The workplace ‘soft skills’ that’ll give you the edge in 2023

Your technical proficiency and expertise are important, but don’t sleep on the power of soft skills when finding your next job

Soft skills can make you stand out in the workplace (ZipRecruiter)

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, having the right set of skills is essential for success. While hard skills such as technical proficiency and expertise are important, it’s the soft skills that often make the difference between being a good candidate and a great candidate.

Soft skills, also known as interpersonal or emotional intelligence skills, refer to the ability to effectively interact with others, handle challenging situations, and communicate effectively. These skills are becoming increasingly important in the modern workplace, as they are crucial for building strong relationships, collaborating effectively with team members, and leading projects to success.

In this article, we’ll explore some examples of soft skills and why they’re so important in the modern workplace. If you put these tips into action, you’ll stand out from the crowd next time you turn to ZipRecruiter to find your dream job.

Communication is key

Effective communication is one of the most important soft skills, as it enables you to clearly express your ideas and effectively listen to others. Active listening, which involves paying attention to what others are saying and responding thoughtfully, is an important aspect of effective communication.

Some people may think that they are good communicators, but have room to improve. So it’s good to solicit feedback from your manager and co-workers on any ways in which your communications skills could be taken to the next level.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Another important soft skill is teamwork. Whether you’re working on a project with colleagues or collaborating with a cross-functional team, being able to work well with others is essential.

Teamwork means more than just following instructions and co-operating; it also means helping to motivate those around you, being aware of areas in which a co-worker needs assistance, and making sure you’re putting in maximum effort. You don’t need to be the CEO to be showing off some leadership skills, here.

Teamwork can involve an element of leadership (ZipRecruiter)

Problem: solved

Problem-solving skills are also critical, as they allow you to identify challenges and develop creative solutions to overcome them.

No-one is expecting you to fix every problem that arises, but you should be comfortable and confident enough to be offering useful suggestions.

If you’re always looking to others to make the breakthroughs, you’re going to struggle to get ahead in the workplace. You need to take some ownership.

Take ownership in solving problems that arise in the workplace (ZipRecruiter)

On the clock

Time management is a valuable soft skill that enables you to effectively prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage your workload. This skill is especially important in today’s fast-paced work environment, where managing multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines is the norm.

Think about your role right now - what kind of soft skills do you use each day? It’s useful to write those down, as these are the skills to put on your resume.

It’s also a good opportunity to take an overview of any aspect of your soft skills which you could improve.

The importance of soft skills in the modern workplace cannot be overstated. From effective communication and active listening to teamwork and problem-solving, these skills are essential for success in today’s rapidly evolving job market.

If you’re looking to give yourself the edge in 2023 and beyond, it’s important to develop and hone your soft skills. Adding these skills to your resume will show potential employers that you’re well-rounded, flexible, and able to adapt to changing circumstances. So start working on your soft skills today, and give yourself the edge you need to succeed in the job market.

Finding your next job with ZipRecruiter is already easy, which is why it’s the number one rated jobs site in the US.* By boosting your soft skills, you can make the recruitment process even easier.

*Based on G2 satisfaction ratings as of January 1, 2022