The most important soft skills valued by employers

What are interpersonal skills?

Interpersonal skills, also known as communication and social skills, are the abilities related to how you communicate and interact with others. When employers are hiring, interpersonal skills are one of the key criteria they use to evaluate candidates. They are also essential skills that will help you advance and succeed in the workplace. Regardless of the type of job you have, it is important to get along well with your coworkers, managers, clients, and suppliers.

Types of interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills include verbal and non-verbal communication, conflict resolution, teamwork, empathy, listening, negotiation, positive attitudes, and leadership. Good communication, the ability to listen, and collaboration with others are crucial criteria for success at work.

Communication

One of the most important interpersonal skills in any job is communication. Whether you work in information technology, customer service, construction, or any other industry, you will need the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with others, whether verbally or in writing. Some jobs may also require skills in public speaking effectively.

Conflict management

Whether you are a manager or an employee, you may need to resolve conflicts at times in your work. This may involve resolving an issue between two team members, or between you and a colleague, or between a client and your company. You will need the ability to listen fairly to both sides and use creative solutions to reach a resolution. This skill can include conflict resolution, providing constructive criticism, mediation, and problem-solving.

Empathy

Part of being a good manager, good employee, or good colleague is the ability to understand and show empathy towards others. If a client or colleague reaches out with a complaint, for example, you will need to listen carefully to the person’s concerns and express empathy for their issue. Empathy is an important skill that will help you get along with everyone in the workplace.

Leadership

Even if you are not a manager, it is important to have some experience and capability in leadership. Leadership requires the ability to motivate and encourage others and to help the team achieve success. This skill can include encouragement, instilling confidence, guiding the team, mentoring, motivating, and fostering positivity.

Listening

Listening is a skill that goes hand in hand with good communication. While you should be able to express your own thoughts, you should also listen carefully to the thoughts of others. This will help your clients, employers, colleagues, and employees feel respected and valued. This skill can include active listening, curiosity, focus, and inquiry.

Negotiation

Negotiation is an important skill for many positions. Depending on the specific job, this may involve creating formal agreements (or contracts) between clients or helping colleagues solve a problem and come to a resolution. To be a good negotiator, you should be able to listen to others, use creative solutions, and reach an outcome that satisfies everyone. This skill can include negotiation, persuasion, and research.

Positive attitudes

Employers want to hire employees who make the office a brighter place. They want people who have a friendly and positive demeanor. This does not mean you have to be the most social person in the office, but you should be willing to develop some kind of positive relationship with your coworkers. This skill can include behavioral skills, relationship-building, friendliness, humor, and social interaction.

Teamwork

Even if your job involves a lot of independent work, you still need the ability to collaborate with others. Teamwork involves many of the skills mentioned already: you must be able to listen to others, communicate your own goals, motivate your team, and resolve any conflicts that may arise. This skill can include collaboration, team facilitation, team building, and working together.

Skills

Required Skills

When preparing for a job interview or working on a promotion or tailoring your resume or cover letter, these are some of the required interpersonal skills. Look for ways to incorporate some of these keywords into your application materials. You can also add similar examples of how you’ve used your interpersonal skills at work in your cover letter. Remember to focus on what you’ve accomplished by utilizing these skills.

How to Highlight Your Interpersonal Skills

Match your qualifications with the job. Review the job description and make a list of the traits the employer is looking for. Then match your qualifications to the job by creating links between their requirements and your skills and abilities.

Record your skills in your resume, especially if your resume includes a summary at the top or if your work history section is formatted in paragraphs rather than bullet points. This way, you’ll show what you’ve accomplished instead of what you’ve done.

Add relevant interpersonal skills to your cover letter. Include similar examples of how you’ve used your interpersonal skills at work in your cover letter. Remember to focus on what you’ve achieved by using these skills.

Share your skills during the interview. Be prepared to answer interview questions about your interpersonal skills. Just like you did in your cover letter and resume, provide a short story about a time you embodied a particular skill in the workplace and how you used that skill to add value to the company.

Use your interpersonal skills to impress the employer. Remember that actions speak louder than words, so you should make sure you embody any traits you claim to have when interacting with the interviewer. For example, if you assert that your friendly traits have brought you success in the workplace, make sure to present yourself as warm and open during the interview.

How to Make Your Skills Stand Out

Show, don’t tell: Whether you are interviewing for a new job or seeking a promotion, be sure to utilize your interpersonal skills to make a positive impression.

Enhance your skills: If your skills need improvement or your confidence needs a boost, you can take advantage of courses, webinars, and more.

Be kind: One of the best ways to demonstrate that you have strong interpersonal skills is to remain calm and courteous, even in tough times.

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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/interpersonal-skills-list-2063724