Soft Skills No One Should Go Without!

Why Soft Skills Can be More Important than You Think

Most job seekers wish they could unlock the secrets to getting hired in today’s hectic marketplace. You don’t have to be a genius to know that it’s a tough time to land a job nowadays. Global unemployment, as officially measured, remains at record highs for the third straight year since the start of the economic crisis. But when it comes to landing a job, one fact remains the same: Employers aren't just looking for someone who looks good on paper; they want people who can add value to their business. Wouldn’t it be great if you could enter into the mind of a hiring manager and see what they’re looking for in the hiring process? With this information, you could tailor your personal skills to meet their requirements and easily land a great job.

So what sort of characteristics, skills and qualifications do employers look for when it comes to recruiting employees? Akhtaboot unveils these must-have ‘soft’ skills that can get you one step closer to nailing your dream job.

Communication Skills

Communication is definitely not only about the words you say; you can have an excellent vocabulary and still be a bad communicator. In fact, excellent communication skills are opposite; it is using fewer words while making a greater impact. According to studies words actually contribute to about 7% of meaning. This clearly shows that communication is more than just words; it’s the ability to convey thoughts, opinions, messages, suggestions, questions and answers in an appropriate and professional manner. Keep in mind that if you can’t get a message across clearly to motivate others to act upon it, then having a message doesn’t even matter!

Willingness to Learn

No one is born with unlimited knowledge on how to perform at work. No matter what your age is, no matter how much experience you have, you should always be willing to learn and improve your skills. This might sound cheesy, but no matter how you look at this, it is actually true. A great way to keep an edge over other job seekers in today’s competitive job search is to take advantage of any learning opportunity that comes your way. Join professional associations, subscribe to industry magazines and stay updated with innovations and developments in your field. In job interviews, stress your willingness to learn. If you’ve taken courses and attended workshops, seminars, conferences and other professional events throughout your career, make sure to tell your prospective employer about it. Always remember, those that know the most are the ones who aren't afraid to learn more.

Positive Attitude

We've all faced a negative work colleague or a depressing work environment at some point. Perhaps your experience was brief, or maybe it is the usual operating mode for you. It is also very possible that you are the source of negativity at work. Having a negative work attitude can definitely affect your success, job satisfaction and productivity. With the recent economic crisis, it can be difficult to maintain a positive attitude when it comes to your job hunt. Instead of falling prey to the negative work attitudes that surround you, make an effort to break the trend. Start by observing how you communicate with others; avoid sarcasm, look for the good in people and always stab people in the front. It is always nicer to get a pat on the back rather than to get stabbed in the back!

Teamwork Skills

Teamwork is one of the most valuable factors that contribute towards high levels of excellence within the company. You can easily judge a person's character by how well he or she works with other team members. Working side-by-side with people of different generations, cultures and demographics is an indispensible skill that is becoming more and more important in today’s workplace. Teamwork also includes the ability to persuade others, negotiate and compromise when you don’t agree with someone. It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit.

Work Ethics

Ethics is a key element for productivity, efficiency and job satisfaction in the workplace. The nature of the relationships you have with your colleagues sets the environment and the culture of your workplace. Accordingly, bad manners can destroy any positive mood or good vibes within team members. Ethics are a set of common personal characteristics that employers look for in a potential candidate. They include loyalty, courteous manners and respect for others. People who display respectful gestures, polite manners and professionalism will always be ahead of the job search game.

The rules for success in business are changing daily, yet people are still searching for the magical formula that can help them succeed in their careers. With that being said, more and more organizations around the world recognize that in order to gain a competitive advantage, they need to make sure their people know how to handle themselves at work, relate with their clients and peers. From showing empathy, optimism and extreme self-awareness to knowing what's going on around you, these vital competencies will allow the human aspects of your personality to shine.

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Akhtaboot Gets Even More Social with Company Job Tweets

Following the recent release of its new social features on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, Akhtaboot – the career network (http://www.akhtaboot.com) introduces a new Twitter feature that allows companies to link their Akhtaboot account to their very own Twitter account through the Company’s Settings page.

This feature will automatically tweet the company's non-confidential job postings on its own Twitter account in addition to Akhtaboot's Twitter account, thus giving those postings even more exposure all over the web. With this new feature, Akhtaboot offers companies one more way to target and attract social-media-savvy job seekers.

