Soft skills can’t be replaced by automation, and are a far more important criteria in the interview process than hard skills. They have nothing to do with a college degree or academics, however they’re more valuable than a degree. Hard skills will get you into an interview based on what you’ve done, however soft skill attributes, identified through behavioral interview techniques, will show insight into how you will function on the job.
Examples of key soft skills include: leadership, adaptability, communication, time management, teamwork, interpersonal, creative problem-solving, empathy, and analytical and strategic planning. It’s always important to emphasize both hard and soft skills during an interview. While the advance of technology and systems has taken over the more routine and administrative work of today, inevitably automation will also cause job gains in certain areas. Complex problem-solving and critical thinking skills will be in high demand – to handle the work that machines and AI can never do. The rapid progress in technology and diverse business environments can be difficult to succeed in if you don’t have the necessary soft skills to navigate.
CEOs and HR Managers today suggest that they would rather hire people with good soft skills, then train them to develop hard skills in their area of specialization. In our digital high-tech world of 2019, soft skills can never be replaced by automation. The good news is that soft skills are becoming more and more valued than technology. Remember, soft skills can’t be replaced by automation.
Examples of soft skill interview questions include: Adaptability: Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something you had never done before. How did you react? What did you learn? Culture fit: What are the three things that are most important to you in a job? Collaboration/Teamwork: Give me an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How did you handle interaction with that person? Prioritization: Tell me about a time when you had to juggle several projects at the same time with tight deadlines. How did you organize your time? What was the result?
Soft skills can’t be replaced by automation, and these skills that were identified as key skills to be developed in the accelerated age of AI efficiency and machines, include: creativity, collaboration, complex problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. These skills will undoubtedly play a far greater role in the years to come!
To learn more please reach out and connect with a consultant.