Soft Skills

If you’re considering a career in the skilled trades, you may be familiar with the individual skills required to succeed in each job—for instance, you likely understand that a welder should have steady hands and good concentration. But if you’ve heard of employers looking for “soft skills”, you may question what qualifies as a soft skill and whether soft skills are really all that important in the skilled trades.

The simplest explanation is that soft skills are the interpersonal skills that you need to succeed in your career. In other words, they’re people skills, and all workers need to develop them as part of their career training. It doesn’t matter whether you choose an academic degree program or technical training; you should always invest in a program where your instructors and mentors will put an appropriate focus on your entire skill set because that approach offers the greatest chance of lifelong success. Strong technical skills may get you a job, but a successful career requires equally strong interpersonal skills.

The following are some critical soft skills that employers look for when evaluating your qualifications:

Work Ethic – Your drive, desire to succeed, and dedication to your work can tell an employer a lot about how much you value your career opportunities, which in turn helps them to determine how invested you’ll be in helping their company grow. Time management is also a valuable part of your work ethic. When you’re punctual every day, meet your deadlines, and stay organized, your employer sees you as a reliable team member.

Communication Skills – Even if you’re in a job where you spend most of your time working independently, strong communication skills are still seen as an asset to any company. Conflicts may arise or problems may show up, and being able to talk (and listen!) effectively to your employers and coworkers can set you apart as a leader and can help to resolve issues before they become overwhelming.

Positive Attitude – An employee who is pleasant, respectful, and looks for solutions rather than problems can provide a big boost to any workplace. A positive employee is often seen as a team player and a good influence, as well as an eager worker. Employers are much more likely to keep these people around than workers who complain, cause drama, or seem unwilling to compromise.

Regardless of the industry you’re seeking to enter, you would be shorting yourself by choosing a career education program that focuses only on the practical skills required. Compass Career College believes in helping Northshore-area students acquire these soft skills through continuous modeling and reinforcement. They see the value in developing the whole person, not just the part that might be performing a specific job-related task. This approach ensures that CCC graduates have the tools they need to get a job and to build a successful career.

For more information on CCC’s Allied Health, Licensed Practical Nursing, Welding, or Cosmetology programs and the valuable skills you can acquire, call (985) 419-2050 or visit compasscareercollege.net.