It should come as no surprise that a college degree alone is no longer the golden ticket to a good career that it once was. It certainly helps, but the letters on your diploma are no longer a guarantee of a good job. In fact, employers are looking more at valuable soft skills, like teamwork and communication skills, when making hiring decisions.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recently released the results of a survey, in which they asked hiring managers what skills they would prioritize when recruiting in 2015.
The results might surprise you. Here are the top 10 responses:
You’ll notice that the first five are all soft skills, that is, skills and attributes that make a person able to interact with others effectively. They’re all part of your EQ, your emotional intelligence quotient. And you won’t find many college courses specifically dedicated to these skills.
The second half of the top ten does focus more on specific skill sets, including an analytical mindset, good written communication skills, and computer proficiency.
I have highlighted the ever-increasing importance of data skills in many of my posts. A lot of the skills listed here relate to our ability to make better fact-based decisions. Our world is becoming an increasingly digital space—and those without a sound understanding of how to use computers and how to turn data into insights will increasingly struggle. One recommendation is to make 2015 a year to focus on your data skills.
But you won’t get a job in 2015 (and beyond) if you can’t demonstrate your proficiency with the softer skills either.
If you feel your EQ or soft skills might be lacking and damaging your job prospects, consider the following:
In a CareerBuilder survey, 71% of respondents said they valued EQ over IQ when making hiring decisions, so it’s important to make sure your soft skills are sharp.
