Utilizing the Power of Soft & Hard Skills

To hire the best talent, a recruiter needs to assess both hard and soft skills. Someone with a combination of both is going to be an excellent candidate for the company. During the times when remote work is growing, a candidate needs to possess soft skills apart from hard skills. The question is, how do you judge a candidate? Don’t worry, we have your back and some tips that will help you with your hiring process.

Soft Skills in Detail

You need to tap into the soft skills of the candidates to make a wise hiring decision. According to a survey, the five most in-demand soft skills are creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and time management. But the question is, which way to go about it? We have curated a list of hacks that you can use to assess the soft skills. 

Role-Specific Questions

You can alter these questions according to the job role to maximize the effectiveness of the method. This comes in handy to judge the soft skills, and you don’t get into the technicalities; you delve into their mindset. Workable has curated a list of questions that you can ask to judge various skills. IBM customizes interview questions based on the specific role candidates are applying for, which could include software development, data analysis, and consulting positions.

Behavioral Questions For The Win

One of the best ways to find out the candidate’s psychology is by leveraging cutting-edge technology. However, 75% of employers still use behavioral questions and 70% use body language. According to a survey, AI-based tools can be used for determining soft skills.
Here’s a list of the top 25 behavioral questions that you can use in the upcoming interviews.

Battle in the Playground

Make the candidates collaborate on a demo project and see how they handle the feedback. This is equivalent to shooting 2 birds with one stone. You are not only going to assess their soft skills, but you will also see how they perform in a team. Are they able to manage? Are they a team player with leadership qualities? You will have your answers by the end of the group activities.

Let’s Judge Hard Skills

Project-Based Learning

When reviewing resumes during the hiring process, prioritize individuals who have had the opportunity to learn while working on projects. Many companies utilize LMS platforms like Cornerstone, SAP SuccessFactors, Blackboard, or Moodle to create, deliver, and manage project-based learning courses and materials. A study by the Harvard Business Review found that employees who learn through projects are 26% more productive than those who learn through other methods.

Develop a Growth Mindset to Grow

Everyone should have a growth mindset for the company to grow effectively. Find candidates who continuously expand their knowledge and skills to thrive in a fast-paced environment. 

Salesforce offers Trailhead, an online learning platform that helps employees develop new skills and earn badges and certifications. According to a survey by LinkedIn, 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning and development.

Don’t Skip Collaboration

Teamwork and collaboration are vital in today’s workplace for solving complicated difficulties and reaching lofty goals. A Deloitte report states that 88% of employees and 94% of executives believe that a distinct workplace culture is vital to business success. 

This is one of the reasons why companies invest hefty amounts for a smoother collaboration experience. For instance, Citrix Workspace provides a unified platform for accessing apps, data, and communication tools, promoting collaboration in virtual work environments.

Combining the power of hard and soft skills is not only going to give you an edge over your competitors, but it will also help you hire the best candidate for the company. You can download the free copy of the ebook to get more such insights and hire better!