As the US bounces back from the economic recession, the job market is now flooded with a plethora of qualified individuals. Whether a White House staffer, computer programmer, or teacher, these ten soft-skills are necessary soft-skills in order to flourish in the job market.
No. 1 — Communication
Most employers seek employees with good communication skills. This includes writing, negotiating, presenting, networking, or simply being personable.
No. 2 — Writing
In the US, at least 32 million adults are illiterate. Yet, many job preparation programs hardly allot necessary credit hours into the curriculum, thereby pushing under-prepared graduates into the job market. The most successful writers are those with superior reading comprehension, language control, and audience awareness skills.
No. 3 — Networking
Knowing the best methods to talk with strangers and exchange business cards is a clear indication that an employee has good networking skills. Networking has also found its way online, via social media. More companies are utilizing social media to meet new clients and customers. Networking versatility is thus a way to highlight communication skills.
No. 4 — Critical Thinking
Critical thinking occurs when an individual can effectively analyze a situation, synthesize information, and conceptualize solutions. Critical thinking is involved in every workplace environment: knowing what to say in an interview, determining how to respond to an email, and developing effective sales pitches.
No. 5 — Self-awareness
The best employees spend time identifying who they are, what they want, and then communicating those desires and needs to others.
No. 6 — Confidence
Self-confidence is a desired skill because it showcases an employee’s character. Somebody who cannot make a decision and is generally afraid of confrontation shows poor character quality — they are unable to effectively communicate in an appropriately aggressive manner.
No. 7 — Time Management
In the workplace, good time management means being able to efficiently manage work time. Time management shows how well an employee can multitask, work under pressure, and meet deadlines. Likewise, it also indicates if an employee is a slacker or a procrastinator.
No. 8 — Leadership
Employers want individuals who are self-starters. And because micro-managing costs companies a lot of money, leaders shine in interviews, as it also means the individual knows how to be a team player.
No. 9 — Technology
Because of technology’s fast-moving nature, technologies that might seem primal can differentiate two competing interviewees. Commonly forgotten technology skills that should be included on resumes include:
- Social media (Twitter, Facebook)
- Operating systems (Windows, Mac)
- Internet applications (Email, Google Chrome)
- Document processing software (Microsoft Word)
h/t Lifehacker
