Eight Soft Skills to Enhance Your Graduate Résumé
Employers consider more than just academic qualifications in the current competitive job market. They prefer to hire recent graduate candidates who exhibit strong soft skills, such as effective communication, teamwork, and adaptability.
This blog post helps you better understand what soft skills are and which ones are important for you to focus on. By comprehending the significance of soft skills, you can become an asset to any company and improve your career prospects.
What Are Soft Skills on a Résumé?
Soft skills, also known as “people skills” or “interpersonal skills,” are the intangible qualities that make job candidates stand out to potential employers. They are the nontechnical abilities and personal attributes that demonstrate a candidate’s capacity to work effectively with others in various aspects of the workplace. Often, these skills are not taught; they are learned organically and develop over time.
True or false? Acquiring and refining soft skills is critical to achieving success in your professional life.
The answer is true! Research has long proven this point, dating back to 1918. A study by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center found that 85 percent of career success comes from having well-developed soft skills and people skills.
Recent studies show that soft skills are essential now more than ever. According to LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trendsreport, 92 percent of talent professionals believe that soft skills are as necessary, if not more important, than hard skills when hiring.
Benefits of Developing Your Soft Skills
You gain a competitive advantage.
If you are a recent graduate, many of your peers looking for jobs also have a shiny, new degree. However, possessing soft skills makes you stand out from candidates with similar academic qualifications. Your soft skills allow employers to learn more about your potential contributions to their company.
You increase your chance for workplace success.
The Global Talent Trends report reveals that 89 percent of recruiters attribute hiring failures to a lack of soft skills. Navigating professional work becomes difficult without essential soft skills, especially in a team-oriented environment.
There’s an increased opportunity for career growth.
Soft skills are as critical as technical skills when advancing your career. These skills enable you to form strong relationships, communicate effectively, think creatively, solve problems, and adapt to change. You can unlock your full potential and achieve remarkable career growth by investing in developing your soft skills.
You improve your adaptability in the workplace.
Soft skills have become increasingly essential in the fast-paced modern workplace. They allow you to maneuver through changes and excel in dynamic environments. By cultivating solid and soft skills, you can adapt to the present and anticipate and embrace the future of work.
Best Soft Skills for a Graduate Résumé
1) Communication:
Effective communication includes verbal and written skills that allow you to express your ideas clearly, concisely, and persuasively. Strong communication skills can make a significant difference in your résumé, demonstrating your ability to connect with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
2) Teamwork:
The workplace is a collaborative tapestry, and teamwork is the thread that binds individuals together. It’s about leveraging individual strengths and working toward shared goals. Highlighting your teamwork skills on your résumé demonstrates your ability to collaborate effectively, share ideas, and contribute to a cohesive work environment.
3) Problem-Solving:
When faced with challenges, your most significant strength is your problem-solving ability. This involves first identifying the root cause of the issue, then analyzing it, and finally developing effective solutions. Demonstrating strong problem-solving skills on your résumé can make you stand out from other candidates, showcasing your analytical abilities, creative thinking, and capacity to overcome obstacles.
4) Leadership:
Leadership is not just about a title but about inspiring and motivating others to achieve common goals. Highlighting your leadership skills on your résumé demonstrates your ability to take initiative, set clear directions, and empower others to reach their full potential. Employers value leaders who foster a positive work environment, delegate tasks effectively, and provide constructive feedback that drives growth.
5) Adaptability:
In today’s fast-paced world, it is essential to have the ability to adapt. When you highlight your adaptability on your résumé, it shows you are resilient, flexible, and willing to step out of your comfort zone.
6) Time Management:
The ability to make the most use of your time is one of the most valuable skills you can possess. Efficient time management includes organizing tasks according to their priority, ensuring prompt completion of projects, and avoiding procrastination. By emphasizing your time management skills on your résumé, you showcase your capacity to manage multiple commitments, organize your workload, and deliver results under pressure.
7) Creativity:
It’s essential to think outside the box, challenge conventional thinking, and develop fresh ideas to solve problems. Demonstrating your creativity on your résumé can showcase your originality and problem-solving skills. Employers value individuals who can bring new perspectives, spark innovative ideas, and contribute to the organization’s growth.
8) Personal Branding:
Personal branding has become essential to your job search in today's highly competitive job market. It involves identifying and communicating your unique value proposition effectively to potential employers. By showcasing your brand on your résumé, you demonstrate your self-awareness, career goals, and ability to market yourself effectively.
Develop your Soft Skills with a Graduate Degree at St. John’s University.
Employers seek candidates with technical expertise and strong interpersonal and communication skills in today’s competitive job market.
At St. John’s University, you can develop essential soft skills by choosing from more than 60 graduate degrees and professional certificate programs. Each program focuses on honing critical-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Moreover, the University’s diverse student community offers an opportunity to learn and collaborate with people from different backgrounds. This unique experience further enhances your soft skills and equips you with the necessary tools to succeed professionally.
Learn more about St. John’s graduate programs.
