The US job market is at its strongest in the past five decades. Service industries are leading the charge. The transportation and warehousing sectors are also experiencing major gains. Despite these impressive numbers, the service sector is still below pre-COVID levels. Especially in the hospitality and leisure areas.

The robust job market is one factor that fueled the Great Resignation. If you’re one of those who left for greener pastures, you know you need to bring more to the table. This is where soft skills come in.

What are Soft Skills?

Soft skills have always been vital to a successful career. But it has never gotten as much attention as it has these past few years.

These are the character traits and behaviors that set a successful employee apart. They’re in direct contrast to technical skills, which are always specialized knowledge. These “hard” skills refer to the expertise needed to use distinct tools and do specific jobs. Meanwhile, soft skills are behavioral and interpersonal skills. These help you to work well with others. They also help develop your career.

Employers and recruiting firms are now looking for workers with these skills. Digital transformation is moving at a rapid pace, and soft skills will help you stand out. Especially as jobs that are soft-skill intensive will rule the workforce by 2030.

Soft skills are crucial since they show employers that you’re a team player and can last long in their company. This type of talent enables you to make connections and build a successful network. These skills will also build your professional reputation.

3 Essential Soft Skills to Develop

Soft skills characterize how well you work or play with others. It’s great if you have the right technical skills. But you won’t succeed if your colleagues find you unpleasant to work with. Your career also won’t have a lot of traction if you don’t like to collaborate or have poor communication skills. It’s why you should put in the effort to develop your soft skills.

There are certain traits and qualities that employers and co-workers value. So if you’re thinking of upskilling, consider the following:

· Constructive Communication

Good communication skills are something every worker should develop. Many business coaches harp on this all the time and for very good reasons. You’ll be able to listen and understand another’s perspective with this skill. You’ll also be able to express your own views in an effective manner.

Effective communicators are always talented at both verbal and written communication. But they’re also great at picking up non-verbal communication hints. Let’s say you’re going to give a presentation. If you have developed this soft skill, you’ll know how to work with your audience. You’ll know to use concise language and practice empathy. You’ll also know how to use the right tone of voice and body language to get your message across.

· Critical Thinking

Critical thinking skills are another valued trait in the workplace. This skill gives you the ability to analyze the information you receive. It also makes you effective in brainstorming and deliberating ideas.

You can then use this skill to make the best decisions moving forward. It also helps you develop successful plans and perform them well. Critical thinking also makes you respond to challenges in a rational manner.

· Teamwork

There are a lot of clichés about teamwork. And they all make sense. Any staffing firm will tell you having the right people working with you is the key to success.

Teamwork will make your office crew more productive. They can meet deadlines and come up with good projects. Working together will also ensure members become stronger and smarter.

This skill is necessary for a company to succeed. It lets employees work harder to reach a common goal. They do this by supporting each other. They also learn how to complement each other’s strengths. The end result is a better workplace for everyone.

Translating Skills to Success

Are you getting ready to expand your business? You need the right people for the job. This is where Seattle Financial can help you. We’re a full-service accounting company based in Kirkland, Washington. We’re the company to call when you need finance recruiting. We can fill a variety of openings, from HR to manufacturing and accounting. We can also provide you with administrative workers and the best sales personnel. We will deliver the talent you need. Call us at 206-343-8732 and tell us what you need. You can also send us a message at recruiting@seattlefinancial.com.