If you’re in the trenches looking for a new role, here’s some good news.. 

Many of us get hung up about having the exact skills and experiences that are listed on the job description, but Hiring Managers are focused on sourcing candidates with strong interpersonal skills to add value to their organisation.  What does this mean exactly?

Tracey Bower, Phd, writing for Forbes, describes interpersonal skills as: “your ability and competence in building relationships with the people around you – relationships which are effective, constructive and rewarding.”

We’re living in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world.  Some Most roles are offered as a hybrid,  and many of us work with regionally dispersed teams. The ability to connect, lead, inspire, empathise and solve problems are valued skills that can be harder to learn than hard skills.    

Additionally, with the advance of AI and the automation of some manual and traditional roles, the skills that set candidates apart are the ones that can’t be easily replicated by machines – and interpersonal skills top that list.  Janet Tumulty, writing for LinkedIn says: While AI can perform tasks that require technical skills, it simply cannot replace ‘the human factor’; Soft skills are essential for building relationships, resolving conflicts, and inspiring others, and they can help individuals to stand out in crowded job markets to advance in their careers.

Effective communication, empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution are interpersonal skills that contribute to a positive workplace environment. As hiring managers interview prospective candidates, they’re not just seeking employees but collaborators who can help carry the organization’s mission forward. 

So what does this mean for jobseekers?  Start highlighting your interpersonal skills that have developed throughout your career.  We also recommend defining some examples of when they have been demonstrated well, for interview situations.  

In a corporate setting, an employee’s ability to communicate well and collaborate positively can create a domino effect in the workplace. A strong company culture, one that values open dialogue and teamwork, is often a direct result of the collective interpersonal skills of its workforce. Hiring managers understand that candidates with strong interpersonal skills not only contribute positively to the culture but also to inspire their colleagues to do the same.

Keen to understand more about how hiring candidates with strong interpersonal skills can benefit your business?  Speak to the recruitment team at Flexi Personnel.