Picture this – James was in the middle of his job hunting, feeling confident that he was the perfect candidate. He applied for every job opening that he could find. But to his despair, no hiring manager contacted him back. No reply, Nada!
But why? He did all that he could, from writing the perfect professional summary to using the right fonts. He even inserted a smiling emoticon at the end of his application as a friendly gesture. What went wrong? Oh, poor soul!
News Flash – He did everything that he could, but he forgot to add soft skills to his CV. Now, you might be thinking, who pays attention to such details? Well, hiring managers do!
Do you know that about 93 per cent of recruiters wish to see soft skills on your CV?
So, if you too are neglecting this section, just like our dear friend James, then you might find yourself in hot water when you actively seek jobs. This instant, you might wonder what soft skills employers look for in a resume.
Count your blessings because you have landed on the right page to get all the answers to your questions regarding this matter. Below, we have shed light on what soft skills to add to a resume to land your dream job. So, without wasting any more time, let us dive straight in!
Top 5 Soft Skills Employers Look For In A Resume (For Any Career)
Communication Skills:
Starting with the most crucial skill i.e. communication skills. It is surely a broad category and includes everything from how you talk to a colleague and client to how well you converse via email. However, apart from your communication skills, your LinkedIn profile also speaks volumes about you. So, if you don’t have your profile up-to-date then sweat not, as we are here with an amazing idea. Really? What is it? Seek help from professional LinkedIn profile writers to make your profile stand out.
Coming back to the point, your ability to get your point across in emails, as well as clients and teammates, is crucial in 2024. This soft skill is usually very enhanced if you are a social butterfly. But if you are an introvert, then there are various ways through which you can develop this trait. Most valued communication skills include:
- Active listening
- Verbal communication
- Presentation
- Written communication
- Constructive feedback
Time Management Skills:
If you can organize your schedule and get your work done on time with maximum efficiency, means that your time management skills are in full swing. Your work calendar becomes your best buddy when it narrows down to manage time efficiently. Set routine goals for what you want to accomplish. Some sub-skills related to time management are listed below. Make sure you have a look at them to evaluate whether you have them or not.
- Setting realistic goals
- Planning
- Stress management
- Prioritizing
- Organizing
Flexibility & Adaptability:
Change is a constant part of the present-day workplace. The lickety-split progress of technology has forced organizations to perish or evolve in the modern years. However, to our dismay, these changes are sure to continue in the coming years as well. This is why flexibility, as well as adaptability, is one of the most demanding soft skills that employers expect in their potential employees. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
The flexibility also highlights your ability to cope when old employees leave and new ones join your office and how well you will adapt to such changes. Moreover, if you are working in the IT field, then the use of tools and the introduction of new programs is usually the run-of-the-mill. So, you have to be open to adapting new approaches if you want to remain in the pitching. Some common skills related to this particular skill involve:
- Self-motivation
- Optimistic approach
- Analysis
- Self-management
- Calm attitude
Leadership:
While communication, time management, flexibility, and adaptability are highly sought-after skills that will make your recruiter go gaga over your resume, leadership skills can amplify your application even further. If you don’t know which soft skills to add to your application, then worry not; we know just the right thing that you can do. Is that so? Definitely, it is! Hire any online Resume writing services right now and let them create a perfect application on your behalf.
Adding leadership skills in your resume highlights that you possess a combination of other soft skills, and when merged together with other skills, you will not only work well with your team, but you can also call the shots and make the team more efficient.
Problem-Solving:
Recruiters usually consider candidates who are able to resolve problems effectively and quickly. Being able to creatively and analytically solve issues will help you no matter your career. Because when push comes to a shove, there is no career in the world where you will not have any issues to deal with. This is why, problem-solvers are always in great demand. Problem-solving is associated with different skills, such as:
- Analysis
- Decision making
- Logical reasoning
- Brainstorming
- Observation, etc.
In A Nutshell
So, by now, you must be well aware of the importance of adding soft skills to your resume. Avoid committing the mistakes that James committed while making his application i.e. ignore soft skills altogether. Make sure to add the above-given skills to your CV, and by adding we do not mean that you have to list them only. No! Instead, learn these skills and become a pro at them to land your dream job easily.
Well, James, if you are reading this blog, then we are extremely sorry for what happened. Make sure that it does not happen again by adding a section on soft skills in your resume right now! And we are sure you will get contacted by the hiring managers in a jiffy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What are some good soft skills to add to your resume?
The most in-demand soft skills are enlisted below:
- Communication
- Time management
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Creativity, etc.
- What is the difference between a hard-skill and a soft-skill in a resume?
Hard skills are specific to the job. No one is born having them, and therefore, they have to acquire them. Examples of hard skills are juggling, coding, designing, etc. On the contrary, soft skills are a part of your personality, and you can learn them. These skills guarantee that you would be a great fit anywhere. Examples of soft skills include time management, interpersonal skills, communication, and much more.
- Do employers prefer hard skills or soft skills?
Hard skills are vital to perform technical tasks in a job successfully. Whereas, soft skills are required to create a functional and positive work environment. This is why employers consider both of them equally and only contact the job seekers who possess ideal hard and soft skills.
- Why do employers consider soft skills seriously?
Employers consider soft skills due to the fact that they are more precise as compared to hard skills owing to the fact that the employees who possess soft skills find it easy to adapt to different environments.