If you follow the KB Staffing blogs, you’ve probably seen us talk about soft skills more than once. The term “soft skills” is used to refer to those characteristics in an employee that make the person a quick learner, great team player, and a generally very effective worker. Traits like being a good listener, critical thinking skills, and patience are examples of soft skills. While these skills are still highly prized among employers, it may be time to change our perspective on them.
Updating the Concept of “Soft Skills”
KB Staffing has been an expert staffing service in Polk County for close to two decades, and during our years of creating temporary staffing options for local employers we’ve learned that soft skills are truly invaluable. We in no way are advocating for the devaluation of these indispensable attributes.
What we are suggesting is that we alter the way we consider and refer to these types of skills. After all, if they are the qualities truly most desirable in any type of employee, perhaps they deserve a description more indicative of their importance.
According to the Pew Research Center, the five most valued job skills currently are:
- Active listening
- Speaking
- Critical thinking
- Reading comprehension
- Monitoring
These are the skills that nearly every employer is seeking in the workers they hire, so maybe instead of “soft skills” a better descriptor would be “fundamental skills.” After all, these are the basic skills that a person needs to possess in order to be capable of understanding and following instructions, working effectively with others, and communicating their needs in a professional context.
Words matter, and by adjusting the terminology used to refer to these incredibly essential skills we can convey just how important “soft skills” really are.
KB Staffing Has the Skills that Matter
No matter what qualifications you’re looking for in workers, KB Staffing has staffing solutions that will work for you. Contact us today to get the help you need!
