How to Showcase Your Soft Skills in an Interview
A lot goes into getting hired. To beat out the competition, you need more than basic qualifications. Employers will also want to see your soft skills. The interview gives you an excellent chance to spotlight these crucial abilities — you just need to know how to make the most of the opportunity.
It’s an important strategy to master. One study showed that 93% of companies identify soft skills as “critical” to their hiring choice. As such, you want to bring these capabilities to the forefront when you talk to prospective employers.
This becomes easier when you know that you’ve found the right employer for you. A top recruiter, like SmartTalent, will make sure that your skills and background represent a good match with high-value open positions. Connect with SmartTalent to get the most out of your competencies.
After you locate the ideal employer, you still need to highlight your best qualities. With that in mind, here are a few ways to showcase your soft skills during an interview:
Know Your Most Marketable Soft Skills
Before you start showcasing your soft skills, it’s best to know which ones to focus on. After all, the term “soft skills” can refer to a wide range of potential abilities. Here are just a few competencies that fall into this category:
- Organization
- Communication
- Initiative
- Time Management
- Tech Savvy
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Problem-Solving
- Curiosity
- Creativity
- Adaptability
- Work Ethic
- Emotional Intelligence
This list is far from exhaustive. So how do you know which handful of abilities to underline during your conversations with potential employers? Here are a few steps to take:
- Look closely at the job description
- Research the company’s culture
- Check with your network for any insights
- Ask the employer what soft skills they prioritize
- If all else fails, focus on the skills you exhibit most strongly
Use Examples
Saying you have a certain soft skill likely won’t be enough to score significant points with a prospective employer. Anyone can make that claim. Hiring managers will want more concrete proof of your abilities.
As such, have specific examples in mind. Stand prepared to explain situations in which you’ve demonstrated your most valuable soft skills. This will greatly increase your chances of landing the job.
Choosing relevant examples partly depends on the specific situation. SmartTalent will pair you with top employers, as well as give you the guidance you need to make the most out of the opportunity. Reach out to SmartTalent to maximize your background and work experience.
Cite Data
Want to go beyond a few individual examples? Then present some data. Underline the value of your soft skills by highlighting statistics that showcase their impact.
It might seem counterintuitive to use hard numbers to support of your soft skills. But there are ways to signal your abilities through quantitative measures. Just a few examples: your organizational acumen can be seen in productivity stats and your leadership ability comes out in team performance indicators.
Find Ways to Pivot
You have specific skills you want to highlight. However, your interviewers generally steer the conversation. As such, you sometimes need to use subtle techniques to turn the discussion towards your best soft skills.
Going into the interview, have a few of your best soft skills in mind that you want to talk about. Find ways to work them into the conversation. This way, you’ll be sure to touch on all your best qualities.
Ready to maximize your overall skill set? SmartTalent will help you achieve this goal. You’ll get the support and guidance you need to push your career forward.
Contact SmartTalent today to learn more.
