College Graduates: 7 Soft Skills For Resume-
Employers and hiring managers are always on the lookout for new college graduates who have the soft skills that indicate they are ready to be productive new employees.
What are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are a combination of interpersonal skills, common sense, personality, emotions and attitudes toward others that have an impact on our performance and interactions in a workplace.
Why do soft skills matter at work?
Researchers found 75 percent of a company’s success depends on people skills (aka soft skills), but only 25 per cent of that depends on knowledge (aka technical skills).
Soft skills have long been considered underdogs and are sometimes considered a little too “fluffy”.
This is not true as college graduates with strong soft skills are highly sought by employers because it means their new hire will require very little hand holding by their manager.
This means they are productive from day one.
In many industries, employers are advertising online and remote job opportunities to attract the best talent fresh out of college.
These soft skills, which can be taught over time, include critical thinking, problem solving, and communication.
So what are the specific soft skills on a resume that gets the hiring manager’s attention?
1. Strong communication skills
College graduates with strong communication skills can effectively articulate their ideas and thoughts to others, both in writing and verbally.
This skill is highly sought after by employers as it allows for clear and concise communication in the workplace.
Employers want to hire college graduates who have strong written communication skills.
These skills can be taught over time, and some are innate. A college graduate with strong communication skills is highly sought by employers.
Strong communication skills include the ability to express yourself clearly and effectively, listen attentively, and negotiate and collaborate effectively.
These skills are in high demand because they allow employees to interact effectively with others, which is essential in any workplace.
Good communication skills help employees resolve conflicts, work collaboratively, and achieve results.
In addition, great communication skills can help employees network and build relationships with clients and customers.
2. Teamwork skills
One of the most important is that teamwork skills show that a person can work well with others.
This is an essential skill in the workplace, where people often need to cooperate and collaborate to achieve common goals.
College graduates who have the interpersonal skills to work well in a team are often seen as more valuable employees.
Employers want employees who can collaborate with others, share ideas, and work towards a common goal.
Emotional intelligence
Strong teamwork skills also indicate that a person has the emotional intelligence to understand their colleagues and peers may not necessarily see eye to eye but is willing to listen to different points of view to arrive at a consensus.
In other words, they are supportive of others and willing to work together for the good of the team.
This is important in workplaces where people often need to collaborate on projects.
Recent college graduates who have teamwork skills are in high demand as employees because they can contribute significantly to a team right from the start.
They also have the potential to grow and develop their teamwork skills even further over time.
3. Leadership skills
Leadership skills are highly in demand in the workforce for a recent college graduate.
Leaders can motivate and inspire their teams to achieve common goals.
They have excellent communication skills and can think on their feet.
Leaders can make quick decisions when needed and handle difficult situations.
They set the tone for the workplace and help create a positive work environment.
A recent college graduate with strong leadership skills is very much in demand as an employee.
Employers want to hire college graduates who have strong leadership skills because they know that these graduates will be able to take charge and manage projects effectively.
Leaders can motivate their team members and get the most out of them.
They are also able to make quick decisions when needed and can think on their feet.
These skills are essential in the workplace, and employers know that recent college graduates who have them will be able to thrive in any environment.
College graduates who have strong leadership skills can be an asset to any team.
Employers want employees who can take charge when needed and motivate others to achieve success.
4. Organizational and time management skills
Organizational skills are highly sought after by employers because they are essential for efficient and effective workplace operations.
College graduates who have strong organizational skills can manage their time well, prioritize tasks, have attention to detail and work effectively under pressure.
They can stay calm and focused in chaotic and high-stress environments, which makes them invaluable employees.
This important soft skill will help college graduates stay organized and on top of their work, which can lead to better performance and fewer mistakes.
In short, organizational skills are essential for any employee, but especially for recent college graduates who are new to the workforce.
Strong organizational skills can give a recent graduate a competitive edge over other applicants and make them a valuable addition to any company.
College graduates with these key soft skills are often better equipped to handle multiple tasks at once.
Employers want employees who can stay organized and keep track of important details, especially when deadlines are looming.
Time management skills
Including great time management skills on your resume is a vital way to show off your abilities and stand out from the competition.
A recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 86% of employers consider time management skills to be very important when hiring recent college graduates.
By emphasizing your ability to effectively manage your time, you can prove that you can take on the responsibilities of a job and are ready to succeed in the workforce.
Employers believe that college graduates with strong organizational skills will make fewer mistakes, be more productive, and be valuable assets to their team.
Strong organizational skills and effective time management skills are valuable character traits for anyone looking to move up in their career.
