Soft skills to supercharge your career

WHEN it comes to experience and skill, you may be exactly what a potential employer is looking for.

- MELISSA ROSENTHAL

But if the person interviewing you senses that you lack the kind of passion and roll-up-your-sleeves mentality their team thrives on, you probably won’t get the job offer.

Soft skills like grit, excitement and resilience are what make a stellar employee. The skills outlined on a CV only tell a fraction of the story — and an individual's work ethic, how they overcome adversity and how they interact with their peers are all much more indicative of success.

The hard truth about hard skills is that they can have a short lifespan. Constant innovation, technology updates and new feature releases can quickly render many of these skills obsolete. Meanwhile, soft skills never expire. They are relevant, transferable and keep a person highly employable.

Here are seven soft skills that will help you stay ahead in your career:

Adaptability

Think about it: adapting to an environment is a challenging yet critical part of developing your career. Adaptability in the workplace is the ability to adjust to changes in your role, processes and surroundings. Regardless of the situation you're put in, it should be your goal to acclimate and excel.

You don’t need to wait for change to come to you; anticipating what changes may be headed your way will help you prepare for the adaptation needed. These changes may include anew manager with a different work style, the addition of new responsibilities to your role, or a shift in priorities with the signing of a new client.

What do you need to be adaptable? An open mind, a can-do attitude and a growth mindset.

Emotional intelligence