As the modern workplace becomes highly competitive, organizations are now looking beyond the technical skills among their workforce to create a competitive edge.

Technical skills remain the most sought-after skills, but studies suggest soft competencies are significantly essential to thrive in this ever-evolving world. Employers are now paying close attention to the kind of soft skills employees have under their belt. According to a recent global talent survey, over 90% of recruiters strongly linked employee soft competencies with a company’s success.

As organizations strive to make the workplace environment healthy in pressing times like these, candidates with traits like critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities have become the need of the hour.

Soft competencies are traits that candidates carry with them throughout their life, adding and improving them with time.  These skills are relevant and handy across all job profiles, irrespective of the industry or sector. We have jotted down a few of the most in-demand interpersonal skills that a workforce needs to be future-ready.

Communication

A survey revealed that 60% of employers rejected candidates solely because of poor communication abilities. Communicating and meticulously understanding ideas effectively is considered a must-have in accomplishing both personal and organizational goals.

Communication is more than just talking to people you are working with; it involves active listening too. Active listening is an imperative skill to master, and empathetic conversation ensures all parties are on the same page.

The ability to communicate effectively is a game-changer in today’s complex working space. Candidates with mere technical expertise are dubbed insufficient until they can communicate/market their ideas to employers.

Adaptability

Ensuring that work goes as planned is a rarity. The 21st-century workforce is challenging, and to remain competitive, companies need candidates that switch gears when required.

Companies are keen on investing in talents that can handle different workflows and accept both positive and negative changes.

Although adaptability does feel like a never-ending struggle, it also helps organizations embrace new strategies to change their approach towards work and accomplish pre-set goals.

Problem-solving

Companies look to onboard candidates that come with a knack for problem-solving abilities. Employees that creatively tackle challenges become a much attractive asset in preventing unforeseen damages.

Candidates’ ability to find solutions to insurmountable problems will present an example to the employer that they can outsmart others at the most daunting tasks. However, to incorporate the solutions effectively, candidates must also work alongside their team. Having a team that collectively works on a problem does help in achieving outcomes faster.

Problem-solving is an invaluable skill set to alleviate the modern workforce problems. While most appreciate the values of problem-solving abilities, they have little to no idea how to improve such skills.

Continuous learning

Staying up to date in today’s marketplace requires constant learning. Businesses worldwide are tweaking their strategies to move with the times. Also, employers are constantly helping their candidates to obtain new ideas and skills. But whatever the future has in store, continual learning is now a necessity for companies.

Continuous learning has become a must-have skill in this digitally driven world. Employers failing to acknowledge the importance of reskilling their employees will soon be grappling for survival.

Employers must pay heed to the qualities mentioned above. Candidates armed with these skills ensure that problems are resolved quickly.

With organizations finding ways to respond to current needs and trends, reskilling has become an integral part of a company’s progress. Since reskilling has garnered the attention of many companies, here’s a webinar that will touch upon the most talked-about facets of soft competencies.

Join Vijay Swaminathan, CEO & Co-founder of Draup, as he talks about soft competencies in the upcoming webinar on Hiring for Potential in an Era of Digital Disruption. He will explore several aspects surrounding soft competencies and discuss why soft skills matter in today’s workforce.

Register here to attend this insightful session and learn how soft skills in your professional toolbox will positively impact the modern tech-driven society.