At Indeed Prime, we observe that most tech job seekers are basically prepared when it comes to showcasing their tech skills. But did you know that 77% of employers believe soft skills are just as important as hard skills? Soft skills that employers take into consideration when hiring are the less tangible skills related to a candidate’s personality and attitude.
By highlighting soft skills, employers are able to better understand how quickly a potential employee is able to adapt and solve problems, as well as lead and motivate fellow employees. It’s smart to feature your soft skills during interviews to show future employers your value in the workplace.
Here’s a list of the top 5 soft skills companies look at when hiring (from a recent survey from CareerBuilder), and examples of how you can highlight these in your next interview.
1. Work ethic
If you have a strong work ethic, the quality of your work is important, you can be counted on to meet deadlines, and once you reach them, you look forward to the next task. You also are not the type to coast along at work, doing just the bare minimum, in contrast, you seek out new challenges and projects.
How to play it up
- Provide examples of how you are have gone above and beyond on the job, such as extra responsibilities you have volunteered for, personal enrichment courses taken to better do your job, and the like.
2. Dependability
A dependable employee is a highly valued employee, meaning that your boss can always count on you to be on time and prepared for meetings, meet goals, and deliver work with the same consistency. As a trustworthy and dependable person, you can be counted on for your efforts and level of performance, all great qualities sought out by an employer.
How to play it up
- Give examples of tasks, responsibilities, or projects you were given on the job due to your dependability to take action and complete tasks.
- Be sure to explain how you were able to deliver these projects and the positive results.
3. Positivity
No one enjoys working in a negative environment, and there is research that supports this. Studies have shown that people thrive in a positive and supportive environment, which leads to creativity and setting higher goals. By having a respectful and friendly relationship with your coworkers, acknowledging the contributions of others, and freely sharing their accomplishments, this will pave the way for having a positive work environment.
How to play it up
- Share an example of a time when you were put in a stressful situation at work, either due to a tough deadline or a challenging project, and how you overcame that situation and were able to be positive while working on the solution.
4. Self-motivation
An inspired employee is a motivated employee. Although it can be a challenge to stay motivated, it is possible. By setting short-term goals, diving into projects, and celebrating the small and large wins along the way, you will find yourself overcome with a sense of accomplishment, which in turn will fuel your motivation.
How to play it up
- Focus on a time when you overcame a challenge by setting a goal for yourself. Share a project you worked on at work that required extra effort or research on your part, or how you succeeded in school and overcame obstacles to reach certain goals.
5. Teamwork
Collaboration and communication are key in a team setting. Team-oriented employees all have the same thing in common, working together to achieve the team’s goal, while providing quality work, and inspiring others on the team to do the same.
How to play it up
- Give an example of a work project you worked on recently (or if you are entry-level, during volunteering or a school project) and provide details of the project, the goals of the team, and specifics on how you were able to collaborate with others on the team to reach that goal.
Thank you to Indeed Prime for this information. https://www.indeed.com/prime/resources/talent/5-soft-skills-to-play-up-during-your-tech-interview?fbclid=IwAR1fLu5cngfDi0zpaDjJvrMbaX566-hfM7Tk5Wg3bL2VqL1HSlWioFB3x1o
