Soft skills and Career Development

 

Soft skills are also called emotional intelligence skills but unfortunately schools and colleges may not teach you how to cultivate them. However they are not difficult things to acquire. Start slowly and make steady progress. The technological skills you acquire may become obsolete but the soft skills you develop will keep you going for the rest of your life.

Hard skills are gained through years of training, education, and practical experience getting to grips with all manner of challenges in the workplace. But increasingly, a person’s employability depends on how well they can apply these hard skills in a team environment where personalities and work ethic differ from individual to individual. This is where soft skills will give you the edge.

Soft skills are the key to employment today. Developing strong technical skills combined with excellent communication skills will take you a long way in your career.

Soft skills refer to a cluster of personality traits, habits, and a facility with language. Employers say if you’re a bit weak in technical skills, there is no difficulty as we can teach them, but if you are weak in soft skills it will be difficult to teach them.

Now let us look at these skills. The list is long. Let us see some of them.

‘Communication skills’- This is not about knowing two or three languages or being able to write a report without spelling mistakes. It calls for a good language proficiency, both written and oral .Ability to speak and read, write and listen standard English .You may know what usage is correct but if you don’t know when to use it, where and how to use it then you are at a loss. Employers are looking for communication skills that include the ability to present and defend a thought or idea to a wide range of audience, from fellow employees to managers and customers.

Presentation skills and Team Work-Verbal communication skills include one- to- one interaction, presentation/public speaking ability, and good telephonic skills. Written communication would include report writing, business writing and email etiquette.

Collaboration and Interpersonal skills- This includes ability to work with others for accomplishing tasks, team work, relating with other people and communicating with them in everyday interactions and so on. Technical employees will have to work in teams and that will comprise representatives from different departments, varied technical backgrounds, and at times, different locations. Good team work involves sharing responsibilities, honoring commitments and so on. Under this cluster negotiating skills also appear. Adaptability, flexibility are also important .Going with the flow but at the same time adjusting to unforeseen circumstances that you never predicted.

Leadership skills- Leadership skills are also important, guiding and supporting others in order to accomplish something. First, you will be a member of the team, later you will have to lead it. Your ability to understand situations, fill in the missing pieces, connect and coordinate, and enlist the support of others are all important. Influencing skills: Persuading others to think about or adopt a different point of view is significant.

Critical thinking and problem solving skills- It includes Analytical and Critical thinking and problem solving skills. Technical industry always encounters challenging problems - both technical and non-technical. Employees should be capable of solving problems quickly and innovatively, proposing alternatives to consider.

Questioning skills- Asking questions in order to learn or clarify something such as conflict resolution, and systemic thinking. This also includes Research skills: Gathering information in order to study or answer questions.

Organization skills- This cluster includes organization skills: Being organized and methodical, especially in work-related situations. Ability for arranging one's own task for best performance, self-discipline and self-confidence, ability to learn from experience, correct from mistakes, absorb criticism without being resentful. Time management skills are also important- using your time wisely and consistently, staying on schedule and meeting deadlines

Working under pressure: Handling the stress that accompanies deadlines and other limitations or constraints.

Self-motivation/initiative: Doing things without needing to be told or persuaded.

Risk-taking skills: Taking a considered chance on something new, different or unknown

Good Work Ethic- Dependability is another factor. Being thorough and accurate so that colleagues can count on you, good humor also form part of these soft skills

The habitual use of “please,” “thank you,” “excuse me,” and “may I help you?” in dealing with customers, supervisors, and colleagues may help you a lot.

Now you will ask how we can cultivate these skills.

There is no single method. It involves constant introspection and self- assessment of your personality and habits.

Take part in activities that will allow you to practice any soft skills that you have not previously been able to use. This will not only give you the confidence to share these skills with others, but it may also serve as a useful reference.

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