Right Fit

Softskills are being increasingly seen as a solid strength, but recruiters should take care to keep bias at bay.

- Pradeep

Stacks of resumés, all listing one qualification after another. The technicalities add up, the skill set fits the bill, the candidates are numerous—all in all, the talent pool seems vast and promising. Yet, there is a shred of doubt in your mind about hiring certain candidates, and an element of certainty about others. In an age when school and university education are closely followed with online courses and workshops, everyone is an eligible professional on paper. What sets a few apart is something more subtle than a degree certificate—certain behavioural attributes that enable people to interact effectively with others, communicate well, and achieve a balance between compassion and assertiveness in their everyday activities, especially, in their dealing with a team.

In fact, according to LinkedIn’s 2019 Global Talent Trends report, 92 per cent of recruiters state that soft skills are just as, if not more, important than functional and tech-related skills. So, why is it that this aspect is so important for recruiters, and how do soft skills give some aspirants an edge over others?

Some skills are taught, some are absorbed