More and more, employers are putting an emphasis on hiring candidates with the right soft skills to be successful. It will be important, however, to remember to showcase those soft skills in your interview.
Here are some of the common soft skills that employers are looking for and some helpful tips on how to convey those skills to your interviewer.
Presenting Yourself as a Professional
Like it or not, an interviewer will make a snap judgment about you within the first few moments of meeting you. This is just human nature. Be sure to show that you are a consummate professional by dressing the part. Look professional, and don’t load on the perfume or cologne. Stand and sit with good posture, watch your hand gestures and tone of voice. Use a firm, but not overbearing handshake, look your interviewer in the eye, and smile genuinely. Try to make a connection quickly with some small talk, even if it’s just about the weather. Projecting a professional image shows that you care about yourself, your work, and the way people see you.
Preparation
If you’re unprepared for an interview, the hiring manager will assume that you’ll be unprepared for your job. Be sure to do your homework and learn everything you can about the company: its history, its current focus, its mission and vision, and other relevant facts. Go over the job posting and description one more time, and review any correspondence you’ve had thus far with the hiring manager. A little bit of preparation can help make a big statement about your work ethic.
Personality
Employers want to hire friendly, positive, high-energy people. If you are nervous or naturally reserved, you’ll have to work to overcome this. Good preparation and interview practice can help build your confidence. If need be, do what professional athletes do before a game and listen to music that will pump you up and get positive feelings flowing. Show true passion for your profession and your career. If you really love what you do, your interviewer will be able to pick up on it quickly.
Willingness to Learn and Grow With the Company
Interviewers know that there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. Not everybody will have all of the skills and requirements they are looking for. They will overlook some of those shortcomings if a candidate shows a real willingness to learn and develop on the job. Showcase the ways and times in which you conducted your own development, and have stories ready that illustrate your willingness to learn new skills.
Flexibility
Job duties and requirements can change quickly, especially in technical fields. You may want to focus on one project, but circumstances may draw you to another. Employers want people who will be able to accept change and adapt quickly. Be sure to have examples ready that show times when you had to remain flexible on the job.
If you are an information technology professional or engineer seeking new opportunities for career growth in Northern Illinois, contact The Prevalent Group today. Our recruiters can connect you with tech jobs in northern Illinois that align with your skills and qualifications, and we can work with you to help you develop your interviewing style to ensure your soft skills shine through.