CollegeRecruiter.com Insights by Career Counselors Blog

More than once, I have heard employers or career counselors say today's recent college graduates are sorely lacking in the soft skills area. What are soft skills? According to executive coach, Peggy Klaus, when interviewed for the article "What Do Employers Really Want in New College Graduates: Dos and Don'ts For Demonstrating Soft Skills Savvy on Job Interviews," soft skills are oral and written communication, professionalism, work ethic, critical thinking, and problem solving.

It's odd seeing critical thinking on that list because when I was in college (Class of 2007), one of my professors told us that the main purpose of college was to teach students how to think critically. Now it would seem that the main purpose of college is to teach the hard skills needed to perform job tasks well, and let the soft skills fall by the wayside.

Recent studies have shown that that's a mistake. What about working in groups? When students have to get together with classmates to work on a project isn't sufficient to teach them how to interact with others. This is especially true for students who attend primarily white colleges or universities or historically black colleges and university. They have few any opportunities to learn about people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Klaus, who is the author of two books, ">BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It and The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: Workplace Lessons Smart People Wish They'd Learned Sooner, said that sending college graduates out into the workforce without an education in soft skills is "the equivalent of sending these kids into the woods without camping gear - or at least with nothing but a sleeping bag."

Klaus created a list of 10 soft skills dos and don'ts that can help during a job search:

1. "Proof, proof, and then proof again all written correspondence--that means inquiries, cover letters, resumes, and thank you notes. Whether you are going to e-mail, snail mail or hand deliver a document, nothing will land your chances in the garbage can or recycle bin faster than careless proofreading. Oh, and no resumes with coffee stains either!


2. Forget about one-size-fits-all communication. Whether you're addressing one or thousands, speaking or writing, it's all the same. You need to make a connection with the audience and customize your message. The "throw spaghetti against the wall and see if it sticks approach" simply doesn't work.


3. Do research on the firm and, if possible, on the person who will be interviewing you. That way you will be able to relate to them, know what they're looking for in an employee, and anticipate zingers--those difficult questions that can really throw you off your game when you aren't prepared.


4. Get used to bragging--the right way of course. Don't read directly from your resume during a job interview like some robot. When you self promote, speak conversationally about your accomplishments just as you would with a friend. Leave out the "likes" and "you knows," slang, and curse words.


5. Remember, everything communicates during your job interview, including greeting others with a smile, extending a firm hand (make it strong because no one likes shaking hands with a fish), establishing direct eye contact, and if you're eating or drinking together, your table manners.


6. Listen carefully and don't interrupt.


7. Show you are personally accountable. Nothing will raise eyebrows faster than a job candidate who has a hint of being a whiner in their demeanor. Blaming others always shows a lack of maturity and class. No boss wants to deal with a potential prima donna.


8. Weave in examples that are indicative of a strong work ethic and show that you are someone who can be counted on not only to get work in on time but to go the extra mile when needed.


9. Highlight that you can handle responsibility by providing an example from a previous job. If you have a limited employment history, draw on situations such as volunteering or doing an internship while attending school full time.


10. Ask yourself: What have I done that demonstrates my problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities? For instance, one graduate who had little work experience used an example of addressing a security problem on campus by getting involved with student government and organizing a "night owl" patrol program. This showed her future employer her commitment to community in addition to her ingenuity, accountability and ability to problem-solve.
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If you're a recent college graduate looking for an entry-level job, or if you're a student looking for a quality internship, now is the time to start learning how to communicate effectively, be professional, establish a good work ethic, be a critical thinker and a problem solver.