Today, the competition in the labor market is huge — dozens of applicants for one position. To be one step closer to the job of your dreams, learn how to write a CV correctly. CV is our business card in the career world, and not just a list of your experience. It's about the employer's first impression and perception of you as a good worker.
Soft skills play an essential role in this case. Currently, companies are looking not only for technical abilities or knowledge of difficult processes but also for people who can easily adapt to circumstances and find a common language with others.
1. Teamwork power
The ability to work with people doesn't mean you can't do anything by yourself. Establishing contact with others is an art valued by employers. During collective brainstorming, the team comes up with ideas that you would never create on your own. So, it is essential to feel the team spirit and be part of it.
To become a respected colleague — learn to be a good listener. Teammates also have the right to express themselves and offer something. Besides, don’t be afraid to hear criticism and accept the opinions of others. Constructive comments should give you an impetus to become better. How do you interact with the team and even become a leader? You can learn more about it in our Radical Candor summary. There, you will find out how to establish trust in a group and learn direct communication with teammates.
2. Problem-solving power
Challenges await us every day and at every corner. An important mission is to learn how to fight them. Employers often pay attention to a candidate having problem-solving skills. People who can find the root of the problem and ways out of the situation can conquer the world. Imagine while everyone is in a panic, you calmly tell them how to solve the problem and offer a solution. You look like a hero in the eyes of others, don't you?
Let's simulate the situation: HR-manager provides a case for solving the issue in the interview. So, use the STAR method that will help you answer. This abbreviation has 4 components for an effective approach to the issue — situation, task, action, and result. Keep this order to do flawlessly in an interview and demonstrate your soft skills.
3. Leadership power
Leadership soft skills are key for holding high positions. When employers see you can establish teamwork — they will give you more opportunities for it by appointing you as a director or department head. What traits should a true leader possess? Do you need to be serious and scare everyone around with your appearance? In this case, it won't work.
A leader must be empathetic towards their subordinates. Sometimes, your words can hurt others deeply. If you want to be treated with respect — be compassionate, and formulate only constructive criticism. Try to understand what people need and offer it to them. Your team must be motivated and work with real desire knowing a goal. Some more detailed advice on how to become a leader can be found in our Leaders Eat Last summary.
4. Communication power
Thanks to communication soft skills, employees ensure an effective work process and information transfer. Imagine that someone misdirected a message from one department to another. The whole system failed. A high level of communication skills helps to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. Effective communication allows you to explain your thoughts, goals, and expectations clearly.
Our Crucial Conversations summary contains detailed information on how to communicate during stressful situations. It applies to colleagues at work as well as to anyone in your life — from a stranger to family members. First, you should avoid violent emotions and keep calm. In a fit of anger, you won't solve anything. How to control it and instead talk calmly about your problems? We offer you a course that will improve your communication skills.
5. Creativity power
You look like a valuable candidate if you know how to think outside the box. Finding an unusual way to solve a situation is truly an art. So now we will talk about another important component of your resume — creativity skills. Combining creative thinking with a practical case always brings victory.
Forget about the idea that creativity is a talent. It is a tool that everyone has, but it needs to be noticed. It hides in everyday things: you probably invent interesting scenarios of your life in your head before going to sleep. Try to approach the tasks creatively without relying on the technical component and the strict requirements. And read even more tips on how to improve your creativity skills in the Creative Confidence summary.
6. Adaptability power
The modern world brings many changes — from technological to economic ones. The ability to adapt is the key to the door of opportunities and a good position. Such people quickly get used to work innovations, new challenges in the company and stay afloat even during crisis periods. Adaptability skill is a winning component of you as a good worker.
Being flexible is important in a rapidly changing market where such skills become a competitive advantage for companies. Recruiters often ask about candidates' experiences to find out how they could adapt to such circumstances. If a person talks about their experience with similar cases — it is an incredible chance to get a job. So, tell more about situations when you used adaptability skills to impress the recruiter during the interview.
7. Productivity power
Productive employees know how to complete tasks faster with better quality, avoiding procrastination and unnecessary waste of time. The next skill you should improve and add to your resume is productivity. Possessing this trait, you can achieve great results in a short time.
Productivity skills demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage the time and company’s resources. The Getting Things Done summary has a section on how to master the art of productivity. First, try to set yourself deadlines for completing the task. It will help plan your activities in advance and do everything on time. Also, find all the information you need to complete your task earlier than planned. It will save you time and increase productivity for further points in the plan.
8. Attention to detail power
People who pay attention to details are less likely to make mistakes in their work. Why? Because they carefully check every step and strive to achieve maximum accuracy. And this is exactly what employers are looking for. Such candidates often do their work qualitatively and carefully, striving to get the most out of the results. Isn't it a dream to see such a worker in your office?
Inaccuracies in the work can lead to significant losses and will require a complete redo of the task. It will take a lot of time and resources. That is why people with increased attentiveness are in great demand. Employees with this skill can not only perform tasks at a high level but also create additional value for the entire organization among others.
These skills are fundamental, but the list goes on. Besides the above, the ideal candidate must also be responsible, organized, stress-resistant, and possess critical thinking skills. A vital component is also being considerate of the feelings of others. Such a feature will help build strong bonds between team members and ensure trust in the company. Our Emotional Intelligence summary will tell you how to understand people and their emotions.
Review your resume and think whether the level of your soft skills is sufficient. Employers are often interested in what kind of person you are. Why does it play a key role? Your character and skills will then be reflected in the teamwork and the overall result of the company. So, try to work on yourself, develop these traits, and create the perfect resume. Be the candidate for whom many employers want to fight.
