Today’s job interviews no longer consist of meeting with company management, reviewing your resume, and sitting through a series of questions. These days, smart companies are getting creative. Although hard skills are still evaluated during the hiring process, soft skills are keenly evaluated, too.
NEWS FLASH: Companies have figured out that traditional resumes and interviews aren’t the best indicators of future career success.
Why? Because as a job seeker, you know what’s coming and (if you’re smart) you can practice painting a picture of your best self.
So, companies are taking a well-rounded, more holistic view of candidates starting with simple feedback, including how you treated the person at the front desk.
Feedback from nontraditional sources gives employers insights into something many job seekers can hide during brief periods of time during an interview, such as how do you interact other humans.
Soft skills—including communication, interpersonal skills, transparency and attention to detail —are crucial for long-term success.
Example: If you’re interviewing for an executive position, how you treat the janitor who opens the door for you as you enter the building will tell a story. Did you thank your benefactor with a smile, or did you walk feeling too self-important or higher up the food chain to bother? How did you communicate with the front desk staffer as he set up the appointment?
Although hard skills remain crucial, making sure you embrace and use robust soft skills can certainly help you get the nod when the time comes to make a hiring decision.
Written by:
Kim Robson
Product Manager
krobson@marathonstaffing.com
