Master This: 10 Soft skills to get you ahead in your career

ashley

12 Sep 2017

1/10
Communication
Employers value articulate workers that are able to easily facilitate human connections and express their thoughts relevantly and clearly. Believe it or not, but people skills may just be that X factor that employers look for!
2/10
Teamwork
Ranked as one of the most invaluable skills in the workplace, teamwork can be a lot harder to put into effect than you think. Many mistake teamwork as merely delegating duties equally. However, one should instead try to practice a team-working mindset by accepting other's ideas and maximising the efficiency of everyone's strength in a project.
3/10
Adaptability
In a world that is constantly evolving, it is imperative that we learn to adapt with it. Employers value individuals who are able to constantly stay on top of things and are able to effectively work on constructive criticism to become the best version of themselves. You'd find yourself out of depth in an environment that thrives on advancements if you choose not to adapt.
4/10
Problem-Solving
Solving problems requires analytical and critical reasoning skills that is highly valued and sought after in the job market. Navigating tricky situations will undoubtedly open many doors in the working world for you!
5/10
Critical Thinking
If you're degree is all you bring to the table, prepare for a culture shock. In an era where attaining a degree is a norm, employers now seek articulate critical thinkers who bring a fresh and unique perspective and are able to tackle problems with intuitive and insightful solutions instead of those who fit the usual cookie-cutter mould.
6/10
Leadership
You don't have to be micromanaging a team to be considered a leader. There is indeed more to leadership than bossing people around. Good leadership is a culmination of factors such as the ability to communicate effectively, think objectively and even to create a positive work-friendly culture in the office!
7/10
Initiative
Taking initiative is a sure-fire way to impress your boss. By going the extra mile, be it that coffee you bought for a coworker, or those extra hours in the office, it reflects your work ethic and dedication.
8/10
Decisiveness
Get a leg up the corporate ladder by asserting yourself! Making quick and logical decisions when the need arises is a must when it comes to the office. If you shy away from the big decisions, you may begin to lose respect in the eyes of your colleagues. As such, have confidence in your judgement and others will do the same!
9/10
Time Management
No matter how qualified you are, your boss won't be impressed by your prowess if you can't get the job done on time. Unless you have truly indispensable skills that make you a huge investment to the company, it would be wise to work on your time management.
10/10
Level-headedness
Work can often present stressful and overwhelming situations. It is therefore, important to effectively tackle and counter these problems with a level-head. Panicking or burying your head in the sand when things go awry will do you no favours.

Get your leg up on the career ladder with these 10 indispensable soft skills.

What sets apart the adequate workers from successful extraordinary ones? We hate to break it to you, but it’s actually the soft skills you possess – no matter if you’re a fresh graduate or are well into your career.

Surprisingly, soft skills repeatedly remains an under-valued and underrated skill set. People fall into the trap of dedicating their time to improve their technical proficiency in their specialised fields, whilst neglecting honing their soft skills that can actually set them apart from their peers in the long run.

Check out our gallery above for 10 pivotal skills that will guarantee you success in your career path as well as forge great working relationships in your network!

Ashley Anand

Photos: Getty Images

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