How to boost your attractiveness on the job market

Every industry and job position requires technical and specialized knowledge, but imagine that three other people with the same degree and experience show up to the interview. What sets you apart from them? Think about how you can be an asset to a potential employer. Are you applying for a project manager role and have your own organizational system? Planning to dive into a sales career and a master of networking? Don’t forget to highlight that during the hiring process. Let’s take a look at four soft skills that will help you land your dream job in today’s labor market.

Communication

This is absolutely essential. We spend a huge part of our lives at work, and we usually have to communicate with others. Whether it's dealing with colleagues within the company, suppliers, or customers, proper communication is crucial. A conflict may arise that needs to be resolved calmly and thoughtfully. You might get stressed due to a heavy workload and need to talk to your supervisor about it. You might make a mistake and get a call from an upset customer. These are all situations you’re likely to encounter — and if you can’t clearly and calmly explain your position or request, work will be a real challenge. Try mentioning a real-life situation in your interview where you successfully resolved a communication issue. It’ll definitely make a good impression.

Punctuality

Arriving early to meetings and submitting all work on time is crucial for success. Of course, everyone occasionally oversleeps or misses a deadline. Just make sure this doesn’t become a habit. We’re all busy, and being punctual is one of the best ways to show that you respect your colleagues’ and clients’ time. So if you promise someone something, always deliver it on time — and don’t say “yes” to new tasks or meetings if you already know you won’t have enough time for them.

Critical thinking

The ability to argue effectively, conduct analysis and research, make quick decisions, and solve problems is among the top soft skills employers look for. If you’ve had any work experience or part-time job, you probably know that new problems or challenges pop up almost every week. That’s why it’s important to know how to work with information and think conceptually. Before the interview, prepare a few real-life situations where you faced something unexpected, and clearly explain the strategy you used to solve the problem. Recruiters love specific examples.

Organization and time management

Planning your work isn’t hard — anyone can jot down tasks in a calendar. What’s more challenging is being able to tell the difference between important tasks and those that can wait. Knowing how to set priorities and tackle work step by step is a real skill. If this is something you struggle with, try dividing your tasks into a four-box table. In the top left box, list tasks that are important and urgent. The top right is for important but not urgent tasks. Bottom left is for urgent but not important tasks, and bottom right is for those that are neither urgent nor important. Use this table to plan your day ahead — you’ll be surprised how much more efficient you become.