to do the job and don't trust others to do their part - and that can create tension in the office and hurt overall efficiency.?

Learning to trust others, work together, and give and accept ideas is a difficult skill to master - but, if you can, you'll be well ahead of the competition. You must learn the skill of negotiating, where you balance- giving and receiving ideas. You will also set a good example for others to follow.

- Adaptability

Change is always a major part of the modern-day workplace. The lightning-fast advancement of technology has forced industries to evolve or perish in recent years. Those changes are sure to continue in the years to come, which is why adaptability is now one of the top skills employers are looking for in job candidates.

Think about all of the changes we've seen in recent years. Many offices went from 100% on-site work to hybrid or completely remote work during the pandemic. Video conferencing became an everyday occurrence while working and collaborating online is now considered routine. All of these things have required workers to adapt to new methods, new technology, and new ways of thinking.?

- Leadership

While creativity, communication skills, a growth mindset, and collaboration are all relevant skills that can make you a great employee, leadership skills will elevate you even further. Most employers and hiring managers are always looking for someone who is capable of growing beyond the role they are applying for.

Leadership skills are really a combination of all the other soft skills. When you put them together, you have a person who can not only work well with the team but also take the reins and make the rest of the team better.

Keep Sharpening your Soft Skills

Maintain and develop skills that are adding value to your team and company.

• Take additional classes
• Get another certification
• Pursue an advanced degree
• Lead a seminar or training

Commit to learning new skills that will improve your performance or help you to keep pace with industry changes.??View your career as an investment in yourself and your company. Keep growing into a leader with advanced soft skills and technical skills that would make any company jump at the chance to have you join their team.

If you are seeking to improve your soft skills feel free to contact our team at?www.bizeempower.org?or?DM?me on?LinkedIn?if you wish to learn more about - Why are Advanced Soft Skills Needed??our team is equipped to support you with improved English communication skills and provide soft skill strategies that help you to add value to your professional team.

Interview impact-

(Strategy?#9)

Including your soft skills on your resume or CV?is absolutely necessary if you want employers to quickly see that you have the talents they're looking for. Furthermore, practice in advance how you plan to showcase your soft skills.

For example- In your interview show enthusiasm for accepting colleagues' ideas and maximizing your team's overall efficiency by using each person's individual strengths. (Provide your specific example)