Proficiency and competence in technical or hard skills are evident ways of getting and keeping jobs or being self employed in any field. In every field of work, people need to obtain certification to be deemed fit to practice in that field.
The skills needed for a specific job varies and are often divided into soft and hard skills. The job as a digital nomad is described by Job Hacked as a job requiring social skills, adaptability and great communication. These are examples of soft skills and are based on personality traits. Hard skills on the other hand are teachable and measurable like maths and computing. Many jobs require hard skills to start working within the profession but it’s often the soft skills that makes some people more successful than others. One example is a surgeon, as a profession required to have good motor skills such as hand coordination and manual dexterity as some of the technical or hard skills of their field to be conferred that title in the first place. However, a patient would rather choose to see a surgeon with good communication skills, someone being tolerant and calm with handling the patient over an emotionless surgeon.
As times change and new developments surface, employers are beginning to find it necessary to include soft skills as part of the requirements for employment alongside hard skills. Keeping your job in many organizations would rest on how you are able to exhibit and marry your soft skills and hard skills to bring benefits to the organization.
Soft skills are the professional, intangible, or transferable skills that employers look out for from employees or candidates of employment. Soft skills are not just about the knowledge you possess but also the behavior you display on different occasions. To properly own soft skills, you need to grasp what it means to have people and social skills alongside relevant personality traits.
Soft skills are not easily measured like technical skills and are hard to teach because they deal with personality traits more in contrast to what technical skills are formed out of. Here are the top 5 soft skills that future workplaces would require all workers and intending employees to have:
Communication Skills
Many people mistake communication skills for either knowing how to talk or for being able to talk boldly but there is more to communication than not being shy to speak to others. You may say or write something to someone so boldly and still come off as insensitive. Employers lookout for those who have the ability to listen and appropriately respond to clients and colleagues.
Some of the necessary communication skills include:
- Verbal Communication:- Public speaking, Negotiation, Telephone Etiquette, Persuasion, Multilingualism, Articulation, etc
- Written Communication:- Content writing, Emailing, Advertising, Business Storytelling, Technical writing, etc.
- Non-Verbal Communication:- Active listening, Quick thinking, Life skills, Expression, Confidence, etc.
- Conflict Management:- Courtesy, Empathy, Social skills, Friendliness, Motivation, etc.
Emotional Intelligence
Employers are beginning to assess the ability of employees to understand their own emotions and the emotions of others. Someone with high emotional intelligence would express their emotions healthily and also understand the emotions of people he works with, thereby enhancing work relationships and performance.
An important part of emotional intelligence that entice employers is the ability to overcome challenges, communicate effectively, empathize with customers/clients, and resolve conflicts. You need self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy internal motivation, etc to be regarded as an emotionally intelligent employee.
Collaboration/Teamwork
Teaching work ethics has proven difficult over time but people or candidates who effortlessly portray the ability to function well in teams or when collaborating have an edge with employers over other employees. Irrespective of the role you play at your workplace or your intended role, it is important that you be able to work well with others and relate your teamwork skills efficiently to recruiters, hiring managers, and prospective employers.
The ability to work with others is an important soft skill that helps you succeed in any workplace you find yourself in. When you contribute effectively to a project while working in a team, you are being recognized and that is one way your credibility can be built.
Growth Mindset
Notice how every interviewer likes to include questions like “What do you want to contribute to this company if you are hired?” or “How do you want to improve this company when you are awarded this role?” in their interviewing process? Employers are looking to hire people with a progressive growth mindset.
With a soft skill like Growth Mindset, you are able to review your abilities, intelligence, and skills to improve on the areas that need improvement. Failures no longer look like a roadblock but an opportunity to know where weaknesses and strengths lie.
Adaptability
The ability to change and improve goes a long way to help you grow a successful career. You are expected to have a positive attitude about change and any evolvement that comes up in your workplace. Employers test for adaptability with various quizzes or questions just to know how well you react to change.
Learning new skills and behavioral patterns are also a part of adaptability. When you respond effectively to working conditions and industry shifts, you gain more traction. You reveal how motivated you are by showing your employers your adaptability skills.
Presently, there is a soft skills gap in the world today and to prevent this gap, future workplaces would be reinforcing many soft skills in their employment processes, many of which can be learned by individuals who want to be a part of the future of work.
Executives also look forward to having a body of employees who do not just harness technical skills but also have the mental capacity to address immediate business problems with the necessary soft skills, especially when dealing with customers/clients.
