Soft skills essential for career
August 30th 2008 12:31
Have you ever wondered why some people, who may have been top of the class and knew everything the text book had to say, struggle to get a promotion... compared to some others, often those seen out and about school activities and never seen studying, who only just made it to graduation, but some how able to excel in their jobs and end up doing better in their career?
Sometimes it take more than just knowing technical or professional stuff. Soft skills that generally cannot be taught such as organisation skills, people relationship skills and communication skills are also important for an emploer when considering their candidates for promotion and hiring.
Another important soft skill that is increasingly becoming essential is cultural awareness and the ability to get along with people from all ages/background.
More and more companies are looking for these things, and they are using technology to help them too. For my job at Flight Centre I had to complete and aptitude test before going onto my first interview. There were 200 questions, some of the exactly the same but placed with different other groups of questions I had to answer. Most of them have nothing to do with the job. Questions such as "When you are stressed do you prefer: 1) Sitting quietly by yourself and gather your thoughts 2) Get out with some friends to the pub and have a few drinks and a good laugh 3) Talk it out with someone close (Family, partner or friend)."
None of the questions were meant to have a right answer, everyone have different ways of doing things and it wasn't until later did I learn that those questions were not really used in the selection process but simply so that they knew what 'type' of personality I have so they can best 'manage' me if I am hired. It apparently showed how I learn as a person so they could let my trainer and my team leader know so they can help me the best they can!
Organisation is one of the things an employer can pick up simply by reading your resume. If it's a 'one-size-fits-all' resume, then you can be sure to be stacked at the bottom of the file. Those who takes care in putting in all the correct details at the right places will have a chance to score an interview.
So while you do need to have knowledge and experience for a job, don't forget the employer also wants to make sure you'll 'fit in' as well. Brush up on your soft skills can get you ahead of the game.
Sometimes it take more than just knowing technical or professional stuff. Soft skills that generally cannot be taught such as organisation skills, people relationship skills and communication skills are also important for an emploer when considering their candidates for promotion and hiring.
Another important soft skill that is increasingly becoming essential is cultural awareness and the ability to get along with people from all ages/background.
More and more companies are looking for these things, and they are using technology to help them too. For my job at Flight Centre I had to complete and aptitude test before going onto my first interview. There were 200 questions, some of the exactly the same but placed with different other groups of questions I had to answer. Most of them have nothing to do with the job. Questions such as "When you are stressed do you prefer: 1) Sitting quietly by yourself and gather your thoughts 2) Get out with some friends to the pub and have a few drinks and a good laugh 3) Talk it out with someone close (Family, partner or friend)."
None of the questions were meant to have a right answer, everyone have different ways of doing things and it wasn't until later did I learn that those questions were not really used in the selection process but simply so that they knew what 'type' of personality I have so they can best 'manage' me if I am hired. It apparently showed how I learn as a person so they could let my trainer and my team leader know so they can help me the best they can!
Organisation is one of the things an employer can pick up simply by reading your resume. If it's a 'one-size-fits-all' resume, then you can be sure to be stacked at the bottom of the file. Those who takes care in putting in all the correct details at the right places will have a chance to score an interview.
So while you do need to have knowledge and experience for a job, don't forget the employer also wants to make sure you'll 'fit in' as well. Brush up on your soft skills can get you ahead of the game.
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