Due to an evolving world, the way in which we screen and hire workers has changed massively. More than ever before, soft skills such as empathy, emotional intelligence, kindness, adaptability and resilience have become vital for the success of a hire.
Yet, why have soft skills become so significant? To put it simply, soft skills are not able to be replicated by machines. In particular, empathy and social-emotional skills should not be overlooked when hiring. Caring about others, whether that be customers, colleagues or clients can benefit a company by increasing productivity and even revenue.
Emotional Intelligence & empathy
In order to have empathy and emotional intelligence, self-awareness and good communication are required. These soft skills are not always easy to come by. Therefore, when you are screening applicants it would be useful to think of questions which will help you to determine whether the candidate carries these rare soft skills. For example, you could ask “Can you discuss a time you worked with someone who wasn’t easy to get on with and how dealt with the situation?” Their answer will help you see whether their soft skills allowed them to deal with the challenging situation in the right way.
Adaptability & Resilience
Adaptability and resilience are vital soft skills to look out for when recruiting. Your hire needs to have the capability to adapt their behaviour depending on the situation and find the positive when things go wrong.
When screening applicants, you need to be on the hunt for adaptability. Try asking applicants “What’s the most stressful situation you’ve dealt with, and what was the outcome?” Another great thing to look out for is looking at people who have combined their education with part-time work as this shows resilience and hard-work ethic.
Self-Motivation
Self-motivated employees need less management and can be relied upon to use their initiative and get on with their tasks. In a future where the world is rapidly changing, this skill is essential for success. You could consider asking candidates, “Tell me about a time when you set a goal for yourself, and if you achieved it?”
Mindfulness
Those who are mindful have been found to be more emotionally intelligent and adaptable. Mindful people are capable of staying focused during stressful situations. Businesses can support developing mindfulness within employees by offering benefits like a subscription to meditation platforms or vouchers for yoga classes.
Why are soft skills so important?
Analysing a candidate’s soft skills should be a critical part of the recruitment process. Hiring someone who carries a range of soft skills will strengthen your team for the better because they will be equipped to adapt quickly and react well to challenges they may be faced with.