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Employers and employees alike have probably heard a lot about the increasing value being placed on so-called “soft skills,” or those skills that fall outside of industry-specific technical abilities that are often top of mind in employee searches. But “soft skills” isn’t as specific as it could be. Many applicants and employers, while now generally […]
It may be hard to believe, but the now popular concept of “emotional intelligence” (EQ) has actually been around for quite some time. In fact, it was first put forth back in 1990—40+ years ago—by researchers Peter Salavoy and John Mayer and was later popularized by Dan Goleman in his book of the same name. […]
Undoubtedly, every industry requires a specific technical or “hard skill” to perform a job. These skills are often gained through specific training or education and have long been viewed as a necessity for many roles. However, nontechnical, interpersonal skills called “soft skills” have become increasingly important to employers and employees who want their businesses and […]
In recent years, discussions around the importance of soft skills in the workplace have become much more common, and soft skills are starting to seem increasingly less “soft” and increasingly valuable. The ability to work well with teammates, to lead groups, and to communicate effectively are seen by many as equally important to the ability […]
It goes without saying that the last 2 years have posed unique challenges for companies in the United States and around the globe. Operations have been upended by constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced businesses to close their doors, shift to widespread remote work, implement robust health and safety measures for […]
In the realm of employee development, soft skills bear an unfortunate name; once skills are labeled “soft,” the implication is that they are somehow less valuable than other skills, which, in a binary world, are thought of as “hard skills.” When people hear the term “soft skills,” they often think of fluffy concepts like “being […]
Job postings often contain a list of desired qualifications and abilities the employer deems necessary to fulfill the basic functions of the job, such as “proficiency with Microsoft® Office,” “a commercial driver’s license (CDL),” or “X years of corporate accounting experience.” “We need a truck driver. They’d better be licensed to drive for us.” But […]
In the world of work, your emerging talent—those with less than 5 years of work experience—is the future of your organization. And in an era of record turnover, global turmoil, and a constant shift in the way we work, fostering the growth of that young talent to ensure they succeed is as important to the […]
When people think of the top job skills that help employees stand out in the labor market, technical skills, like computer programming, or proficiency with certain workplace applications comes to mind. But some of the most critical skills are soft skills, traits and abilities that aren’t necessarily specific to any given industry or job but […]
Across the country, employers are struggling to find enough workers to meet the needs of their businesses, and the issue isn’t just anecdotal and specific to a handful of vocal companies. “The economic data is fairly clear: employers are getting desperate for workers in the United States, writes Tom Spiggle in an article for Forbes. […]