Top 10 Soft Skills Employers Want To See In Their Workers

HR managers often have to deal with such a situation: they hire a perfect candidate, who is a true professional, who proved his skills on the previous job and who has positive recommendations from his former managers. He comes to your company and doesn't provide the expected result. So what is the problem? Diplomas, certificates and experience play vital roles when deciding on a candidate, but the level of his social, communication skills and intelligence should also be taken into consideration. 

A survey conducted by CareerBuilder claims that 77% of employers evaluate soft skills just as important as hard skills.

A short hint: 

Soft skills — skills difficult to track, check and demonstrate as they include such things as ability to communicate with colleagues and clients in an effective way, work in a team, manage time and so on. Such skills help people find optimal solutions in a wide specter of tasks that are not described step by step and not indicated in work plans. That are skills that are mostly used by an employee in his daily activities. 

Hard skills – technical skills and background that can be easily demonstrated. This category includes knowledge of technologies, typing, writing, math, reading and many others. 

So, here’re 10 most desirable soft skills employers want to see in people who work for them and some examples of questions you can ask your candidates or colleagues to assess them. 

Communication skills

It’s not about just speaking. Communication skills presuppose constructive speck, logical lines of thoughts, active listening, presentation and good written language. One of the most valuable communication skills is the ability to explain thematic topics to partners, customers and colleagues who don’t have technological knowledge. 

Questions that will help you check the skills:

• How will you explain this term to someone who is not familiar with the given discipline? 
• Have you ever done any public speaking? How did you handle this? 

Computer and technical literacy 

Though numerous workplaces now require advanced competencies in computer use today many candidates still don’t have enough level of PC and specialized programs knowledge. 

It’s better to ask a candidate to complete a computer test, or ask him to show some of the application’s features if you speak about a specialized one. 

Teamwork skills 

The ability to work in a team is a valuable asset in any workplace. Interpersonal skills are highly important as they help employees grow and build a successful career. 

Questions that will help you check the skills:

• Can you recall the time when you worked as a part of a team? 
• Can you tell me how you developed relationships with your colleagues when you got down on your previous job? 

Adaptability 

Do not underestimate the candidate’s skill to adapt to changes. In the modern technological and rapidly developing business environment, the ability to select new technologies and adapt to changing business conditions is extremely important. 

Questions that will help you check the skills:

• Tell us about a time when you were asked to do something you had never done before. How did you react? What did you do? 
• Recall a time when you were assigned a task outside of your job description. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome? 

Critical thinking 

For sure, Google will help to find answers you need. Nevertheless, companies seek people who are ready to make decisions even the given information is not enough for that and who are ready to resolve tricky situations in a rapid and at the same time effective way. 

Questions that will help you check the skills:

• If you saw a mistake in a report but your manager wasn’t available, what would you do? 
• Tell us about a work-related problem you had to deal with recently. What actions did you make to handle it? 

Leadership 

People are not born as leaders. They need to develop leadership skills such as taking initiative, listening, motivating other to lead and organize people. Few people really practice such skills that’s why they are so evaluated by companies seeking good managers. 

Questions that will help you check the skills: 

• Speak about a time you were asked to solve someone else’s problem. What was your attitude to it? 
• What would you do if your team members are not agree with your proposals or instructions? 

Negotiation and conflict resolution 

This type of soft skills is quite important for employers as they always want to see an employee who will be an adept negotiator and will be able not only to settle down conflicts but also to find a perfect compromise all the parties will accept. 

Questions that will help you check the skills:

• Describe a problem person you have had to deal with. How did you speak with him? 
• How would you reply to a colleague who suggests the solution which for sure won’t work? 

Time management 

The ability to prioritize and organize tasks helps to use work time effectively and get more things done each day. This is the skill that can’t be acquired in a few hours or days. It takes months and years to find you own time management way, that’s why companies prefer to hire a candidate who already possesses such skills instead of waiting when he will learn that. 

Questions that will help you check the skills:

1. How do you single out top priorities? 
2. How do you plan your day/workweek? 

Work ethic 

A company won’t achieve its goals and become successful if its employees won’t have a good work ethics, who will be able to see the difference between the good and the bad. People who consistently demonstrate good work ethics are invaluable assets in the modern world of work. 

Questions that will help you check the skills:

• Describe the last time you had to stay late at work. Was that unusual for you? 
• What are the five things that are most important to you in a job? 

Multitasking 

Though latest studies have been constantly proven that people can’t really be truly multi-taskers, employers still seek for people who can manage several tasks during the day. It’s not about doing 5 things at once, but the ability to perform all 5 tasks effectively in the course of the day. 

Questions that will help you check the skills:

• Can you tell us about a time when you’ve had to deal with several tasks along the day or at once? 
• How did you organize your time? What was the result? 

Which soft skills do you evaluate most? Let us know in the comments below!

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About InToSoft

InToSoft is a Dutch software company that covers the full range of services from software development to QA and BA as well as promote our own software products. Our key competences are .NET, PHP, Share Point, iOS/Android/Windows Phone/Xamarin Development.