As international research and labor market observations show, universal soft skills useful in every specialization and industry are widely sought after among job candidates.
What's more, the importance of social and psychophysical skills on the labor market is constantly growing, and by 2030, as many as two-thirds of professions will require highly developed soft skills. A Hays expert points out which competency areas are worth investing in.
Nowadays we work faster and more intensely, which is largely driven by ongoing technological development. The world of work is undergoing dynamic changes, demand for new skills is emerging, and previously unknown areas of specialization are appearing. That is why, in addition to measurable skills directly related to the job, ideal candidates should also possess competencies that prepare them for potential changes. What is gaining importance is not so much the certificates and training courses held, but character traits that ensure flexibility and ease of adaptation in a changing work environment.
Soft skills are in demand
As Hays' experience shows, employers across numerous industries expect candidates to have developed soft skills to the same degree as hard skills, enabling them to react quickly in the face of constant transformations. The range of sought-after competencies is broad, as companies look for everything from innate curiosity and openness to change, through advanced communication skills, to the ability to reorganize quickly. The Hays expert lists six soft skills that every specialist should possess.
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WILLINGNESS TO LEARN
Willingness to learn is the foundation
Contrary to appearances, openness to continued learning and constant development is considered a soft skill by employers and ranks at the top of the list of traits sought in candidates. According to Agnieszka Pietrasik, Executive Manager at Hays Poland, an ideal employee should actively invest in developing their knowledge – stay up to date with industry news, know the current moves of competitors, attend conferences, and monitor customer satisfaction in order to improve or refine the services provided.
– Regardless of the area of specialization, readiness for further learning and tracking trends are traits highly valued by most employers. After all, a company's success largely depends on the state of its employees' knowledge. That is why, when applying for a job, it is worth emphasizing your willingness to continue learning and highlighting your previous efforts aimed at professional development – says the expert. What's more, up-to-date knowledge goes hand in hand with a strong awareness of the changes taking place on the labor market. It is then much easier to notice in time a shortage of competencies currently sought on the market and to take steps to fill the gaps.
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CUSTOMER ORIENTATION
Six key traits of a specialist
The vast majority of companies are entirely dependent on customers – their number, type, and the products and services they buy. The way purchasing behaviors change and the adaptation of offers to customers' differing preferences are also of enormous importance to business. An example is the growing interest in purchases made through online stores and mobile apps. Changes in consumer behavior are also visible in the world of recruitment – almost always the first source for searching job offers are websites that allow applications to be sent directly. – Access to modern technologies changes the needs of customers, on whom the success of every company depends. That is why organizations seek employees who understand the changes taking place in the industry, are open to the needs of current and potential customers, and are able to propose appropriate solutions for the company – comments Agnieszka Pietrasik.
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ADAPTABILITY
The ability to accept and quickly adapt to ongoing changes is a trait highly respected among employers. Change is an inseparable element of today's world of work – methods of performing office, technical, and creative work are constantly transforming. However, no one can predict the future, and the nature of upcoming changes remains a mystery in many cases. That is why employers expect candidates to be able to cope in a changing environment, react quickly, and view new developments on the market as an opportunity for innovation and growth.
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COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Continued learning and the ability to come up with innovative solutions are strong assets for job candidates. However, all the soft skills one possesses lose their importance when there is a lack of ability to effectively communicate one's knowledge. According to Agnieszka Pietrasik, employers seek candidates who have well-developed communication skills and feel confident talking with people holding various positions in the organizational hierarchy. – Employers seek specialists who look at business from a broader perspective and understand the direction in which the industry is developing. Equally important is the ability to communicate one's knowledge, experience, and beliefs, which contributes to the development of other co-workers. Employers primarily value interpersonal skills, and every specialist should invest in developing these competencies – advises the Hays expert.
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RESPECT FOR OTHERS' IDEAS
An ideal employee should have their own ideas and share them without fear in a public forum. Equally important, however, is respect for the initiatives of other co-workers. In organizations that promote collaboration and diversity of thought and views, innovative solutions to current challenges often emerge from debates and brainstorming sessions conducted on a broad scale. Employees are expected to respect all ideas, maintain a professional attitude during discussions, and keep all criticism constructive. It is worth remembering to be open to others' initiatives while investing in the development of soft skills.
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ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
Communication and work organization
The last, but no less important, type of soft skills is the ability to organize work properly. In uncertain times, when many unpredictable changes occur, it is difficult to predict what the economic situation and the condition of the labor market will be in the near future. Therefore, one of the key priorities for companies is maintaining high productivity rates. This in turn directly translates into expectations regarding potential employees. – Employers seek candidates who can properly plan the execution of assigned tasks and thereby increase efficiency. The ability to organize work well translates into meeting deadlines, fully utilizing available resources, and better results. Companies are aware of this, and specialists looking for a new place of employment should be aware of it too – says Agnieszka Pietrasik.
Anticipating employers' expectations by acquiring soft skills even before a decision is made to change careers will help every specialist stand out from future competition. What's more, well-developed soft skills combined with familiarity with the digital environment and proficient use of modern technologies will definitely make it easier to find a dream job both now and several years from now.
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Information about Hays Poland
Hays Poland is a personnel consulting company belonging to the international Hays plc group, which is the world's largest specialist recruitment company. Operating on the recruitment market for over 40 years, Hays has 250 offices in 33 countries. In total, around 10,000 experts work in them across 20 specializations.
We provide tailor-made specialist recruitment services, sourcing the best candidates for permanent, temporary, and contract work. Our service portfolio also includes Executive Search, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), and recruitment marketing.
We passionately support the professional development of professionals operating in various areas of the market, guided by our motto "powering the world of work".
Summary
Hays Poland experts point to six soft skills that employers value in candidates: willingness to learn, customer orientation, adaptability, communication and interpersonal skills, respect for others' ideas, and organizational skills. As Agnieszka Pietrasik emphasizes, by 2030 as many as two-thirds of professions will require highly developed social skills.
It is worth starting to develop these traits even before changing jobs – this will allow you to stand out from the competition. Importantly, soft skills are gaining importance alongside the ability to use modern technologies, which makes it easier to find employment both today and in the future.
