If you’re great with communicating, have a positive attitude and are team-oriented, you may be a top candidate for employment. According to recent CareerBuilder research findings, a majority of employers (77%) believe soft skills (less tangible skills associated with one’s personality, such as a positive attitude) are just as important as hard skills (skills that are learned to perform a specific job function and can be measured, such as operating a computer program). Sixteen percent said soft skills are more important than hard skills when evaluating candidates for a job.
“When companies are assessing job candidates, they’re looking for the best of both worlds: someone who is not only proficient in a particular function, but also has the right personality,†Rosemary Haefner, vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder, says. “Along with responsibilities, it’s important to highlight soft skills that can give employers an idea of how quickly you can adapt and solve problems, whether you can be relied on to follow through and how effectively you can lead and motivate others.â€
Check out the top five soft skills that employers find attractive:
Strong work ethic — 73%
Dependability — 73%
Positive attitude — 72%
Self-motivation — 66%
Team player — 60%