What Employers Want - the Top Ten "Soft" Skills Employers Are Seeking

Government Publications I read regularly print lists of What Employers Want: the top ten qualities employers are currently seeking.

Over the 8 years or so I've been reading these, the top ten has changed somewhat in order, but remains constant with the same 10 traits.

The only "hard" skill included in this list of What Employers Want is computer skills. The rest are all "soft" skills, so I've missed out computer skills, and included number eleven, to give the Top Ten Soft Skills for which employers are looking.

Most people are only too willing to tell the potential employer about their qualifications and their "hard" skills. These are skills such as computer skills that you can see, touch and feel, skills that are readily measurable and testable.

However, many people overlook the all important personal qualities or "soft" skills. Communication and the ability to handle stress well are examples of soft skills.

Below is a list of soft skills employers list as being the most important.

1. Communicate Effectively

To communicate effectively you need the ability to express yourself clearly, to be a good listener and to show empathy and understanding of others. You also need to be able to use language and grammar correctly.

2. Commit to the job

The principal qualities employers are seeking here is honesty, dependability and enthusiasm.

3. Learn new tasks willingly

No matter what the job, at times there will be new things to learn and any employer wants someone who will be willing to learn anything that is required, within reason.

4. Accept responsibility

Many problems in the workplace are caused by people passing the buck, or not taking responsibility for their own actions, or inaction. Employers are on the look out for those who take pride in the quality of their work, evaluate it regularly and use their time wisely.

5. Excellent Interpersonal Skills

These skills show in the ability to work co-operatively with others, maintain a positive attitude and to accept constructive criticism.

6. Make Decisions

Decisions need to be made in most jobs, and prioritization is one much needed decision in the workplace, which goes hand in hand with the ability to organize tasks. Also the ability to contribute new ideas is part of this process.

7. Show Flexibility

In this rapidly changing world, the ability and willingness to adapt and be flexible is becoming a core workplace requirement.

8. Leadership Potential

Even in you are not in a supervisory position, the traits that are involved in leadership are desirable. These include demonstrated persistence, self motivation and by showing an effort to improve performance.

9. Grow in the job

By showing ambition, the job applicant lets the employer know they are willing to train and gain further skills. Of course, the employers also wants this ambition to include staying with the company.

10. Ability to handle personal problems

Everyone at some time has pressures and stresses in their personal life. With the possible exception of major crisis, employers are looking for people who can cope with their personal lives without letting it interfere with their work.

If you can honestly say you have these ten skills, and have experiences in previous jobs that prove you put them to use, then do include any or all of them in your resume, and talk about them at the interview.

From an employer's point of view, it can often be feasible to teach you the necessary hard skills, but teaching soft skills is a much harder prospect. For example: how would you go about teaching someone a great attitude? This is a trait that is implied in several of the above soft skills and is widely considered to be the number one factor that will make or break a candidate's chances of being hired.

So as you consider your skills for your next job, focus not only on your technical but also on your personal qualities. They are what will make the difference between being just invited to an interview and landing the job.