In addition to candidates' technical qualifications, companies are increasingly taking into account their soft skills when recruiting. These allow them to choose the ideal candidate from among applicants with the same professional background. But what do we mean by soft skills and which ones are the most sought after by companies?
What are soft skills?
Soft skills are intrinsic qualities to each candidate and can make them the rare pearl that companies are looking for. Indeed, with the digital transformation as well as the evolution of the managerial system, hard skills which are exclusively linked to the position in question are no longer enough to qualify a candidate or an employee. In 9 out of 10 recruiters, behavioural skills have been important factors in making a candidate the right fit for the job. And there are soft skills that they see as key to employability
Adaptability and autonomy
The professional world may be subject to continuous transformation. For example, the years 2020 and 2021 are punctuated by the occurrence of the global Coronavirus epidemic. In a period of instability, recruiters are looking for adaptability in job applicants. They prefer those who are able to adapt to all situations. Indeed, by possessing this soft skill, the candidate will not be destabilised by unexpected events and sudden changes do not affect their performance.
Companies also need employees who have a sense of autonomy and thus can solve problems by themselves and without having to wait for support from someone else. An autonomous candidate knows how to take initiative and set priorities.
Using critical thinking and being a team player
Recruitment also gives priority to candidates who are able to think critically and use their observations to find logical solutions to a problem. A critical thinker is also creative, which is something that’s highly valued by recruiters.
Finally, in a company where success is a team effort, employees are not evaluated on their individual performance, they rather form a close-knit team that works together to achieve the set objective. Thus, team spirit is of paramount importance! Team members collaborate and act together in the pursuit of common interest and the achievement of a shared goal.