Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work.
They include how you interact with colleagues, how you solve problems, and how you manage your work.
According to the 5,000+ company leaders and talent professionals who responded to Linkedln’s “Global Talent Trends” survey on trends transforming your workplace:
- 80% say soft skills are increasingly important to company success
- 92% say soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills
- 89% say bad hires typically lack soft skills
What Some Industrial Members Have Said About the Importance of Soft Skills
“Most important skill for an employee: common sense. The rest can be taught.”
“It’s not a skill issue, it’s a caliber issue.”
Company is “willing to work with anyone with knowledge who wants to work.” Finding those people is the challenge.
Applicants are “semi-professional.”
“People under 25 (years-old) do not know how to work.”
Biggest workforce challenges: work ethic, responsibility, attendance, literacy, productivity. Skill most challenging to hire/retain: work ethic.
All of This Feedback Speaks to a Particular Soft Skill: Professionalism.
noun
pro·fes·sion·al·ism | \ prə-ˈfesh-nə-ˌli-zəm , -ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌli- \
Definition of professionalism
1: the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person
The National Association of College and Employers (NACE) identified professionalism as one of the top six soft skills employers sought in 2020.
They specifically highlighted the need for workers to:
- Be present and prepared.
- Demonstrate dependability (e.g., report consistently for work or meetings).
Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers
For more information, please contact Caroline A. Warner: cwarner@scpowerteam.com
