Analyzing The Demand For Soft Skills In Recruitment

After reviewing thousands of executive resumes throughout my career, I've noticed a clear pattern: candidates often over-emphasize technical qualifications while undervaluing what truly sets them apart - their soft skills. Data from 'Finances Online' confirms what I've observed firsthand: an overwhelming 91% of recruiters prioritize soft skills on resumes, with 16% considering them MORE important than hard skills. As an executive search specialist, I can tell you that at senior levels, technical competence is assumed. What differentiates exceptional leaders is their mastery of these five critical soft skills ⬇️ 1. Time management: Don't just claim you're organized. Highlight specific instances where your planning abilities delivered measurable results under pressure. 2. Communication: Demonstrate how your communication style has influenced stakeholders, resolved conflicts, or driven organizational change. 3. Adaptability: In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, showcase how you've successfully navigated uncertainty and embraced new challenges. 4. Problem-solving: Illustrate your analytical approach with concrete examples of complex problems you've solved and their business impact. 5. Teamwork: Highlight collaborative achievements that demonstrate your ability to build consensus and leverage diverse perspectives. The key distinction between average and exceptional candidates? The latter don't merely list these attributes—they provide compelling evidence through specific accomplishments. Are you ready to transform your resume from a list of duties into a powerful narrative of leadership and impact? Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #leadershipdevelopment

The Biggest Misstep in Hiring EdTech Sales Talent 💡 📊 Hiring top-tier EdTech sales talent is no small task—and yet, one common mistake keeps popping up: undervaluing the intangibles. Yes, metrics matter. Track records and quotas achieved are critical indicators of success. But sales is about people. It’s about connection, adaptability, and empathy—qualities that don’t always show up on a resume or spreadsheet. In the EdTech world, this is especially important because educators tend to buy from people they trust. 🌟 Building that trust takes more than hitting numbers; it requires genuine relationships, an understanding of their challenges and needs, and the ability to communicate solutions in a way that helps solve those challenges. All too often, I see companies over-prioritizing short-term cost savings or hyper-focusing on “perfect” candidate profiles, missing out on high-potential talent with the soft skills needed to actually build long-term relationships with schools and districts. The result? High turnover, missed revenue opportunities, and culture misalignment. Here’s the good news: it’s avoidable. After almost 20 years specializing in EdTech recruitment, I’ve learned that a balanced approach is key. Finding a combination of: 🔹 Hard skills (the ability to hit the ground running) 🔹 Soft skills (empathy, adaptability, and relationship-building) 🔹 Cultural fit (the magic ingredient that makes a team gel) Hiring is an investment—not just in the person, but in your business’s future. I'd love to hear from you! Let’s swap insights in the comments!

Hard skills get you interviews. Soft skills get you hired. 92% of hiring teams want soft skills ≥ hard skills (Deloitte) This is more true than ever as AI enters the hiring process: ↳ AI analyzes your video interview ↳ AI interprets your answers to application questions ↳ AI reads your resume But employers know that: 💜 AI can't match human empathy 👋 AI can't match human emotional intelligence 🧠 AI can't match human discernment/critical thinking So it's critical you show what it would be like to work with you through the interview process. Here are soft skills that matter most  ⬇️ (and how to prove you have them in an interview) 1. Strategic Communication ↳ Effective in-person and digital communication ↳ Handles sensitive conversations with grace Proof: ↳Tell a story about a difficult conversation you handled well. 2. Agility ↳ Embraces change (even when it's uncomfortable) ↳ Quick to learn new tools and approaches Proof: ↳Share a time when you managed the unexpected. 3. Emotional Intelligence ↳ Reads the room (virtual or physical) ↳ Navigates workplace dynamics well Proof: ↳Share examples of teamwork in your answers. 4. Critical Thinking ↳ Makes smart judgment calls ↳ Evaluates AI output with discernment Proof: ↳Discuss a difficult decision you made. 5. Integrity ↳ Builds trust through transparency ↳ Does what's right, not what's easy Proof: ↳Talk about a time you did the right thing. 6. Influence ↳ Inspires others to follow your lead ↳ Speaks up and speaks out when needed Proof: ↳Share when you found a mistake and spoke up. 7. Cross-Cultural Fluency ↳ Works effectively across time zones and cultures ↳ Respects diverse perspectives Proof: ↳Show you are comfortable with different opinions & people. 8. Digital Collaboration ↳ Handles hybrid team dynamics ↳ Builds relationships across screens Proof: ↳Have examples of when you worked virtually 9. Time Mastery ↳ Manages asynchronous work ↳ Knows how to prioritize Proof: ↳Talk about your calendar management process. 10. Resilience ↳ Bounces back from setbacks ↳ Stays calm under pressure Proof: ↳Discuss how you keep your cool when faced with a challenge. 11. Networking ↳ Builds authentic relationships ↳ Connects with key stakeholders Proof: ↳Show ability to be at ease with yourself in new situations 💡The good news? These skills can be learned!💡 Which skill do you think is most crucial? Share your thoughts below! 👇 ♻ Repost to help your network learn career-advancing skills! ➕ Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more like this.

What are employers REALLY looking for? It can be intimidating to see a job posting with a looonnnnggggg list of desired skills, software, certifications, and requirements (and wondering how you’re ever going to convince the employer that you’re the right fit). But as a former recruiter, let me tell you this: ❌ It’s not about meeting 100% of the requirements. Most of these job postings are copied and pasted and are more ideal wishlists than anything. If you meet around 70% of the requirements, you’re doing pretty well. Not only that, but most candidates also discount their soft skills when making a career pivot— Soft skills are JUST as important, if not more important, than hard technical skills. I’ve hired hundreds of people in my career and quickly realized this: You can teach someone new software and skills and train them on how your company operates, but it's VERY difficult to teach someone how to be: 🌱 A strong, assertive, confident communicator 🌱 Concise in speech 🌱 Lead with empathy 🌱 Think strategically 🌱 Problem solve creatively 🌱 Be proactive or use critical thinking 🌱 Or manage their time well, to name a few In other words, employers are seeking and valuing soft skills in a candidate, NOT just ticking off boxes for hard skills. While some of the skills listed may be a basic requirement for the job, beyond that, the best, most qualified candidates will also possess strong soft skills like communication and emotional intelligence. As a career coach, I'd like you to ponder these questions today: 1. Which soft skills am I gifted with? 2. How can I shine a light on this in my job search? Standing out is believing you have something valuable to offer to the world! LMK in the comments your super power and check out my first ever Black Friday sale for 1:1 jobseeking services and programs! #jobseeker #opentowork #hiring #careercoach