Soft Skills Pay the Bills

Advance your chances with employers by mastering these skills

When navigating today’s job market, it’s often not enough to have a degree, years of experience, and a polished resume with the right keywords. Equally as important to employers is the way you think, communicate, and collaborate with others. These traits are known as soft skills.

“Soft skills are crucial to employers because they strengthen teamwork and communication, creating a positive work environment,” says Mary Lee, National Director of UpGlo Talent.

“Skills like adaptability, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving help employees navigate challenges and foster strong relationships with colleagues and clients, ultimately driving better performance and success for the organization, especially as job roles and technologies continue to evolve.”  

Making sure your resume highlights your soft skills and citing examples of them during an interview can make the difference between being passed over and receiving a life-changing job offer.  

Below are the top five soft skills that should be on your resume. 

Professionalism/Work Ethic

We all know that we should show up on time, stay off our phones, and wear professional attire at work. But that’s not the only way to demonstrate your work ethic. Active listening, prompt responses to emails or messages, reliability, accountability, and initiative are all ways to establish a strong sense of professionalism that demonstrates to employers that you can build trust with your team members and drive results.

When employers ask you to describe your work ethic in an interview, they’re really asking: “What type of teammate will you be?” The best way to answer this question is to describe your approach to work, then take the interviewer through a specific situation where you demonstrated those qualities, the actions you took, and the results you achieved.

Whether it’s taking the lead on a project, going beyond your role to support your team, or managing your time to ensure a project meets a deadline, make sure you have a clear example that shows employers the value of your work ethic.

Oral/Written Communication

Employers are looking for team members who can understand what is expected of them and communicate effectively with others, from knowing how and when to share concerns to demonstrating active listening. Good communication skills in an interview begin with:

• Maintaining eye contact with the interviewer or interview panel
• Asking clarifying questions 
• Using body language to show that you are engaged

When asked by the interviewer about your communication skills, make sure to share a work scenario where communication — whether written or spoken — was a key factor in the outcome. And don’t forget to be specific in how you used those skills in your actions and the results they achieved

Teamwork and Collaboration Skills

There’s a famous saying that goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” Employers understand that teamwork is essential to achieving business goals. You want to show a prospective employer that you can be aligned and accountable while working towards a shared goal.

During an interview, you can exhibit your teamwork and collaboration skills by showing examples of a work scenario or project in which you displayed:

• Strong contribution in a team setting and support of your teammates
• Constructive feedback and a proactive approach to finding a resolution 

Critical thinking or problem-solving skills

Problem-solving and critical thinking are about using knowledge and data to find effective solutions in the workplace. Employers value employees who bring fresh perspectives and are willing to share ideas that can improve processes, even if they are new to the organization. At the same time, strong problem-solving means taking the time to fully understand a situation and develop thoughtful, well-informed solutions rather than rushing to respond.

When hiring managers ask questions about your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, they are looking for:

• An analytical approach to the prioritization and execution of problem-solving
• A showcase of originality, inventive use of resources, and the ability to deliver practical solutions under constraints
• Highlight of a candidate’s flexibility and resourcefulness 

The S.T.A.R. method is the most effective way to communicate your critical thinking and problem-solving skills in an interview. S.T.A.R. stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, providing a simple and specific framework for walking an employer through a real example of how you handled a challenge or contributed to a team. It allows you to show how you think, how you work, and your impact, helping employers better understand the value you bring beyond what is on your resume.