Competing today in Canada’s dynamic labour market is bringing up challenges for both employees and employers.
A recent study indicates that Canadian employers are not only weighing experience and education when evaluating candidates for open positions, but at least 77% see game-changing value in hiring based on a candidate’s soft skills and attitude toward learning.
For job seekers, it’s essential to show the soft skills employers want on your job applications in addition to hard skills and job-specific expertise. But what skills should you include and which ones should you leave off? In this article, we discuss the most important soft skills employers want to see in their employee candidates and why.
At Liberty Staffing Services, we understand the importance of a well-rounded personal representation when job seeking because every day, we connect top-quality candidates with employers across Southern Ontario. Whether you’re looking for temporary work or a new career, reach out to us at Liberty Staffing to learn how we can help.
Soft Skills Versus Hard Skills
When a person can interact well with coworkers, managers, and customers, collaborate effectively, manage time efficiently, and communicate clearly, these are desirable skills for success that are not easy to quantify. That’s why they’re often called soft skills. Some name them people skills; others say they’re essential, interpersonal, or non-technical skills. Whatever the moniker, these skills give a potential employer a strong indication of how a potential employee might contribute to the company’s success.
Another important indicator is hard skills: a person’s knowledge and experience that gives them the ability to perform a job. Hard skills are specific, technical, and more easily measured than soft skills. However, for employers, a candidate will not achieve success without a balance of both soft and hard skills.
Even so, top business advisors believe that good soft skills—“the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and build strong relationships”—are the real key to business success.
How to Show Off Your Soft Skills
During the recruiting and hiring processes, employers will look for evidence that you have the soft skills they want within your cover letter and resume and during the interview. Here are ways you can make a great impression.
In your cover letter: Highlight your soft skills that fill the requirements of the position. Provide examples of previous work experience where you were successful using soft skills.
In your resume: Consider including soft skills in a “skills” section along with hard skills. Always include examples, successes, and/or achievements related to your soft skills. Write a summary statement about what you offer that highlights soft skills. Use examples of your hard and soft skills working together to provide success in previous work experience.
During the interview: Expand on your top soft skills in conversation. Support what’s on paper with specific examples of how your skills can help achieve success in the role and benefit the company.
Soft Skills are Universal
No matter the position, the business, or the industry, soft skills transfer to every type of working environment to bring great value. Here are 10 of the top soft skills employers are looking for right now.
Clear Communication: Good communicators understand the message, know how to share information concisely in an organized way, and ensure the message is received and understood. Good communicators are also organized thinkers and speakers and are aware of body language and other forms of non-verbal communication.
Active Listening: Active listeners focus on the message and provide feedback to the messenger so they know they’re paying attention. They ask questions if clarification is needed. Typically, active listeners are also empathetic and compassionate and respond to body language.
Team Playing: Team players value working with others effectively to progress toward a common goal. It’s easy for team players to build professional relationships, develop camaraderie and commitment with other team members, and fit in with company culture.
Effective Leadership: Leaders can bring out the best in others, providing direction and/or guidance to a group naturally because they have a deep understanding of the mission and objectives. They have the vision to help others develop professionally as well.
Strong Work Ethic: Employees with a strong work ethic are committed, responsible, respectful, honest, dependable, focused, ambitious, and professional. They’re team players who value quality of work and are willing to support others to reach their goals.
Computer Literacy: Computer literate team players can use computers and other technology such as software programs and applications to not only perform the tasks required for a job but to enhance the working experience.
Effective Organization: Organizers know how to create and maintain a structure that helps to improve and increase productivity. Skilled organizers prioritize time management and resources to get the job done efficiently and effectively.
Critical Thinking: Critical thinkers collect and evaluate information, solve complex challenges, draw conclusions, and make educated decisions using analytical, logical thinking. They help with finding better ways of doing things, correcting workflow issues, and researching new techniques or services.
Problem Solving: Problem solvers can work independently or as part of a group. They develop solutions for problems, challenging situations, difficult interactions, communication misunderstandings, brainstorming hiccups, and more.
Resiliency: Resilient employees always maintain a positive attitude and work effectively under pressure or challenging circumstances. They are self aware and focused on long term success, so the little stuff doesn’t bother them. They bounce back, move on, and know when to reach out if they need help.
Adaptability: Adaptable employees adjust easily to changes, pivoting quickly in light of fluid priorities, tasks, and deadlines. They are willing to learn alternative approaches to help make the workflow better. Adaptable employees are flexible, creative, open-minded, and ever-enthusiastic about the project at hand.
Let Liberty Staffing Connect You to the Jobs You Want
At Liberty Staffing Services, we know what soft skills employers want. Let us help you strengthen your cover letters and resume so you will make the best impression, nail the interview, and get offered the job of your dreams. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services.
