Soft Skills Employees Need In The 2022 Job Market
As we enter the 2022 Job Market, you’re probably wondering what skills employers are looking for in comparison to years passed. The last two years have flipped the work world on its head, so if you’re a bit confused about what skills you need to focus on, you’re not alone.
Studies show that there’s a rising emphasis on soft skills, a.k.a., skills that don’t require a degree or specific knowledge, but rather one’s ability to effectively interact with others and solve problems.
Today, we’ll cover seven important soft skills you’ll need as we enter the upcoming year.
1. Adaptability
If I had to pick one soft skill to really emphasize, it would be this one. With the typical 9-5 office day on its way out, employers are looking for people who can adapt to the changing times. This might mean transitioning to working completely remote, doing hybrid workdays, or just being okay with changing work environments. Being adaptable shows employers you can learn quickly and still get the job done. If a company has to shift gears, having this skill says that you’re someone they can count on.
2. Patience
At this point, we’re all pretty familiar with Zoom meeting glitches and computer mishaps beyond our control. It might be annoying, but it’s all part of the new work reality. Whether you’re working across timezones, generations, or differing WiFi signals, having a little patience could mean the difference between making a situation worse or solving it all together. Simply taking a deep breath before reacting will only help you and your coworkers remain calm when it comes to avoiding unnecessary crises and miscommunications.
3. Communication
The importance of good communication cannot be understated. For example, if you’re sending an email about something important, take the time to read it over or read it aloud to yourself. Communicating clearly and thoroughly can prevent unnecessary confusion and save you a lot of time and energy. Don’t forget your manners either, a simple “Hope your week is going well” or other kind remarks will help keep things friendly and maintain a positive work environment.
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4. Emotional Intelligence
Whether you’re an intern or the CEO of a big company, emotional intelligence is going to play a role at work. If you didn’t know, “emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, manage, and regulate emotions” (verywellmind.com). Emotional intelligence specifically relates to one’s ability to empathize with others. At the end of the day, we’re all humans, and being able to have empathy and understand one another plays a key role in fostering healthy, productive relationships at work.
5. Initiative
Think back to doing group projects in school. Nine times out of ten, someone took the lead, a couple of people were good contributors, and everyone else neglected to do their part. In the job world, employers are looking for people who take initiative all on their own. It’s a waste of time and energy to have to hover over your employees like they’re children. Going into 2022, this is more important than ever with so many people working from home. Even if you’re not the boss of your company, working from home means you have to have initiative and be the boss of yourself.
6. Accountability
Beyond the increase of remote work, many companies are changing and expanding how they operate—and this includes social accountability. Whether it be addressing diversity and inclusion, combating racism, or promoting mental health in the workplace, companies are upping the ante (rightfully so). But in order to make real change, everyone has to hold themselves and each other accountable.
7. Creativity
Just because something’s always been done a certain way, it doesn’t mean it can’t change for the better. The last two years have really put this method to the test. Solving new problems comes by creating new solutions, and often, those solutions seem scary because they’ve never been tried before. It doesn’t matter if you’re a doctor, an engineer, or an artist, creativity is needed everywhere in different ways. Hence—the purpose of creativity itself. There’s a great quote that encapsulates this:
“If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.”
- Henry Ford
No matter what job you’re in or applying for, having and highlighting your soft skills will help you stand apart from the crowd. This blog post is meant to give you an idea of what soft skills you’ll want to highlight for the upcoming year, but don’t stop there. If you have a strength in one of the mentioned areas, put it to use! If there are things you’d like to be better at, be intentional about growing those skills. There are always ways to improve ourselves and pursue the ideal work environment.
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Meet The Writer!
Hello! My name is Lea Rose and I am an avid writer with a love for all things international. I recently graduated from UNC Charlotte with degrees in Communication Studies as well as Dance Performance and hope to be a full time travel writer one day. My writing primarily focuses on the ways places and experience shape us as individuals. Please feel free to check out my blog or connect with me through LinkedIn or Instagram @writtenworldblog.
