Finding a job as a graduate can be tough, especially if you’ve gone straight from school into higher education. Your qualification can set you up for a lifetime of professional success, but at first it may be overlooked when you’re up against job applicants with hands-on experience.
Here, our recruitment partners at Tiger Recruitment highlight the importance of graduates having soft skills to showcase the value you can bring to an organisation if you lack other relevant experience…..
Soft skills are critical in the modern workplace and it’s becoming increasingly apparent that even graduates should possess these skills, as they’re highly advantageous when it comes to employability.
What exactly are soft skills and why do graduates need them?
Soft skills could also be referred to as ‘employability’ or ‘transferable’ skills. Compared to hard skills such as your academic qualifications, training, and professional achievements, soft skills are more adaptable abilities and traits that can be honed through all areas of life, useful for whatever role you may be tasked with.
Let’s take a look at some examples of soft skills…
Teamwork
A team player is more valuable to a business than a hotshot employee who is more focused on fast-tracking their career. Good team workers recognise their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of their colleagues. They know the tasks and challenges they are best suited to tackle, and those that are better left to a teammate.
Leadership and Initiative
These are essential qualities for anyone who wants to grow into a senior or managerial role within a company. It may seem obvious, but a strong work ethic is hugely important here. Show the employer that you have the motivation and vision to pursue goals and inspire others to follow you. Perhaps you captained a school sports team, put on a local event, or ran a fundraising campaign.
Problem-Solving
Employers will look for employees with good problem-solving skills because this shows they are both a self-starter and a collaborative teammate; they are proactive in identifying a problem, good at analysing the root cause, and then able to work with the whole team to solve it.
Communication
Learning how to communicate effectively in a workplace setting is a vital skill. Communicating between your manager and the rest of the team contributes to the overall success of the company.
Why do employers look for soft skills in graduate applications?
They indicate longevity
Many employers will look for signs that a candidate will stay with them long-term. Soft skills like problem-solving, commitment and motivation prove you have a good base to thrive in any working environment.
They help to measure teamwork
If you’re applying for a position as part of a team, the hiring manager may evaluate your application partly based on how well you can work within a group. Employers use soft skills to measure your teamwork and communication abilities.
They help build and maintain relationships
Having a bank of soft skills not only helps support the relationships you have at work, but also determines your success in working with clients and business partners.
They help you gain confidence
For new and inexperienced employees, soft skills like good communication, teamwork and problem-solving can help them settle into a workplace faster, giving them more confidence to learn the skills they lack.
The importance of soft skills for a graduate are vital in helping you secure and transition smoothly into a new job. Soft skills help employers differentiate between candidates who are qualified for a job and candidates who exceed expectations by putting effort into their work and professional relationships.
For more information about the soft skills that are developed while studying for the Professional Business Diploma, read about our curriculum here.
Tiger Recruitment is a leading recruitment agency in London, Dubai, Zurich, and New York City. We specialise in connecting jobseekers with employers of choice in business support, HR, finance, and private households.