Soft Skills are in demand … How important is it to identify them when hiring ?
Whatever the technical job brief, the one common denominator that our clients and most employers are constantly seeking, is that good old ‘positive attitude’.
What they are really looking for are soft skills.
While technical ability, experience and qualifications are crucial for job performance, soft skills can make all the difference in how well a person performs in their role. Employees with robust soft skills are more likely to feel engaged and build stronger relationships, which in turn lead to higher retention rates. One recent survey reported that 97% of employers said soft skills are key to their business growth and success.
Having reliable and productive employees is clearly of huge value to a company. Recruiting for the right blend of soft skills seems more relevant than ever before, however, it takes a measured and strategic approach to identify them at interview.
Three years ago, it was recorded by the Society of HR Management, ‘that out of 46% new employees that failed within 18 months, 89% failed because of a lack of soft skills, such as professionalism or the ability to get along with others.’ Set to increase in a world of increasing digital dependence, it’s imperative to seek out the right skills for your business from the offset to lengthen your staff retention.
5 most in demand soft skills 2023
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Willingness to learn
- Adaptability
- Enthusiasm
5 tips to help you get it right at interview
- Understand what soft skills are most important to you and your company culture. Be transparent.
- Assess your soft skills by preparing and asking behavioural and situational questions like “Describe a time when you…” or “What are your thoughts on …”
- Communication observation – look out for listening skills and the use of ‘I’ and ‘we’ in conversation during the interview process to assess team co-operation.
- Use the STAR technique as a useful way to assess competency – Situation, Task, Action, Result
- Carry out structured interviews and skill assessment – consistency will help you compare candidates
Recruiting is a time-consuming and costly process, so discovering too late that someone isn’t the right fit for the role or your company can leave you back at square one.
For more about how to find the best candidates, and how to keep them invested in your company from interview – contact Red Careers – enquiries@redcareers.co.uk
Article by Lorraine Jackson – Recruitment Executive
