With the pandemic outbreak, the hiring process was thrown into a wrench. Both recruiters and job seekers are facing challenges with the virtual interview process. However, candidates are failing to realize what’s become more significant is possessing soft skills that will make them stand out from the crowd. 

Soft skills development makes you more marketable to recruiters. You may have job-specific skills, industry knowledge, and brilliant technical skills. But, so do your competitors. Soft skills training such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and so on highlights candidature making your resume attractive to hiring managers. 

What are Soft Skills? 

Soft skills are personal skills that make you more employable outside the technical skills required for the job. These skills may occur naturally to you or you may need to attend a few classes to gain knowledge about them. 

Consider online soft skills courses and add certifications to your resume to impress your employers. While numerous soft skills may be worth adding to your resume, here are ten top soft skills employers want in their employees. 
 

1. Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving: The pandemic has presented a new set of challenges in the work world. The last thing an employer wants is his employee to give up in a challenging situation. Instead, you need to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to overcome the obstacles. Employers want their employees to present new ideas that lead to innovation and company growth. Therefore, on your resume, you should mention situations where you applied creative problem-solving skills in the face of challenges. In an interview, show your enthusiasm towards tackling job hurdles to become a desirable candidate. 
2. Communication skills: Having excellent communication skills is necessary for all situations, for instance, when you converse with a client or write an email. It is essential to put your point across the table and make your client and team members understand no matter what. Nowadays, most communication is through video conferences, calls, and emails so having strong communication skills has become even more crucial. Taking online soft skills training in effective communication is worth your investment. If you think you already have the skills, demonstrate it on your resume to impress recruiters. 
3. Time Management: This involves organizing your work schedule in a way that optimizes your efficiency, productivity and completes assigned tasks within deadlines. Now that the world has moved to a work from a home model, time management has become one of the vital soft skills that occupies top priority on a recruiter’s list. You can start by maintaining a work calendar, setting daily & weekly goals, and accomplishing them regularly. You may learn project management tools that help in saving time while meeting all requirements of the project. This will give a competitive edge in most job interviews. 
4. Growth Mindset: Professionals having a growth mindset are focused to attain higher achievement levels by constantly mastering new skills to adapt to the ever-changing markets. You can demonstrate your growth mindset by enrolling in a soft skills development course and learning a new skill that may be relevant to your role or that keeps you updated with current industry trends. 
5. Emotional Intelligence: This involves perceiving, analyzing, and responding to other people’s emotions. It involves being empathetic and developing interpersonal relationships with your colleagues at the workplace. In a survey, it was found that 70% of employers value EQ over IQ, and 78% of them promote employees with higher EQ over someone with higher IQ. Having a high emotional intelligence level has become more crucial than ever. 
6. Collaboration: Collaborating with co-workers is essential for continuous learning and getting a job done on time. Learning to trust others, accept and provide feedback can keep you ahead of the competition. You should participate in active learning and recognize other people’s ideas and opinions for optimizing team efficiency and utilizing each member’s strengths for the maximum business outcome. 
7.  Adaptability: With continuous technological advances, change is the only constant thing in the modern-day workplace. We have witnessed so many changes since the pandemic happened in 2020, for instance, complete remote work, online collaboration, video communication, etc. This required employees to quickly adapt to new methods of thinking and operation. Master adaptive skills by participating in soft skills courses and increasing your employment opportunities. 
8. Active Listener: Active listening skills involve asking questions, making eye contact, and having a judgment that helps you engage with your client or team members. Everybody loves a good listener. But, it can be a struggle for many. If you are not sure what active listening is, conduct a little research and start practicing it to demonstrate your listening skills in your upcoming interview and impress your employer. 
9. Computer Skills: Every job demands a basic knowledge of computer skills. Therefore, including this skill in your resume is vital to show your recruiters that you are equipped with basic computer knowledge. In case, the position demands advanced computer skills highlight that in your resume if you possess them. The basic skills you should add to your resume include spreadsheets, word processing, social media, and email communication. 
10. Leadership: Leadership helps you grow beyond your job role. Leadership skills make you well-rounded as a person and equip you to make the rest of your team better. It is a combination of many soft skills that make you an attractive candidate for the hiring company. It is worth mentioning in your resume and interview if you have been a part of big projects to showcase your leadership capabilities and your potential to grow into a future leader within the organization. 

Final Thoughts

Therefore, soft skills training is like an accessory to your resume that paired with solid industry knowledge and technical expertise can do wonders for your career. You must cultivate these skills and display them in front of your employer to keep yourself ahead of the pack. To know more about soft skills courses, visit https://www.learnow.live/.