“I hold a Master’s degree in English Literature”, she told her interviewer when she was met with the standard, ‘So tell me more about yourself’ question. He didn’t flinch; he didn’t give away any reaction. But she continued, “I then went on to work with some of the biggest newspapers and magazines in the country, and in my 10 odd years of work experience, I’ve learned far more on the job that I would in a classroom.” Again, he didn’t give away anything. Ultimately, after about 40 minutes of what she thought was a good interview, she was left with a, ‘We’ll get back to you’.
Sometimes, most of us come out of a job interview feeling confident that we’ve managed to make an impression on a potential employer. In actuality, the impressions we make are not just with the academic pedigree we come with, but the added skills we bring to the table. It’s that something more that will set us apart from the rest of the workforce that can guarantee our place in that coveted profile.
So what are some of those soft skills that can make or break that interview, and give us the career boost we all need? Let’s find out:
You need to go beyond just speaking the language
Whether you’re a translator, a writer, an editor, or a banker, an essential skill is one’s ability to communicate effectively. But did you know that good communication skills are more than just having an excellent command over a language? They encompass being a good listener, communicator (read: non-verbal communication), the ability to ask the right questions, and speaking after formulating a complete thought based on everything you’ve heard and comprehended, even subtext. If you can read between the lines, you can get a task done without having to be explicitly told.
Understand what teamwork and collaboration really mean
It’s easy to say you’re a team player during an interview. It’s another to embody team spirit. Truly being a team player means being open and receptive to various ideas and perspectives while respectively getting yours to be heard, and then collaborating to come to a solution that makes sense for the task at hand, and everyone involved. Understand your team’s individual strengths and weaknesses, and then proceeding to complete the task is what shows leadership potential, something every employer looks out for.
Be a problem solver
Everyone can present their manager with a problem. However, companies prefer employees that notify their manager about a problem and have found suitable solutions. They then proceed with their manager’s approval down a certain avenue. You have a chance to excel in your field if you use your knowledge and experience to propel yourself further. And facing challenges and being solution-oriented is guaranteed to get you noticed.
Update your technology skills
Given that we live and do almost everything on the go, it’s important to update your knowledge too, not just your devices. Moreover, if there’s a new software that is linked to your work in some form or another, learn the basics of it as this shows you’re willing to put in time and effort to get the job done. Upskill to stay relevant. This will also give your employer the confidence that you can function independently, manage your work load, complete tasks within their given deadlines, and do not need to be micromanaged.