Must-have in-demand soft skills in 2021

2020 was not very kind to the world. From the Australian Black Summer to East Africa locust swarm outbreak to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the world was shaken to its core.

After a whirlwind of losses and uncertainties in 2020, we entered 2021 with hope and apprehension. Yes, though we are still learning to live with the virus that erupted out of the blue, there is still much to look forward to thanks to people who have gone out and beyond to make life easier for us even in the worst of times.

In the corporate world, we now know what kind of soft skills recruiters are looking for in candidates post-Covid.

When the landscape of the job market was drastically changed by the coronavirus lockdown, the rules of work changed too. As the technique of work-from-home became the norm, recruiters saw the need for certain soft skills in candidates that will help in keeping their businesses afloat.

In this article, we will share the top in-demand soft skills that recruiters want to see in candidates so that you’ll be able to work on those areas to get your dream job.

What are Soft Skills?

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries define soft skills as “personal qualities that enable you to communicate well with other people.” These qualities or skills include those such as communication, listening, and leadership skills among many others.

Now, with limited resources due to recession, recruiters and hiring managers are looking for skilled candidates who they would not have to give further training. This includes soft skills as well.

Top Soft Skills that are In-Demand in 2021:

(As per research survey collected from 23,000 respondents by Hays)

Communication and Interpersonal Skills (approx. 55%)

Effective communication, both verbal and written, has and will always be a vital tool to get desired results. With work-from-home, remote conversations become difficult due to many barriers such as poor network connection. With getting connected being already hard enough, to add a lack of communication skills in the mix just makes it more challenging. Moreover, the ability to cooperate and coordinate well with colleagues or employers makes work easier and faster, which is why interpersonal skills are also in high demand.

Ability to adopt change (53%)

Changes should be accepted to occur now and then. The use of new tech or new systems will be a part of that change. Recruiters are looking for candidates who will be able to adapt to the changes and adopt them as the new norm, even if temporary.

Problem-solving (45%)

A person with problem-solving skills is able to see a problem, assess it, concoct a solution and fix it. At times like these, when issues arise from different angles, having problem-solving skills is a must.

Flexibility and adaptability (43%)

In these uncertain times, no one really knows what drastic change we might have to encounter again. We cannot really prepare for the unknown. All we can do is learn to adapt and pull through when the time comes. Recruiters want candidates who are flexible, someone who will be able to work well with a team or handle a solo project when needed.