Soft Skills

When discussing doctors, our evaluations of them are often based on what is referred to as their bedside manner. However, when we talk about business professionals, the term which is often used to describe a person’s proficiency in communication and interpersonal dexterity is ‘soft skills’...

While technical skills are essential, they alone are not sufficient in order to be considered as a potential candidate. Technical skills are easier to teach, therefore the majority of the larger firms in Ireland would rather recruit a less technically adept candidate who possesses strong soft skills and invest in them through training, than a candidate with superior technical skills who lacks the capacity to communicate that they will inevitably require to progress within the organization. 

I.T., Financial and Accounting professionals no longer work in isolation and are as responsible for developing and displaying well rounded skill sets as those in other departments. A systems implementation, for example, will often require collaboration between several departments and different levels of management within an organization. As individuals with conflicting interests come together to contribute to a common cause or project, those with finely tuned soft skills; practised in co-ordinating and participating in meetings, experienced in executing presentations and adept in supervision and diplomacy will prevail.

Finely honed written and verbal skills are as much a part of this soft skill set as any other. Report writing skills are becoming increasingly more important and, for example, I.T. technical documentation authors writing reports on existing technology or software must possess the ability to produce and present clear, unambiguous reports for use by who are often non I.T. professionals. A relatively new area of I.T. for Ireland is that of design based on user experiences which is the process of defining users’ needs and aligning those needs with business objectives. This requires empathy with the end user thus bringing the professional closer to the end user and requiring them to interact with them more directly.

Acquiring soft skills is most important to those in mid to top level management. These are the people who most need the ability to share knowledge and maintain open lines of communication which allow information to efficiently and effectively pass through them in order to reach the desired recipients. The skills needed to schedule and conduct an effective meeting, for example, is something which should be included in training topics for every company. An agenda and objectives which are circulated prior to each meeting is something simple yet crucial, which avoids confusion and allows the meeting to take on a direction.  Appropriate participation in meetings is also something employees need to be mindful of; tendencies to talk incessantly or not at all are things employers will be watching out for during interview.

A candidate’s proven ability to effectively implement professional networking strategies may also prove a powerful tool in an interview situation. While a large percentage of business transactions take place in the boardroom, many are secured with a handshake away from the office; at a social event or even on the golf course. In this case, confidence is often just as valuable as competence and a candidate’s capacity for first impressions and creating contacts is vital.

Presentation often plays a pivotal role in an employer’s choice of candidate.  Due care and attention to neatly presented business attire is essential and a lack thereof is often viewed as inexcusable. Everything down to a person’s mobile ring tone may be duly noted by an employer and it is important that a candidate’s professionalism is conveyed in all aspects of their personal presentation.

Each employee will act as a representative for their organization while both on and off site and that this will be at the forefront of employers’ minds during the recruitment and selection process.  The presence of a ‘soft skill set’ is generally evident from the first moments of an interview so it is imperative that a candidate displays their capabilities not only to carry out the technical aspects of the role, but their aptitude for the non-technical requirements of the position also. Business acumen and knowledge of basic business practices is now expected at all levels across an array of different principles as the ability to convey technical messages to a non technical recipient becomes increasingly important.