21 Oct Soft Skills you want your candidates to possess.

Soft skills are non-technical qualities that might affect a worker’s work performance. Whether you choose to move on with a candidate’s application or not may depend on whether they have particular soft skills. You most likely acquired soft skills from your time in school and past employment.

Without soft skills, candidates are not doing themselves any favours when it comes to the recruitment process. Even if they are the most talented people in your industry, your business may suffer if they lack certain soft skills to go along with their technical expertise.

Here at Kiwi Recruitment, we created a list of some important soft skills to look for when recruiting candidates. Identifying these top skills enables us to recruit the perfect candidate every time.

Attention to detail

First and foremost, individuals with a great eye for detail will always make sure that they have a thorough understanding of the task at hand. They will plan, structure and schedule to make sure they are keeping on track with the task.

They will always pay close attention to even the smallest details, ensuring that the job is finished with the highest degree of precision. Having this type of skill in an individual helps avoid mistakes that could be costly for the company.

Level-headedness

A calm head who can assess a situation from all angles and make the correct decision under pressure is critical. Having someone with this ability in the team reduces the chances of stress and anxiety amongst colleagues which would negatively affect the task at hand.

This person also tends to have the ability to solve problems with ease. Having this ability can come from having industry experience. Because of this, their decision making can be quicker, which can be important for the company.

Communication

Communicating isn’t just about how much you can talk; it is your ability to listen and take on board information too. Being able to communicate well in the workplace increases productivity and nullifies any needless problems that may arise. It stops any confusion and gives a clear strategy to how to complete the task in the given time frame.

A candidate with this skill will be brilliant at communicating in person, over the internet, and on the phone with all stakeholders within the company. They understand the importance of not only voicing their own thoughts but listening to the thoughts of others too.

Leadership

A person with strong people skills and an engaging personality in the workplace exudes leadership. These abilities allow the candidate to maximise the performance of the team as a whole.

Candidates with this skill will also continuously have the best interests of the company at the forefront of their minds and will not be afraid to make tough decisions and delegate roles. They are a person who easily motivates others around them and who isn’t scared of taking responsibility. They step up when the going gets tough.

A can-do attitude

This is a key skill that you will want your employees to possess. You want all your employees to be people who are easy to get on with, and who are eager to knuckle down and work. Keeping positive is important, especially in a fast-paced working environment which can sometimes be stressful.

An employee’s positive mood might then spread to other coworkers. You may ensure a happy workplace by selecting candidates who possess this soft skill. This is ultimately more likely to deliver results for your company.

Team player

It’s crucial to collaborate well with others around you. Even if you disagree, you must set your differences aside and act professionally to prevent the business from suffering as a result of the conflict.

Being able to take and use criticism is a crucial part of being a true team player, and doing so fosters a positive work environment.

Just like technical skills can be learnt, soft skills can be learnt too. However, this can be a time-consuming process and therefore isn’t beneficial to your company. By looking for candidates that already possess the soft skills that you need, you can ensure that the recruitment process is going to be successful. 

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