We are often bombarded with information about what qualifications we need for certain jobs. You need a Masters, a PhD, a degree. But what is always left out is what soft skills we need to get into and thrive in our careers.
Soft skills refer to personal attributes that a person processes that enhance their ability to get a job done. These skills are non-technical and relate more with character traits and interpersonal skills. These days, many employers seek employees with as much soft skills as technical skills and below are the most in-demand soft skills you need.
Communication
Communication is an important part of every job, whether it be communicating with clients, customers, colleagues, employers, employees or vendors. Communication is speaking clearly and politely. But it’s also more than that.
Good communication is listening, negotiation, persuasion, public speaking, social skills, writing, reading body languages and much more.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to take note of, evaluate and respond well to your emotions and the emotions of others. It involves empathizing with the people around you but also, knowing how to handle your emotions.
Emotional intelligence is what enables you as a worker to interact appropriately with your colleagues and seniors. It is also what lets you respond appropriately to frustrations at work.
Critical thinking
Employers are always on the lookout for people who can analyze a situation and make informed conclusions from their analysis. This is what critical thinking entails. It doesn’t matter whether you are working with complex data or a straightforward problem. The ability to sit, and think through a problem then come up with well-informed solutions will take you far in your career.
Critical thinking involves creativity, desire to learn, flexibility and adaptability, research skills and problem solving.
Teamwork
Remember when I mentioned emotional intelligence? Well, that is what determines your ability to work with a team.
Collaborations in your career is what helps you move forward. This is often not as easy as it seems. There are people who believe they know the job and don’t need help, and others might simply not want to work with you.
This means that, your ability to interact with them, and bring them to your side to collaborate is what makes you standout. Show enthusiasm in other people’s ideas, even when you don’t approve them and be honest but kind in any critique.
Soft skills are the major career advancement tools in the world right now and thus, as you focus on your technical skills, don’t forget to improve your general all roundedness.
