Showcasing Soft Skills to Nail Your Next Interview
As you step into the interview room, your resume in hand and a professional demeanor, there’s an unspoken truth: you are more than the qualifications listed on that piece of paper. Beyond degrees and certifications, employers seek something more profound: your soft skills.
Soft skills are the backbone of workplace harmony, productivity, and leadership. They’re the attributes that enable you to communicate effectively, collaborate seamlessly, adapt to change and inspire others. In essence, they are the superpowers that set you apart in today’s competitive job market.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to climb the corporate ladder, a recent graduate entering the workforce, or someone in between considering a career change, the ability to assess and effectively showcase your soft skills in an interview is a game-changer. It’s not just about what you know, it’s about who you are and how you interact with others.
To assess your soft skills, start with self-reflection. Identify your strengths and areas where you can improve. Consider how you communicate, interact with colleagues, problem-solve, adapt to situations, or even lead situations. Ask your current coworkers or friends for feedback. They can give insight into your soft skills by the experiences they have had with you. You may even think on past experiences both personally and professionally and recognize what soft skills you identify and how you reacted in certain situations. Assessing your soft skills is invaluable before you go into an interview and help determine your suitability for the position.
Now that you’ve assessed your soft skills, you need to showcase them in an interview. One way to do this is by researching the company you’re interviewing with and learning the soft skills they value in their employees. This will help you tailor your responses to align with their expectations. You can also prepare examples of specific instances where you’ve applied your soft skills to achieve positive outcomes. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) you can help structure those responses. Sometimes even using storytelling when answering interview questions helps illustrate your soft skills in action. For example, if asked about a challenging project you can describe how you problem-solved, communicated, and collaborated to achieve success. Other tactics like using keywords such as “initiative” or “guidance” in your responses conveys your leadership. Or using your nonverbal cues, such as a firm handshake or maintaining eye contact supports and highlights the soft skills you’re discussing. Most importantly, being self-aware is always a soft skill you want to showcase. No one is perfect. Being honest about your areas for improvement regarding soft skills shows commitment on your personal growth and development in those areas.
As you step forward into your next interview, armed with the knowledge of how to identify, nurture, and display your soft skills, approach with confidence! Your soft skills are your secret weapons and your ticket to not just landing a job but truly thriving in it!
Meet the Author
Erin Daly
Talent Consultant, Talent Solutions
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