On paper, you look perfect for the job. You have all of the experience and qualifications the job requires. But do you have the soft skills necessary to succeed?
Soft skills are those qualities and attributes, such as communication and teamwork, which help employees work well with others and enhance productivity. And they matter to employers.
According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 63 percent of employers said one of the top questions they’re trying to answer when looking for candidates is “what are their soft skills?” What’s more, Google recently conducted a study which found that “among the eight most important qualities of Google’s top employees, STEM expertise comes in dead last. The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills.”
So, what are some of the softer skills employers think are important for their current and future workers to have? Here, career experts share a list of six soft skills companies are seeking in a successful employee: