In the ever-evolving job market, hiring managers and recruiters are on the lookout for standout skills that set candidates apart. From highlighting proactivity and agility to demonstrating cross-cultural adaptability, we’ve gathered insights from Directors to CEOs to reveal the most sought-after skills.
Here are the top nine skills these professionals advise you to develop and package effectively.
- Highlight Proactivity and Agility
- Showcase Generative AI Proficiency
- Prove Deep Work Capability
- Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence
- Exhibit Empathy and Creativity
- Display Design-Thinking Expertise
- Emphasize Problem-Solving in Sales
- Focus on Change Readiness
- Show Cross-Cultural Adaptability
Highlight Your Proactivity and Agility Skills
Proactivity and agility are the two key skills that we and our clients look for in the people we/they are hiring. I would encourage individuals to highlight examples of where they have taken the initiative (either in work or personal life), perhaps spearheaded a new system or project, and demonstrate their energy and enthusiasm.
Being agile is also essential in a fast-moving work environment, so again, have real-life examples of where you can demonstrate you have been flexible, changed your approach, and adapted to a new environment.
Stephanie White, Director, EC1 Partners
Showcase Generative AI Proficiency Skills
One of the single most important skills I’m looking for in new employees is their ability to utilize ChatGPT or other generative AI tools to accomplish projects.
In a startup environment, where everyone has to jump in and help, even in areas that may not be their specialty, having the desire to get the job done is critical.
With generative AI so pervasive, I’m looking for people who are already teaching themselves how to use these tools to do better and faster… Those are the signs of someone who wants to learn and is willing to teach themselves. They are the go-getters.
Jonathan Duarte, Founder and CEO, GoHire, Inc
Prove Deep Work Capability
The ability to focus or perform deep work is extremely valuable when I’m hiring. It’s something I’m continually looking to scoop up when I see it, largely because it’s indicative of so many other positive qualities—problem-solving, attention to detail, time management, even hybrid workplace adaptability.
I think the tension for both hiring managers and potential employees here is being able to prove or display deep-work aptitude in a meaningful way. One of the best ways is to work some form of a mini-test project somewhere further along in the hiring process, but be sensible. Make sure it’s still a reasonable commitment to expect from someone who’s not even getting paid yet, but designed to really test that focus and problem-solving at its core.
Colt Agar, Organic Marketing Lead, Red Stag Fulfillment
Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence
We recruit talent for a variety of industries at Airswift, so many of the skill sets we look for vary depending on the role. However, there are a selection of key skills that are almost universally on our list of top things to look for in applicants, regardless of the role’s sector or level. If pressed to pick just one to highlight, I would say the most critical of these is emotional intelligence.
The reason emotional intelligence is so crucial is because it underpins several other key skills that an employee needs to have to succeed. It’s necessary to provide effective service to customers and clients, as well as for marketing, sales, and advertising professionals who aim to attract new customers. Success in all of these areas relies on understanding what the customer wants and needs, then being able to provide that in a way that makes them feel heard and valued, something you can’t do if you lack an understanding of their emotions and how those drive their motivations, actions, and words.
Emotional intelligence is still crucial for people who aren’t client-facing. It’s a key pillar of effective leadership in any style and is equally vital for other interactions within the workplace, like collaboration, effective communication, conflict resolution, and relationship building.
Someone who lacks emotional intelligence is more likely to cause conflict in the workplace, even if it’s accidentally, and is more likely to behave in ways that can be seen as hostile or toxic, creating discord that can have a big impact on morale. I believe that, as AI becomes more prevalent, the importance of human workers having emotional intelligence is only going to grow, particularly for those who are in customer- or client-facing roles.
Rob Boyle, Marketing Operations Director, Airswift
Exhibit Empathy and Creativity Skills
Key skills hiring managers are seeking in today’s prospective employees include empathy, creativity, and critical thinking. As advanced technology continues to change essential work functions, those of us who can lean into these core human skills will consistently stand out as leaders.
