When you’re applying for jobs, how can you prove you’re the best candidate? The secret is to emphasise your soft skills rather than your hard, technical ones.
Looking for a job can be nerve-racking when you’re trying to put your best foot forward. From the application to your CV and the interview stage, you want to make sure you’re showing the recruiters that you’re the best person for the job at every juncture.
But how do you prioritise what is most important? Of course, you’ll need the right qualifications and the proper technical skills to do the job, but it’s essential that you don’t underestimate the soft skills.
Soft skills can often sound vague, and jobseekers might even think they sound a bit like filler on a CV. How could buzzwords such as ‘good communications skills’ or ‘team player’ make you more suited to the job than tangible certifications and demonstrable skills?
Well, studies show that soft skills are more important to employers and recruiters than hard, technical skills. According to the the infographic below, more than two-thirds of recruiters consider communication to be the most important skill. Meanwhile, employers actually desire skills such as leadership and teamwork, placing them higher in importance than technical skills.
A vital thing for jobseekers to bear in mind is that most, if not all, applicants that have got to the interview stage will have the necessary qualifications and technical abilities.
This means that your soft skills will be the ones that really help you stand out from the crowd. If those skills don’t appear tangible, make them tangible. Use examples and describe situations that show that you have good communication skills. Talk about your experience working with a team, rather than simply saying that you work well with teams.
Did you lead a big project or take control of something at work? This will demonstrate your leadership skills. Anyone can hide behind buzzwords, and most of the candidates you’re up against will have those soft skills written down.
To make yourself stand out, prioritise soft skills over hard skills, and use clear examples to prove them to your recruiter.
Check out the infographic below to find out just how important soft skills really are.
Infographic: Uptowork
