When you're seeking employment, your soft skills (people skills) can be as important as the hard skills that are required to achieve success on the job.
Companies seek candidates with both types of skills when hiring for most positions. That's because if you can't get along with others, don't have a positive attitude, can't work well as part of a team, and aren't able to think creatively and critically it may not matter how talented you are.
Indeed.com, the leading job site, has shared the most valuable soft skills for job seekers and employees. Here are the top 7 most important soft skills to have for both interviewing and in the workplace from Indeed's Director of Recruiting, Mike Steinerd:
Acting as a team player means not only being cooperative, but also displaying strong leadership skills when necessary
Flexibility is a valuable asset - employees who can adapt to any situation are dependable no matter what's thrown at them
Effective communication is paramount, and includes articulating oneself well, being a good listener and using appropriate body language
Problem-solving skills and resourcefulness are critical when unexpected issues inevitably arise
Accepting feedback and applying lessons learned fosters professional growth
Confidence is key, but it's important to always have the knowledge and skills to support self-assurance
Creative thinking is invaluable and drives innovation and increased efficiency