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7 Soft Skills That Will Get You a Job

  • by: Rebecca Fagan
  • On: 4, Oct 2018
3 min read

Finding a job can be hard. If you don’t have much relevant experience, it can be tempting to pad out your CV, embellish accomplishments, or even lie. You don’t need to do this – instead, take a look at our list of 7 soft skills that will get you a job.

Soft skills are great to include on your CV and show what you’re capable of in any situation, and evidence that you understand the needs of the job you’re applying for. Real world skills are tangible assets that prove you’re a rounded applicant. Contextualising them to the job at hand can help make the difference between you and another candidate.

Here are some of the top soft skills employers are looking for:

1. Leadership

Teams need leaders. A group of people need direction to hit a common goal, and a leader provides that direction. Encouraging people to take the next step, assessing whether tactics are working, and analysing where to go next are all elements of a great leader. Managers and department heads love leaders because they’re dependable. People rally around them, team members work harder and the whole company prospers.

2. Teamwork

It might seem confusing that so many companies are looking for natural leaders and team players at the same time. But it is possible to be both. A good employee can work with others, providing their input and expertise where necessary. If someone else is taking the lead, being able to learn from them can help drive the team forward. Collaboration is key to the success of any project. Plus, feeling like you’re part of a team can boost motivation and job satisfaction.

3. Technical Skills

Next on the list of soft skills that will get you a job is technical skills. The ability to work with complex systems is paramount, especially in technical industries. We’re using more and more devices, apps and cloud systems to be more organised and productive. Being able to pick up and use these tools will help you integrate into a company faster, as well as ensure you stay on top of your workload. Being good with technology can make you invaluable in certain teams.

Conflict Resolution4. Conflict Resolution

Conflict is a natural part of any relationship. Whether it’s between two people, or two teams, there’s bound to be a difference of ideas in the workplace at some point. What’s key is diffusing these situations, not blaming anyone, and figuring out a proactive way to move forward to everyone’s satisfaction.

This is a skill that employers are always looking for: having skilled engineers and technicians on board who can mediate disputes and make teams more cohesive will have a direct result on overall happiness in the company, and make conflict resolution one of the top soft skills that will get you a job.

5. Problem-Solving

Problems will come up. No matter what sector or role you’re in, you will have to deal with unexpected problems. The key is taking decisive action to solve that problem. This will get you noticed by managers: being someone who gets things done is a great way to impress and move up the ladder.

6. Adaptability

When those problems come up, you’ll solve them by adapting. The ability to come up with a new plan when something has gone wrong and implement it without losing your head is impressive and highly sought-after. Being able to adapt will help you get ahead of those slower to embrace new ideas, meaning you get on the right track faster.

7. Communication

Last on the list of soft skills that will get you a job, but perhaps most important, is communication. The ability to effectively communicate will help you in everything from writing a simple work email to a colleague, to writing a report for your manager, to delivering presentations to entire companies. Communication skills help you establish rapport, understand tone and undertake verbal and written exchanges with style. They also build relationships with co-workers, clients, and customers.

Developing soft skills can be done at work or in your own time. There are so many ways for you to improve, whether it’s reading books, watching talks or attending networking events. Even in things as simple as everyday conversations, you can still hone your listening skills, your observation skills and of course your communication skills.

For more advice on how to get a job, as well as help on writing your CV, check out the VHR recruitment blog.

If you’re ready to apply, check out our job board.

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