Soft Skills Blog Post: “What are hiring managers looking for?”

Are you on the job hunt? If so – good luck! The job market is tougher than ever, and both hiring managers and applicants are facing significant challenges. Hiring managers are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of applicants, while job seekers often struggle to stand out and position themselves as the ideal candidate as they compete against hundreds, sometimes thousands, of other applicants. It's a struggle on both sides!

As KLR’s Director of Human Resources, I’ve experienced this firsthand. I’ve navigated the frustration of finding the right hire, and I’ve struggled in searching for the right job for myself. At times, it can feel impossible on both sides. So what truly works in landing a job? What captures the attention of hiring managers? How do you effectively sell yourself in an interview?

If I’m being honest, I don’t know. Every job, every hiring team, and every company looks for different qualities. But there is one thing that can make a significant difference in any interview or application process: Soft skills. These are the qualities that go beyond technical expertise—skills that can’t always be taught on the job but are expected of you from the start. Demonstrating strong soft skills will not only make you stand out to employers, but it will also help them feel confident in your ability to succeed in their organization.

Pictured: Colbie Claus, KLR Business Student undergoing her work-based learning rotations with the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce.

So, what are soft skills and how can you show hiring managers that you have them? Well, they probably aren’t what you’re thinking about or even prepping for before an interview. If you’re a vet student, I’m not talking about your ability to restrain an anxious kitten or do lab work on a frightened horse. Pharmacy students have great knowledge about filling prescriptions and finding medications. But I’m not talking about any of those skills, they’re great to showcase, and you should include them on your resume and in an interview! But soft skills have nothing to do with your specific field of study. They can be applied at any job and in any company. 

Let’s start with how you can show off your soft skills when applying and interviewing for a position. You may not realize it, but you’re passing “secret tests” in this phase. Potential employers are looking for certain skills and by talking with and looking at you, they’ll notice if you have them. You don’t even have to mention these skills, your actions and appearance will let them know that you already obtain them!

• To start off, you can begin with professional communication. Sending out a typo-free email with a proper greeting, a clear and concise message about who you are, and signing off with a professional closing, shows a potential employer that you know how to communicate effectively. You’re secretly passing a test just by your ability to send a clear email!

  
  

• When meeting for an in-person, or video interview, utilize your body language! Good posture, a smile, and relaxed hands give off warmth and confidence. Slouching, a frown, and fidgeting with your hair give off nervousness and annoyance. You want to start off strong and make them feel comfortable in your presence!

  
  

• Along with body language, be sure to dress appropriately. Make sure you are not showing an excessive amount of skin, can move around comfortably, and look professional. If you don’t have a suit or blazer, that’s okay! A collared shirt or blouse and a pair of trousers, are a simple go-to that exudes confidence!

  
  

• Another skill to highlight in an interview is your public speaking abilities. Talking clearly and at an appropriate volume, lets them know you are comfortable talking in front of others. You can also try to refrain from using embolalia: the insertion of meaningless sounds and words. For example, try not to say things like “um” or “like” while speaking. This can make you sound nervous and can come across as shy. Regardless of what job you are applying for, you will need to be able to communicate with others. This is another secret test you are passing!

  
  

So let’s say you nailed the interview, did a great job highlighting all of your skills, and you got the job (congrats!) - what’s next? How do you keep your supervisor happy? How do you show them all of your capabilities?

You guessed correctly, keep highlighting your soft skills! There are so many others to show off! 

As a medical assistant, you can excel in rooming patients, doing vital signs, and inputting patient data. Your supervisor will appreciate your help in these duties! But, they will also appreciate your customer service skills when the seven year old girl’s mom is highly agitated and raising her voice. Having patience, using a respectful tone, and addressing the mother’s issue appropriately, will be a huge help, especially in a high-stress situation. Everyone experiences upset customers in their line of work, being able to de-escalate the situation and find a solution is imperative. 

Pictured: Ridley Scott, Pharmacy Technician Student

When asked what three soft skills are used daily at rotations, our Pharmacy Technician high school student, Ridley, said, “Communication, team work, and good customer service/compassion.” Ridley uses these skills when working under a pharmacy technician at Walgreens. She interacts with customers and her coworkers on a daily basis so communicating effectively and having good customer service is important in her daily interactions.

Your ability to work with others will also be essential in any role you have. Maintaining strong relationships with coworkers, setting appropriate work-life boundaries, and cheering others on are all important when working with others. You may talk with patients, clients, vendors, tenants, students, managers, or even animals, regardless of who it is, it will be important to treat them respectfully.

• We also asked Julia, one of our Veterinary Sciences high school students, what three soft skills she uses daily at her rotations and she said, “Greeting clients in a happy manner. Having good teamwork with all of my coworkers. And having a positive attitude at work.” All of these skills involve building strong relationships.

  
  

• Mia, one of our Dental Careers students, said, “Communication, Observation, and listening.” We may not realize it, but listening is also an important part of communication. It’s just as important to listen when others are speaking as it is to speak clearly and effectively back to them.

  
  

You may be wondering what we get the most feedback on from our employer partners. Is it that students have poor communication skills? Or maybe that they don’t dress appropriately? Do they struggle to work with others? Nope, nope, and nope. Our students are great at all of these things! They work really hard to maintain professionalism in the workplace. However, they often struggle with taking initiative. Being able to do things without being told and strengthening leadership skills is an important skill to maintain while working. Employers appreciate it when they can count on their workers to keep up with their workload and know what is being asked of them.

Whether you are a high school student thinking about your upcoming rotations, preparing for college, or getting ready for the workforce, having soft skills is essential in obtaining and maintaining a job, or even an internship. You will have many opportunities to highlight these skills in your resume, an interview, and while on the job. 

How many soft skills did you catch from this article?! Jot them down and be sure to include them as you progress through the job application process!