Two national surveys show you which qualities to promote on your resume and in elevators

In our last post on Soft Skills, Competencies, and Character, I explained why employers are increasingly valuing these qualities—often as much as hard skills. In fact, managers are often willing to fill in your hard skill gaps with training if you possess the right soft skills. So what soft skills do employers value most?

The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2015 survey of 260 US employers revealed that soft skills are becoming the primary attribute employers look for in candidates. According to respondents, employers want natural leaders who can work as part of a team and communicate effectively.

NACE Top 5 Soft Skills

1. Tie: Leadership (78%) Teamwork (78%)
2. Communication skills (73%)
3. Problem-solving skills (71%)
4. Strong work ethic (70%)

CareerBuilder recently commissioned a similar survey of 2,138 hiring managers and human resource professionals across industries and company sizes. “When companies are assessing job candidates, they’re looking for the best of both worlds: someone who is not only proficient in a particular function, but also has the right personality,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.

CareerBuilder Top 5 Soft Skills

1. Tie: Strong work ethic (73%) Dependability (73%)
2. Positive attitude (72%)
3. Self-motivation (66%)
4. Team orientation (60%)

Now that you know the soft skills, take some hard action.

If you’re diligent enough to be reading this blog, chances are you have some of these timeless qualities that have been prized by leaders from Thomas Jefferson to Steve Jobs. Great! While these lists are in front of you, open your resume and take these three steps to infuse it with hard-hitting power of your soft skills.

1. Add the three soft skills that best apply to you. Consider listing six hard skills on two lines and a line of three soft skills below them.
2. For the accomplishments you have already provided, rewrite them to demonstrate your soft skills in action.
3. For any soft skills you have not demonstrated, add an accomplishment to exemplify that skill.

By: Alan Margulis