They indicate that the individual can take on more complex assignments and manage them effectively. Project management, anyone?
Consequently, employers often see individuals with strong organizational skills as being better prepared for advancement within their company.
5. Analytical skills
Employers want to hire college graduates that can not only do the job but can also think critically and solve problems.
Critical thinking and problem solving skills are essential in any business, and recent college graduates who have strong analytical skills are very much in demand.
These skills can be taught over time, but some people are just naturally good at analyzing information and solving problems.
Analytical skills are a key component in most jobs. They allow employees to take data and information and turn it into a plan or strategy.
This is especially important in jobs that require critical thinking, problem solving, and rapid decision making.
Strong analytical skills also help employees to identify trends and patterns, which can help predict future outcomes.
In addition, analytical skills enable employees to think critically and creatively, both of which are important for problem solving.
Analytical and problem solving skills can help employees to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely.
All these qualities make recent college graduates very much in demand as employees.
College graduates who have strong analytical skills can immediately contribute to their new employer by providing insights and recommendations based on the analysis of data.
This makes them very much in demand as employees, as their employers know they can rely on them to help make sound decisions that will impact the business.
A recent college graduate who has strong analytical skills is much more likely to be successful in their job and able to contribute quickly.
He/she can quickly assess a situation and devise a plan of action. Employers want employees who can think critically and problem-solve efficiently.
Additionally, these skills show that the individual can take on new challenges and thinking critically.
In today’s competitive job market, job seekers need to stand out from the crowd, and having strong analytical skills can help them do just that.
6. Technical skills
Technical knowledge and skills are those that can be quantified and measured.
They are often learned in a classroom or laboratory setting.
Examples include computer programming, engineering, and medical diagnosis.
This is one of the in demand soft skills because it can be used to create tangible results.
In the business world, these results can include new products, processes, or services.
Employers value college graduates who have strong technical knowledge because they know that these graduates can contribute to the bottom line.
In addition, technical skills are often portable. These are transferable skills that can be used in a variety of settings and industries.
This versatility makes recent college graduates very much in demand as employees.
College graduates who have strong tech skills are often in high demand by employers.
These skills can range from being computer literate to knowing how to use specific software programs.
Most employers want to hire someone who is not only qualified for the job but is also willing and able to learn new things.
College graduates who have strong technical skills are highly sought after by employers because they know that these individuals can quickly adapt and learn new things.
This makes recent college graduates very marketable, as they can be placed in a variety of positions within the company.
Therefore, having strong technical skills is an asset that recent college graduates should highlight on their resumes.
7. Creative thinking skills
Creative thinking skills are important for a few reasons. First, they allow employees to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems.
This is important in any field, but especially in creative fields like advertising or design.
These creative skills help employees be more flexible and adaptable.
When things change or when new challenges arise, employees who can think creatively are more likely to be able to adapt and solve the problem.
Creative thinking skills can help employees see the big picture.
When looking at a problem or challenge, they can see all the different aspects and possible solutions, rather than just the one right in front of them.
This can be extremely valuable in any field.
College graduates who have strong creative thinking skills often stand out from the competition.
Creative thinking skills are important as they allow employees to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems.
This is important in any field, but especially in creative fields like advertising or design.
Also, creative thinking skills help employees be more flexible and adaptable.
When things change or when new challenges arise, employees who can think creatively are more likely to be able to adapt and solve the problem.
When looking at a problem or challenge, they can see all of the different aspects and possible solutions, rather than just the one right in front of them.
This can be extremely valuable in any field.
How to identify the best soft skills for the job
Check the job posting or job description
All job posts contain hidden languages and our task is decoding these words. It is no big deal – just minutes of effort.
Many job ads will feature easily identifiable skill sets.
Job postings may call for applicants who are extremely organized and detail-oriented.
Look up those keywords and highlight them.
Remember to use these keywords in the body of your resume and elaborate on how you meet and exceed their expectations in these areas.
How to write a stand out resume
If you are unsure about how to frame your resume, don’t be afraid to reach out to the human resources department of your prospective employer to ask for guidance in setting out your resume.
Or, there are many online resume builders with free versions you can use as a start to crafting an outstanding document.
Final thoughts
This is by no means an exhaustive list of soft skills on your resume that will catch the attention of the hiring manager.
Without a strong work ethic and the desire to invest in personal development, you will find life in the workforce challenging.
Hiring managers have very clear expectations and it is your responsibility to demonstrate you have the essential skills, maturity and hunger to make your mark in your new role.
Good luck!