One simple way to demonstrate these skills is by describing how your high level of curiosity uncovered a unique solution to a problem or helped turn around a tense relationship with a core collaborator on a project team.
Curiosity is a fundamental component of unlocking understanding and novel ideas that lead to sustainably successful outcomes and builds lasting partnerships cross-functionally.
Nadine Mullings, Talent Strategist and Senior Manager.
Display Design-Thinking Expertise
As a UI/UX design agency recruiter, I prioritize candidates with strong design-thinking skills. This user-centric approach equips them to empathize with users, brainstorm innovative solutions, and refine ideas through prototyping.
Candidates can showcase this skill by undertaking personal design challenges, volunteering their design-thinking expertise, or highlighting case studies where they demonstrably used this approach to solve user problems. By developing and effectively packaging this skill set, they can position themselves as valuable assets in a design-focused environment.
Juan Carlos Munoz, Co-Founder, CC Creative Design
Emphasize Problem-Solving in Sales
Getting the dynamic between the company and the prospect right is key. When it comes to sales recruitment, I look for self-driven candidates who have strong problem-solving and communication skills.
Top-performing sales reps are assertive and confident. Identify your strengths and continue to develop them. Make sure to tailor your resume to showcase these skills, and be sure to showcase examples of your proficiency during the interview process.
Nick Lawless, Account Executive, Head Hunters RPO
Focus on Change Readiness
One thing I always look for in hires is people who can roll with the punches—people who are open to learning and growing. In today’s crazy work environments, things can change in an instant, so being able to adapt and pick up new skills on the fly is super important.
As for getting better at it, I’d suggest pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and doing it often. Take on projects that challenge you and make you learn new stuff. It’s not just about getting good at new tools or technology, but also about being cool with not knowing everything and bouncing back from tough situations. It’s important to get used to that nervous feeling, but instead of letting it overwhelm you, you use it to motivate you.
Also, when you’re job hunting, make sure to talk about times when you handled change well or picked up a new skill quickly. Give specific examples in your resume and cover letter, and chat about them in interviews. Sharing stories of how you turned a tough situation into a win is a killer skill for any employer.
Lastly, remember that it’s not just about what you did, but how you did it and what you learned from it.
Alex Tilici, Founder, Virtual Staging
Show Cross-Cultural Adaptability
As a business owner and career expert, I search for candidates who show cross-cultural adaptability. Understanding cultural differences has become increasingly important as companies and teams expand globally. Navigating varied customs and ways of thinking is key to success in today’s interconnected world.
Today, businesses realize how crucial it is to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. Those with strong cross-cultural competence foster inclusive collaboration and make conversations flow more easily. They also produce better outcomes when engaging with clients, partners, or coworkers from various cultures.
I once coached someone who had a really creative way of showing their cultural awareness during an interview. The interviewer was Romanian, and at the end of the chat, this candidate said “thank you” to them in their native language. They took a second to learn just one phrase in Romanian, “Mulțumesc”, and used it to connect with the interviewer on a personal level.
They were surprised in a good way that this person made an effort to incorporate part of their culture into the conversation. It showed the candidate was thoughtful and caring about more than just themselves during the process.
Put Value on Thoughtful Actions
A little act like that left a big impression. It showed they were sensitive to different people and customs, and willing to communicate in a way that makes everyone comfortable. That’s the kind of person companies want to hire – someone who brings people together instead of dividing them.
These kinds of situations, where candidates have shown cultural awareness, another language, or an open mind, are very impressive. When people are looking for jobs, I often tell them to talk about specific times when they showed they were sensitive to other cultures, had good language skills, or were willing to learn and adapt.
These real-life examples not only back up their claims that they are cross-culturally competent, but they also show what kind of person they are, what they believe in, and how committed they are to making interactions welcoming and respectful.
In today’s globalized job market, job candidates can stand out and improve their chances of getting rewarding jobs by talking about real-life experiences that show they can work with people from different cultures and respect diversity.
Stephen Greet, CEO and Co-Founder, BeamJobs
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