The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the job market in the last year. The demand for technical roles continues to be high, and new job opportunities are opening up every day. Of course, there is also a great deal of competition you need to overcome too. Your soft skills are a valuable asset here. It can differentiate your resume from other applicants and get you through the door. Read on as we discuss the best soft skills to list on your resume.

1. Adaptability

Adaptability is more important than ever for organizations. With COVID-19 forcing most businesses to shift to remote work, organizations need employees who can adapt to change and stay productive.

If that’s something you are good at, make sure you add it to your resume. You can also prepare examples that demonstrate your adaptability. We recommend using the STAR technique for this. This technique allows you to showcase your soft skills by focusing on four aspects: Situation, Task, Action, and Results. You can use it to be more concise when talking about your experience and communicate easily with the employer.

2. Attention to Detail

Being detail-oriented is one of the best soft skills in a candidate. Having this soft skill means you’ll be able to understand your job duties and responsibilities faster than others. It also means you are less likely to make mistakes, and that is something every organization values.

Employees with great attention to detail can also pick up on things others miss out and are generally more productive. Be careful, though. You don’t want to get too lost in the details and fail to deliver what’s expected of you.

3. Collaboration

Technical roles often require collaborating with third-parties and other team members for projects. You can list this skill on your resume and show you are a team player. If you have any experience collaborating with someone on a project, you can mention it on your resume too.

In this case, we suggest you talk about:

How you were able to communicate with the team
Any tools you used to collaborate with team members
Mention the benefits of any methods you used to improve collaboration and the impact it had on the outcome of the project

4. Communication

Communication is the lifeblood of working in a team. As organizations have shifted to remote work, they need employees who can reach out to other team members, offer updates, and resolve problems. Showing that you are willing to communicate and engage with other team members without being prompted makes this process easier.

Communication is also vital for conflict resolution. You need to be a team player who is willing to hear other people out and overcome personal grievances to achieve the company’s objectives. If that is something you believe you are good at, make sure you put it on your resume.

5. Creativity

Creativity also falls among the best soft skills a candidate can have. Whether you are applying to a large or small organization, there’s one thing you can count on – the competition. We don’t just mean other job candidates vying for the same position as you. The organization you are applying to is also looking for ways to stay one step ahead of its competitors.

To do so, organizations need creative individuals who can think out of the box and develop innovative solutions. That’s why companies are always looking for candidates possessing mental flexibility, curiosity, and openness to new ideas. As far as technical roles go, your creativity may be the soft skill that sets you apart from other job applicants.

6. Decision-making

Good decision-making skills are the hallmark of a good leader. Technical roles also often require you to solve problems, opt for logical reasoning, and make quick decisions. You need to make decisions that benefit the company and its employees and align with company values.

If you are the type of person who can think on their feet and make strategic decisions, then make sure you flaunt this soft skill in your resume.

Wrapping It Up

97% of employers consider soft skills almost as necessary as hard skills. Companies are always looking for individuals with these skills as they add more value to the organization.

Having essential soft skills such as adaptability, creativity, decision making, communication, and collaboration can also set you apart from candidates with similar hard skills. If you have got one or more of these skills, you must list them on your resume. It can get you one step closer to qualifying for an interview. Good luck!

Are you finding it harder to locate the good technical and IT talent? Many companies find them selves in the same situation. There are some better ways to locate and attract the right it and technical people to your company. Contact us to learn more.