Is Your Credit Union Looking for Soft Skills in New Hires?

by Charisse Rockett, PHR

Positive, Reliable, Respectful, Grateful, Professional.  No, this is not a list on how to flatter your boss, but rather what your boss is looking for in employees. These are what's called soft skills – those intrinsic skills that generally are not something you can teach, but are part of an individual’s personality.  CareerBuilder.com conducted a survey recently that reported that “16 percent of employers said soft skills are more important than hard skills when evaluating candidates for a job.” This translates to the fact that not only are your experience and knowledge important and needed, but that personality matters!

According to the survey, here are the top ten most popular soft skills employers want in a candidate:

1. Has a strong work ethic – 73%
2. Is dependable – 73%
3. Has a positive attitude – 72%
4. Is self-motivated – 66%
5. Is team-oriented – 60%
6. Is organized and can manage multiple priorities – 57%
7. Works well under pressure – 57%
8. Is an effective communicator – 56%
9. Is flexible – 51%
10. Is confident – 46%

Analyzing the list above reveals many desirous qualities that contribute to the successful operations of a credit union. Many people who simply list their soft skills, but who don’t actually demonstrate them with examples in an interview, will fail to get the job. Soft skills can be honed only by the employee/applicant. A credit union can teach an employee to perform a task, but cannot teach them to have a great personality!

If your credit union needs help recruiting the perfect candidates, CU Solutions Group offers staff recruiting solutions.