Soft Skills: Guide to assess behavioral skills

These skills, also known as soft skills, are very important in the professional world. They help employees integrate well into a team and contribute positively to the company. During the hiring process, it is crucial for recruiters to identify and assess these skills to ensure harmonious collaboration and optimal performance.

Why are soft skills important?

Soft skills play a crucial role in employees' professional success. They encompass skills such as effective communication, leadership, and adaptability. These soft skills are essential for navigating dynamic and collaborative work environments, and more broadly, the world of work.

Unlike hard skills, soft skills are often more difficult to measure. But they are just as crucial for ensuring successful integration and sustainable performance within the company.

The 6 Main Families of Soft Skills

Communication and interpersonal skills

Effective communication is at the heart of professional interactions. It includes the ability to express ideas clearly, to listen actively, and to adapt one's message according to the audience.

Leadership and management

Leadership involves the ability to guide and inspire a team towards achieving common goals. A good leader knows how to delegate effectively, motivate team members, and make strategic decisions.

Adaptability and resilience

Adaptability is the ability to adjust quickly to changes and new situations. Resilience allows one to overcome obstacles and maintain high performance despite challenges. In a constantly evolving professional environment, these skills are essential to remain competitive and relevant.

Organization and efficiency

Being well-organized and efficient in managing time and tasks maximizes productivity and reduces stress. Therefore, individuals must be able to prioritize tasks and manage their schedules effectively. By improving their personal efficiency, they can more actively support their team.

Creativity and innovation

Creativity and innovation are essential for developing new ideas and improving existing processes. A digital marketing specialist must constantly innovate to create effective advertising campaigns and capture customer attention.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions as well as those of others. It fosters positive working relationships and helps to solve problems constructively.

Top 30 Most Sought-After Soft Skills

Here is a list of soft skills among the most sought after by recruiters:

• Effective communication : The ability to convey ideas clearly and to listen actively to ensure mutual understanding.
• Leadership : The ability to guide and inspire a team to move forward in the same direction and achieve common goals.
• Teamwork : Ability to collaborate effectively with different team members to accomplish collective tasks.
• Adaptability : The ability to adjust quickly to changes and new professional situations.
• Problem solving : Ability to quickly identify, analyze and resolve challenges encountered at work.
• Time management : The ability to organize and prioritize tasks to meet imposed deadlines.
• Creativity : The ability to generate innovative ideas and think originally to improve processes.
• Emotional intelligence : The ability to understand and manage one's own emotions and those of others for positive interactions.
• Critical thinking : The ability to analyze situations objectively and make informed decisions.
• Empathy : The ability to understand and share the feelings of others, thereby fostering harmonious working relationships.
• Stress management : The ability to maintain high performance even under pressure and to manage stress effectively.
• Autonomy : The ability to work independently and take initiative without constant supervision.
• Initiative : The ability to propose and implement new ideas without waiting for instructions.
• Flexibility : Ability to adapt to changing roles and responsibilities within the company.
• Motivation : Ability to remain committed and enthusiastic in achieving professional goals.
• Collaborative spirit : The ability to work in harmony with others to achieve common goals.
• Results orientation : Ability to focus on achieving goals and to measure success based on results obtained.
• Decision-making : Ability to evaluate available options and make sound decisions quickly.
• Conflict management : Ability to resolve disputes constructively and maintain a positive work environment.
• Learning capacity : Ability to acquire new skills and adapt to changes in the professional field.
• Reliability : The quality of being trustworthy and respecting commitments made to the company and colleagues.
• Respect for deadlines : Ability to complete tasks within the allotted time, thus ensuring the efficiency of the work.
• Analytical thinking : The ability to break down complex problems and identify root causes in order to find effective solutions.
• Project management : Skill in planning, executing and closing projects while respecting budgets and deadlines.
• Networking : Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships that are beneficial for career development.
• Curiosity : A constant desire to learn and discover new information and skills.
• Taking initiative : Ability to identify opportunities and act proactively to improve processes.
• Negotiation skills : Ability to discuss and reach agreements that are beneficial to all parties involved.
• Attention management : The ability to maintain focus on important tasks despite distractions.
• Ability to delegate : The ability to assign tasks effectively and trust team members to complete them.

How to assess soft skills in recruitment?

There are different methods:

• Behavioral interviews : Ask the candidate how they reacted to and handled certain situations from their past professional experiences.
• Psychometric tests : Use specialized tests to measure personality traits and behavioral skills.
• Role-playing games : Simulate professional scenarios to observe interpersonal skills and conflict management.
• Feedback from former employers : Gather feedback on the candidate's soft skills from their previous employers or colleagues.
• Group assessments : Organize group activities to observe the candidate's collaboration, leadership, and communication skills.

Evaluate your candidates' soft skills with artificial intelligence

Thanks to artificial intelligence, Marvin Recruiter offers advanced tools to analyze and assess candidates' soft skills. Our SaaS software uses sophisticated algorithms to identify behavioral skills from data collected during interviews and tests. This empowers recruiters to make more informed decisions and, ultimately, to select the candidates best suited to the position and the company culture.

By integrating Marvin Recruiter into your recruitment process, you benefit from a precise and objective assessment of soft skills. This improves the quality of hires and strengthens your team's performance.

Discover how Marvin Recruiter can transform your recruitment process on our dedicated HR interview page. You can also visit the Marvin Recruiter features page.

FAQ: Your questions about soft skills

• What is the main objective of soft skills?

  The main objective of soft skills is to facilitate interactions and collaboration within the company. They enable employees to communicate better, adapt to change, and work effectively as a team. These professional qualities thus contribute to improved overall performance.

• What soft skills should I include on my CV?

  The skills you highlight on your CV vary depending on the position you're applying for. Among the most valued are effective communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. Be sure to provide concrete examples of how you've applied these skills in your professional experiences.

• What soft skills will be essential in the future?

  Flexibility, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving skills will be essential. With the rapid evolution of technologies and work environments, these key skills will be increasingly valued in the professional world.

• How can I identify my soft skills?

  You can conduct a self-assessment by reflecting on your past experiences and how you interacted with others. Online tools, psychometric tests, and feedback from colleagues or superiors can also help you identify them.

• How many soft skills should be included on a CV?

  It is recommended to include between 5 and 10 soft skills on your CV, depending on their relevance to the position you are applying for. Choose those that are most aligned with the job requirements. And for each one, provide concrete examples of its application in your professional experience.

• What are the 4 types of skills?

  The four types of skills are:

  • Hard skills : Technical skills specific to a profession.
  • Soft skills : Behavioral and interpersonal skills.
  • Transferable skills : Skills applicable in different professions or sectors.
  • Specialized skills : In-depth skills in a specific field.

• What are the hard skills?

  Hard skills are technical and job-specific skills, such as proficiency in a programming language, knowledge of specific software, or professional certifications. They are generally acquired through training, professional experience, or certifications.