Employers value soft skills, i.e. skills that are easily transferable from one job to the next. So, if you dedicate time, energy, and resources to enhance your soft skills, you’ll be well-equipped to land your dream job in 2021.
Key soft skills to work on for 2021 include:
1. Collaboration
Being a team player is a must. If you can collaborate well with others, you can thrive in a team setting. Plus, you can partner with coworkers and superiors to prove that your team results far outweigh individual achievements.
To improve your ability to collaborate with others, reach out to peers for support and guidance. If you are on the lookout for a job, you should engage with past work colleagues and industry contacts via social networks and collaborate with them whenever possible. Also, embrace the opportunity to build your professional network via remote networking events and other virtual gatherings.
2. Communication
The ability to communicate effectively can make you a vital contributor, regardless of your role within an organization. If you can express your thoughts and ideas in a clear, thoughtful manner, you can ensure your coworkers and superiors know exactly what to expect any time they work with you. Furthermore, as a strong communicator, you can avoid miscommunications that can otherwise hamper an organization’s productivity.
You can enhance your communication skills by becoming an active listener. Any time you engage in a conversation, listen to the other party and respond accordingly based on their verbal and non-verbal language. This will help you bolster your communication skills, to the point where you can listen and respond appropriately in a wide range of conversations.
3. Empathy
Those who display empathy have no trouble putting themselves in another person’s shoes and understanding the perspectives of others. As such, if you are empathetic, you can view all sides of an issue objectively. You can also gain insights into multiple perspectives and take these perspectives into account during the decision-making process.
If you want to become empathetic, you need to push yourself outside your comfort zone. To display empathy, you need to consider the perspectives of others and why they may think or feel the way they do. In doing so, you can look at a problem from various angles, weigh the pros and cons of different potential solutions, and find a solution that benefits all parties involved.
Soft skills are difference-makers in a competitive job market. If you prioritize collaboration, communication, and empathy, you can make yourself a valuable commodity to prospective employers. As a result, your soft skills could help you secure your dream job in 2021.
Want to Take Your Career to the Next Level? Partner with Techneeds
At Techneeds, we offer comprehensive assistance to job seekers who want to accomplish their career goals in 2021 and beyond. We can connect you with a variety of employers across New England and help you find a job that perfectly complements your hard and soft skills. To learn more, please contact us today.