Skills Australian employers want most: Why soft skills can get workers a competitive edge

Getting an edge in your career is not all about developing technical prowess, with other skills high on employers’ lists.

Soft skills have become so important to the success of business operations that employers are preferring to hire workers who have the personal qualities, rather than technical skills, to do the job.

Communication, teamwork, listening, time management, empathy, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, punctuality, attention to detail, and organisational prowess are just some of the soft skills workers require to complete day-to-day tasks, deal with clients, or effectively work with each other.

Typically they have been viewed as skills that cannot be learned, as people have natural tendencies towards different qualities.

While it may not be the same method as learning to use a computer program or machinery, there are ways to gain these attributes through courses, mentoring or reflecting on personal experience.

Director of Your Creative Agency, Lauren Crystal, and Melanie Buddhipala. Ms Crystal believes empathy is particularly important to have a happy, productive workforce. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The 2019 Survey of Employers’ Recruitment Experiences report by the federal Education, Skills and Employment Department reveals that 38 per cent of employers prefer to hire workers who have the personal qualities to do the job.

It compares to 25 per cent of employers who prefer staff hold the technical skills, and 37 per cent who would prefer they have both technical and personal prowess.

Career services provider Generation Australia’s national programs manager Erin Brindley says soft skills are becoming more sought after by employers.

“Sometimes it’s the make or break between two candidates that have a very similar skillset of technical skills,” she says. “It’s something some people naturally have and they are very lucky if they do. (But) everyone can develop them and hone them.” She says many have gained life experience skills such as resilience, adaptability and working well within a team. But sometimes it may take a course or working with a mentor to hone skills.

Having patience, resilience and an ability to leave emotion out of the conversation when dealing with conflict would make working with others a much smoother experience.

“At Generation Australia, what we offer is you’re not just learning what these soft skills are but learning how to apply them for a particular role you’re trying for,” Brindley says.

“(For example) in our disability support worker program, we’re training them about empathy and how to apply that in a specific context. For a junior web developer, what’s really key is critical thinking skills and problem solving.”

Training organisation Bounce Australia runs programs to help unemployed jobseekers learn or improve soft skills in which they may be deficient. Founder and chief executive Maria Smith says a willingness to want to learn or engage in the process is the key attribute to learn other soft skills.

“Some people don’t even recognise if they’re turning up to work late, how their lack of presence might be impacting co-workers, so they could be less inclined to engage with you on a project. You don’t learn these skills at school, they’re certainly only learned in the workplace that you’ve been at,” she says.

Problem solving skills are essential in today’s workplaces. Picture: Supplied

Lauren Crystal, 29, believes it is not just workers but employers who also need to have a strong set of soft skills. The co-founder of Hassl and director of Your Creative Agency believes empathy is particularly important to have a happy, productive workforce.

It was a skill she learned to harness through personal experience.

“I had health problems (when working for another organisation seven years ago) and they were ignored and that led to burnout for me,” she says. “I would have done wonders for that business if I felt supported and understood.”

Instead she left but has since used that experience as a business leader.

She ensures she puts herself in others’ shoes, and encourages an open, supportive environment.

“As much as it’s a soft skill and a lovely environment to create, it does have business outcomes that are unequivocal,” she says. “If you create a positive work environment, people are more productive and love their work as well. (Empathy) is definitely something you can practise. I do think even if it comes naturally, particularly during COVID, it was really worthwhile stopping yourself, and consider what the environment is that person is having to work under.”

Originally published as Skills Australian employers want most: Why soft skills can get workers a competitive edge