Job applicants today are required to possess certain skills in order to get hired and succeed in their desired job position. These skills range from technical to interpersonal.
One of the most important aspects of any interview is demonstrating your soft skills. These are the traits that aren't necessarily demonstrated through your resume or references. They include things like communication, flexibility, adaptability, and empathy among others.
Of course, it's important to identify the skills required for a job position when applying so you can highlight them in your resume and cover letter to show your suitability for the role.
But you’ll also need to be prepared to demonstrate to recruiters and hiring managers during interviews that you possess these technical skills and soft skills based on past experiences, educational background, and training.
In this post you’ll discover five top skills employers are looking for in new hires, and how to demonstrate these skills during your next job interview:
In today's workplace, nearly every job requires employees to be problem solvers. Demonstrating problem-solving skills during an interview is important because they're one of the most sought-after skills among employers.
Employers want people who can identify and address problems in real-time. They want to see that you have a creative approach to solving problems, by thinking outside the box when necessary. They want to know that you don't get flustered during stressful situations and can remain calm under pressure.
When an employer asks you about a problem you've solved at work or school, be prepared to share a specific example that demonstrates how you've solved problems in the past. Share examples from previous jobs or volunteer positions where you had to deal with a difficult situation. Then, explain how you handled it, including:
â— How you recognized that there was a problem
â— What steps you took to solve it
â— The outcome
For instance, if you were tasked with improving customer satisfaction scores at your last job, tell them how you came up with three ways to improve customer satisfaction scores and explain the steps you took to implement those changes successfully.
Communication is so important because it affects every aspect of your life — from personal relationships to professional success. You need to be able to communicate clearly and confidently in order to succeed in any career field.
Recruiters list communication and interpersonal skills among the top skills that employers look out for in new hires. A survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities in 2013 found that 93% of employers said, "A demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is important."
In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employers discovered that 73.4% of employers want a candidate with strong written communication skills.
The ability to communicate is a skill that can be developed over time with practice and experience. However, it’s one of those things that an employer would like to see demonstrated during an interview.
During an interview, employers will test your communication skills by asking questions about past experiences or hypothetical situations that require thoughtful responses based on your knowledge of the situation.
Here are some tips on how to show off your communication skills during an interview:
1) Listen actively when the interviewer asks questions or gives instructions. Listen carefully to what is being said and ask questions if there is something unclear or you need clarification on something that has been said.
2) Speak clearly and concisely about your past work experience. Don't ramble on about what you did at each job — give a brief overview of each position instead. This way, if there's a question about something specific at a previous position, you can go into more detail without rambling or sounding like a robot reciting lines from memory.
3) Answer questions directly and concisely, don’t ramble on about things that aren’t relevant or get off track from the original question. Don’t try to answer a question by talking about yourself (e.g., “I think I am a good communicator because…â€), talk about what you have done specifically that demonstrates these skills (e.g., “I worked on various projects at my last job where we had very tight deadlines and I was able to work with other team members and get them all on board with our plans so we could meet our deadline without sacrificing quality).
4) Make eye contact. Eye contact is one of the most important parts of communication because it allows you to connect with the person sitting across from you and makes them feel comfortable talking to you. If they don’t feel comfortable talking to you, then they won’t be able to express their thoughts clearly and efficiently which is what employers want.
5) Sit up straight and relaxed but not too relaxed where it looks like you aren’t paying attention or interested in what they’re saying at all. Lean forward slightly towards your interviewer when they are speaking so that it shows you're interested in what they are saying without leaning too far forward.
6) Avoid speaking negatively about previous employers or colleagues.
Time management skills are vital in any job. Time management is not just about managing your time but also managing other people’s time. This skill is important for employees at all levels — from entry-level to top management executives.
The best way to demonstrate your time management skills during an interview is to provide examples of times when you had to prioritize tasks and manage deadlines.
Here are some tips:
1) Describe how you handled a situation with multiple deadlines or projects that overlapped with each other, and how you prioritized these tasks so that both were completed on time.
2) If possible, mention how you managed larger teams and how this affected your ability to meet deadlines. For example: "I had two different teams working on two different projects, which meant that I had to manage their time as well as mine."
Teamwork is about being a good teammate and working well with others. A good team member will be helpful, contribute to the group effort, and get along well with others. When you are asked about teamwork skills during an interview, be prepared to discuss how you have demonstrated these qualities in previous positions.
Show that you are a team player by describing a time when you had to work as part of a team to achieve a common goal. Remember, it’s not enough just to say that you like working in groups; prove it by describing an instance when you have worked collaboratively and successfully with others. When answering this question, be sure to include details such as the size of the group and the nature of the project.
For example, did you work on a team within your department or across different departments? If so, did this require any special skills or knowledge? Did you need to communicate with other departments frequently and effectively? What challenges were involved in working as part of this group? How well did your contributions fit into the overall success of the project?
Talk about how you handled conflicts within teams in the past. Demonstrate your ability to resolve conflict without involving management by discussing how you were able to resolve issues directly with coworkers instead of going over someone's head or complaining to management instead of handling the problem yourself. You should also explain how you were able to work through problems together effectively once they were identified as issues between two people rather than between groups or departments within an organization or company.
Leadership is all about taking initiative and being proactive, proving your resourcefulness, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and dedication to your work.
Leadership is an important skill that many companies look for in potential employees. They want someone who can take the initiative, make decisions and inspire others to do great things.
While many employers hire leaders at all levels of the company, they often look for these skills too among their entry-level positions. So if you're applying for an entry-level position and want to demonstrate your leadership abilities during an interview, be sure to share examples where you've taken the lead on projects or initiatives within your current role — or even outside of work.
Showcase any leadership roles you've had in past jobs. Employers want individuals who can take charge when necessary and get results quickly; this means that even if you don't want to be promoted into management, it's important to show off your ability as a leader when it comes time for promotions within your current company — or if you hope to move onto bigger things someday.
â— Here are some questions to ask yourself before your next interview:
â— What did I do that helped my team achieve its goals?
â— How did I motivate my team toward success?
â— How did I communicate with my team? (This includes both one-on-one and group settings.)
If you want to improve your chances of being hired, take the time to prepare. This means not just practicing answers to commonly asked interview questions, but also knowing how to demonstrate the skills and talents that employers are looking for.
Most companies are looking for applicants who can work well within a team, who can think strategically and innovatively, and who can successfully communicate their thoughts and ideas. By knowing what they're looking for in advance—and how you can demonstrate these skills during the interview process—you will be well on your way to landing that new job.