When applying for jobs, you should be aiming to show that you’re a candidate who is above and beyond whatever the job description requires of the ideal applicant. One of the ways you can do this is to prove your so-called “soft skills”, personal qualities that can enhance and complement your key competencies. After all, if it comes down to a choice between you and a candidate with exactly the same qualifications on paper then a decision may be made on what additional skills you can demonstrate.
Whilst the majority of your CV and covering letter should be about demonstrating how your workplace achievements match what the recruiter is looking for, a good way to make yourself stand out is to demonstrate some so-called “soft skills”. This doesn’t mean simply listing some nice but vague character traits such as “friendly”, “sociable” or “positive” though. As with all parts of the recruitment process, you should provide evidence of when you demonstrated each skill. The key is identifying where in your life you may have unwittingly picked up these skills...
Travelling
If you’ve been travelling for any amount of time, you could have a wealth of hidden skills that may boost your chances with a prospective employer. Travelling often looks great on a CV as long as you can prove the relevance of what you’ve learned to the world of work.
Skills gained:
- research
- language skills
- problem solving
- organisational ability
- working with deadlines
- negotiation
Sports
You don’t have to spend your free time with your nose buried in management books to develop work-relevant skills. Playing team sports or even individual pursuits, such as rock climbing, can demonstrate your self-motivation and attention to detail as well as your ability to inspire and lead others.
Skills gained:
- motivational skills
- leadership, decision making
- ability to deal with pressure
- teamwork
Part-time work
This is only really relevant if you’re near the beginning of your career, but making the best of a part time job in your CV is a great way to top up your skillset, especially in the service industries. Even if it was working in the local chippie on weekends, if you can prove that you weren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get on with a job, no matter how hard or unpleasant, it could be a crucial point in your favour.
Skills gained:
- self-motivation
- resilience
- adaptability
- commitment
- teamwork
Hobbies
If you have a creative hobby, it could be a great way of showing off some skills that you might find it hard to demonstrate otherwise, potentially plugging a gap in your CV. Anything from painting or pottery to collecting stamps or performing arts can show off another side of you and demonstrate a new set of skills.
Skills gained:
- creativity
- problem solving
- attention to detail
- public speaking
- passion
- commitment
Blogging
If you have a blog or Twitter account (one that is appropriate for work), you could include a link to it in your application. Obviously this should be used with caution, as drunken photos or ill-judged rants are guaranteed to scupper your application rather than aid it, but insightful comment on pertinent issues could well impress when it comes to your job application.
Skills gained:
- industry knowledge
- organisational ability
- communication
- working to deadlines
Volunteering
Volunteering often looks great on a CV. After all, someone who believes in a cause enough to work at it in their spare time will seem much more appealing to an employer than someone who sits on Facebook all evening.
Skills gained:
- organisational ability
- commitment
- time management
- teamwork
- motivation
The key with soft skills is to spot them in all aspects of your life and to make sure that they show you in the best light possible. At the end of the day soft skills won’t get you the job on their own, but they are a good way to round off a great CV.
