Soft skills are important in any job, from positions in manufacturing to IT to accounting. They might help you get a promotion and improve how you network with others, and they’ll certainly help you get along better with your coworkers, so it’s worth paying attention to these often-overlooked skills.
Soft skills are becoming even more important now that the world of work has been remarkably changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you’re looking to improve your soft skills, here are our insider tips for developing the most in-demand soft skills for 2020 and the future of work.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills, sometimes referred to as interpersonal skills, are basically non-technical skills that relate to how you work.
How are soft skills different from hard skills, exactly? Hard skills refer to specific technical skills like your ability to use Photoshop or your knowledge of accounting processes. Soft skills, on the other hand, include how you interact with others, how you deal with problems, your communication skills, and how you manage your time, among other things.
You’ve probably heard common personality job interview questions like “do you work well under pressure?” and “are you a team player?” before. These questions help the recruiter assess your soft skills in the workplace, regardless of the industry.
So, not only should you be developing these work skills, but you should also be talking about them in job interviews and showing them off on your resume.
What soft skills are employers looking for?
With most employers considering soft skills essential to a variety of roles, including leadership, it’s safe to say recruiters are on the lookout for candidates with strong and proven soft skills. But the million-dollar question is: What soft skills do employers value most?
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed soft skills that were previously underestimated into the spotlight. Skills like empathy and emotional intelligence can make or break remote managers during hard times, and employees need to be good problem solvers and have great time management skills if they’re to carry out complex tasks from home.
Adaptability has also been recognized as an essential soft skill during the pandemic, with entire industries undergoing a shift in the way they work and employees having to adapt to unfamiliar processes on the spot.
What are the top 10 soft skills for the future of work?
The future of how we work looks a little different than it once did. So, what are the top soft skills for the future of work in a post-pandemic world?
There are plenty of soft skills we could have listed here, but these are the top 10 that we think will be most valued in the future. We’ve even included some tips on how to develop these skills further.
Communication
This is the most essential soft skill out there. Effective written, verbal and non-verbal communication makes it easier to work with others, collaborate on projects and get along with your managers. Communication skills are especially important if you’re a manager or if you regularly interact with clients.
You might already have good communication skills if you give clear instructions to others, write well-structured emails and are able to easily take in information from leaders.
How to improve your communication skills
Improve your communication skills by practicing active listening so that you can more effectively follow instructions. When giving instructions, be as explicit as possible and encourage others to ask questions.
Time management
Time management skills are fundamental when you find yourself working on more than one project at a time. If you tend to plan your day and divide tasks up into bite-sized chunks, then it sounds like you’re already well versed in time management!
How to improve your time management skills
Improve your time management skills by keeping an organized schedule or to-do list that lets you work on high-priority tasks while also allocating time for less urgent work like emails and meetings.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage your own emotions as well as read the emotions of others. You may have a high level of emotional intelligence if you are aware of how you and others feel in response to difficult work situations.
How to improve your emotional intelligence
Improve your emotional intelligence by examining how you react to feedback, practicing self-awareness and considering how your actions might affect others.
Adaptability
Adaptability means learning new skills and behaviours in response to changing circumstances. This is more important than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the way we work and interact with each other. If you don’t shy away from new experiences and are constantly looking for new ways to carry out tasks, you’re probably an adaptable person.
How to become more adaptable
Being open to improvement and embracing change are the best ways to skyrocket your adaptability skills. Volunteer for new projects and you’ll become much more adaptable in no time!
Creative thinking
Creativity isn’t just for designers and artists, it’s also an important soft skill that can help you bring some innovation to your job. It’s necessary if you want to develop your problem-solving skills, too. You’re probably a creative thinker if you’re curious about how things work and are eager to find new approaches to carry out tasks.
How to improve your creative thinking
Expand your creative thinking by researching different areas of your industry, talking to coworkers from other teams and trying out new ways of working.
Empathy
Empathy means that you can identify with others and share their perspective and feelings. This soft skill has been in the spotlight recently as managers have tapped into their empathetic side while their teams have been working from home in difficult circumstances. If you feel that you’re able to put yourself in others’ shoes and cut them some slack when times are hard, then you’re probably a fairly empathetic person.
How to become more empathetic
Improve your empathy skills by taking into account what others might be going through and considering how you can help them out. This might be as simple as having a more transparent relationship with your team so that they feel more comfortable reaching out for help when they’re struggling at work.
Organization
Being organized is a much-needed soft skill in almost any kind of job, especially if you manage a team or lead projects. If you’re an organized person you know how to work on multiple tasks in the same day, keep track of important paperwork and digital files, and are well aware of upcoming deadlines.
How to improve your organization skills
Become more organized by keeping track of important deadlines, properly archiving documents and asking a team member to keep you accountable. You’ll be more organized in no time.
Collaboration and teamwork
Collaborative teams are on the rise, which means learning to work closely with others to deliver projects is an important skill to be able to draw on. Do you know how to communicate effectively, manage conflicts and support your team? If you do, then you’re already on the way to becoming a great collaborator.
How to improve your collaboration skills
Engage in brainstorming and feedback sessions with your coworkers and improve your communication skills if you want to become an expert in collaboration.
Problem solving
Employers highly value people who can think on their feet and quickly overcome daily obstacles at work. If you’re a fan of puzzles, are a creative thinker and often find ways of working around issues rather than just giving up, then you may already be a problem-solving pro.
How to improve your problem-solving skills
Identify the root cause of a problem and tap into your creative side to find solutions to obstacles at work. Don’t be afraid to ask for a helping hand from coworkers for extra tricky problems.
Leadership
You don’t have to be a manager to take an interest in leadership. Good leadership skills include clear communication, encouraging others and showing initiative in difficult situations. If you feel like you’re a vocal member of your team and you’re at the forefront of projects at work, then you might be on the path to becoming a great leader already.
How to improve your leadership skills
Take note of how your managers do their job and look for ways to implement those behaviours in your work. There are also some great leadership webinars and courses on the internet to get you started.
How to include soft skills on your resume
Most job vacancies will detail some soft skills that they want candidates to have. Use this information to your advantage by making a list of what they’re looking for and comparing it to your soft skills so that you can include the most relevant examples on your resume and in your cover letter.
To really convince the recruiter, you’ll have to do more than just add a list of your soft skills to the end of your resume. In your cover letter, briefly mention how you used each skill to become successful in your previous position. You could mention how your communication skills helped you close new clients or how your time management skills allowed you to work on several high priority projects at the same time. You already know that recruiters value these skills, so this is where you get to brag about them!
The bottom line
So, there you have it, the insider scoop on the top soft skills for 2020 and beyond.
Now that you know what employers are looking for, start improving your soft skills so that you can land your dream job!