Mohamad Haj Hasan, Cofounder of Akhtaboot and Head of Product Development said:

"In yet another step towards embracing social media in the recruitment process, Akhtaboot's most recent integration makes it easier for companies to automatically share new job posting tweets with their established network of followers."

As Akhtaboot expands its presence on the web, several other exciting features are in the works to help businesses engage current and prospective employees.

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What your Boss Won’t Tell you!

The boss-employee story has two sides. While one side is all about the bitter experiences caused by our bosses, the other side clearly shows that employees are not the only ones having a hard time dealing with their bosses. Bosses too get sick of their employees at times; they not only have to stay on top of what their staff is doing, but they also have to deal with all kinds of employees.

Yes we acknowledge the fact that there are bad bosses out there, but despite being bad or unfair; bosses have to stay on top of things and keep an eye on what is going on in the workplace. Get the scoop as Akhtaboot reveals what your boss is probably thinking, but isn't willing to tell.

Yes, we are reading your emails

Most employees understand the importance of communication with external clients and other stakeholders. However, few address internal communication in the same way as they believe it will never be monitored. Well, things have changed and technology has taken over. Nowadays your boss can read your emails, read your chats, listen to your phone calls and monitor your computer. Just think about it this way: if you’re not willing to stand on your desk and shout something across the room, don’t put it in an e-mail, because somewhere down the road someone might read it. Always stay on the safe side; never use curse words, avoid discussing politics or religion and always double check the recipient’s email address!

I know when you’re faking the flu.

We all know how this starts. You wake up one morning and it's too beautiful outside to be missed or perhaps you've just gotten into bed and you'd rather stay in it, so you start thinking to yourself: “when was the last time I called in sick?” Calling in sick to work when you really aren't can be risky business. Employers are not only starting to investigate their employees’ fake stories, but they are also getting more creative in inspecting even believable excuses by asking for a doctor’s note, calling the “sick” employee to check-in, or even asking someone else to make the phone call. So in brief, a couple of coughs over the phone might not do the trick anymore. To avoid getting fired, save your sick days for when you are actually feeling unwell and remember that your boss was an employee once!

I’m your best friend...and your worst enemy

Having a friendly relationship with your boss is never a bad idea, but how close is too close? There’s nothing really wrong with being friends with your boss as it may seem like a natural extension of friendly office chit chat, but think twice before you get too close. Disagreements are natural between friends, but when your friend is your boss, it can make your work more difficult and may affect your career. Keep in mind that your boss is the one who provides your annual review and signs your paycheck. Since nothing lasts forever, there may come a time when you and your boss-friend have a disagreement and having a friendly relationship with him might leave you feeling even more bitter.

I don’t promote based on performance only

Although this may sound obvious, but being the most qualified person at work with the most experience is no guarantee you’ll be the one to get promoted. When it comes to promotions, make sure you’re on your boss’ good side, because having all the skills in the world will not matter if your boss thinks you’re hard to manage. Keep a record of everything you do that enhances the company's overall goals as that will show your loyalty and commitment to the organization.

You deserve a pay raise

In today’s economy, there's a good chance that you have gone for years now without a pay raise although you have done your part right. Your boss might be well-aware of the fact that you have worked overtime and assumed responsibilities beyond your normal job description, but still wouldn’t give you the raise you deserve. The best way to handle this situation is to have an honest discussion with your manager about what it will take to achieve these expanded responsibilities. Having a salary discussion is an important part of your work life. The better prepared you are, the more likely it is that you'll have the outcome you desire.

You should resign

Do you feel like you’ve hit a dead end in your current position? Unless you’re seriously under-performing, don’t wait for your boss to show you the door. If your boss never asks for your opinion, never wants to have a chat with you, and if you disagree with his style all the time, then your days are numbered. Unless you can get the quality of your work back on track, start looking for a new job. Make sure your resume is in order, start networking, and get yourself out there. If you are no longer up to the job, just leave. Why make yourself miserable and others too when you know that you can no longer perform?

Your boss has so much on his mind but will only share a few things with his employees. And to be fair, this behavior isn’t always as bad as it may seem as most of the time it serves the company and the employees well. Even though you may be on good terms with your boss, they still have obligations of their own. Keep in mind that the priorities might not include those of your own!

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