Applicants for a job must not only have professional skills, but also so-called soft skills. What are these qualities? It is more behind that than your scores at best online bookmaker. It shows your future employer with which person they will be working together. And if you will feel comfortable there. For some people it is as important than the other things you mentioned on your CV.
The ability to work in a team and strong communication skills are qualities that are explicitly required in many job advertisements. But resilience, personal responsibility and time management, among other things, are also becoming increasingly important.
Of course, you can acquire or develop these “soft” skills yourself with the help of further training, seminars and strategies – and you should highlight your soft strengths in the job interview. Even companies offer these courses for their long-term employees. Showing how important it is regardless of the time you have already been working for one company.
LEARNING ABILITY
Everyone can develop personally and professionally. You just need to have the willingness and motivation to acquire new knowledge, for example through further training, seminars or lectures. In addition, by working in a team, you can acquire new skills and learn to think outside the box. A new job in particular requires you to adapt to new circumstances and expand your skills and knowledge. In the job interview, you can express your willingness to learn and your motivation by asking about possible further training measures. If you are open and interested, you are sure to score points with the personnel manager.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
The ability to work in a team is enormously important, but an independent way of working is also indispensable in many professions. Especially in times of home office and remote work, employers attach importance to their employees being well-organized and structured and thus able to reliably complete their work. In an office job, for example, it is important to manage deadlines, meet deadlines and use working time productively.
TIME MANAGEMENT
For the reasons just mentioned, time management is important to be successful on the job. If you have recurring tasks or appointments, you should note down how much time you need for them. This way you can better plan your working time and communicate it to your superiors. Most companies offer internal courses on time management, but you can also register for a course at an academy, such as Haufe Akademie, or a university, such as Quadriga Hochschule. Apps such as Evernote or Grammarly also help you to record the most important to-dos and to manage your time well.
This way, you can also work on your time management on your own: First, find out when you’re at your best – in the morning, at lunchtime, or in the evening? Do you need longer to get going in the morning, or can you get important to-dos done as early as eight o’clock? This way, you can schedule challenging activities or important conversations for your most productive times. Lighter and less creative activities, such as processing emails, can be scheduled for a different time slot.
FLEXIBILITY
Projects are canceled, new tasks are added or company structures change: employees often have to be flexible. Especially in the field or in the public service for a certain region, you may also be transferred to another location. Openness to change and adaptability are welcomed by the company. However, home offices and flexible working hours mean that employees now have more opportunities to help shape their working conditions. In the job interview, you can already emphasize that you bring flexibility with you and thus make a good first impression.