When entry-level candidates apply for jobs, they often claim to have great soft skills. However, after employers hire candidates, they may find that candidates don’t have the excellent soft skills they boasted about possessing. This creates a problem for employers in the onboarding process and afterward, too, as they are left to deal with new employees lacking basic soft skills required to adapt to the workplace and corporate culture.

Can the new employees interact well with their teammates? Are they capable of making strong decisions on their own without input from management every step of the way? Do new employees manage their time well, resolve conflicts as they arise, and communicate clearly, effectively, and appropriately with clients and coworkers? If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no,’ employers have big—often expensive–problems on their hands.

Pete Joodi, Distinguished Engineer for IBM, provides entry-level job seekers and employers with insight into why soft skills matter so much in today’s workplace, particularly in the field of information technology. In this interview by Bethany Wallace, Content Manager for College Recruiter, Pete Joodi discusses the soft skills dilemma.

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At IBM, Pete Joodi, Distinguished Engineer, focuses on research and innovation in information technology. He focuses on optimization strategies; his goal is to find ways software and technology can improve energy efficiency, cost containment, and compliance.

Pete mentions that within the last 50 years, the world has truly expanded thanks to technology. We need to know how to work with each other now more than ever. This is the reason soft skills are more important than ever before.

IBM conducted a study in 2014. One of its findings indicated that soft skills are in great demand by employers but are most lacking in students graduating from institutions of higher education today. Pete Joodi doesn’t see this as a negative finding, however. Instead, it indicates an opportunity for growth and improvement for employers.

At IBM, the focus is on leading and contributing to technological innovation in the ‘cognitive era.’ Candidates applying at IBM need the following soft skills in order to succeed: communication skills, teamwork and collaboration skills, problem-solving skills, adaptability and flexibility skills, language and translation skills, ability to interact well with colleagues and clients, critical thinking skills, and conflict resolution skills.

Truly, soft skills are highly relevant at IBM. The world is more complex than it was, but it’s also more rewarding to work in the world today. In order to create consumable products, IBM and other companies must hire candidates with excellent soft skills.

For more details about how to improve your soft skills, transferable skills, and non-verbal skills, visit CollegeRecruiter.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Some people may be looking for alternatives to their regular nine-to-five jobs. One option could be freelance writing. Freelance writing not only offers flexibility but can be financially rewarding, depending on how much time and effort writers give it. In the following webinar, How to make more money with an English major doing freelance writing, English majors learn how to navigate the challenges of making money with an English major and the similarities and differences between freelance writing and writing as a full-time job. They will also get an expert’s opinion on building a freelance writing business right out of college and how to figure out if freelance writing is right for them. (more…)

The candidate experience represents how job applicants feel about a company’s hiring process. When it comes to the candidate experience, applicants have their own expectations. One expectation is communication, which will keep applicants engaged in the hiring process. Employers should provide the best possible experience that interests job seekers in applying for jobs and helps recruiters find the best candidates. (more…)

Social media is an important tool for today’s job seekers. How job seekers present themselves online can either help or hurt their job searches. This applies not only to visible job openings but also those in the hidden job market. Employers haven’t advertised these jobs publicly but need to fill them. The following webinar, 4 steps to using social media for uncovering the hidden job market, shares tips for using social media to learn about job opportunities along with other valuable information. (more…)

Finding a new job requires job seekers to present themselves in the best manner. Two key documents in job searches include resumes and cover letters. These documents work together to secure the job interview and, hopefully, desired job offers. The following webinar, Resume and cover letter secrets to help you land more job interviews and offers, discusses differences between resumes and cover letters, shares resume and cover letter tips, and offers additional advice to job seekers. (more…)

The numbers that matter most in your job search, part three of a webinar series by Amanda Augustine, provides college students, graduates, and entry-level job seekers with powerful statistics, facts, and figures to help them develop an effective job-search strategy.

This three-part webinar series features Amanda Augustine (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobsearchamanda), Career Management Expert who helps recent college graduates and accomplished professionals reach their full career potential. The webinar is moderated by Andrea McEwen-Henderson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreamcewen), former National Account Manager for College Recruiter.

Key takeaways:

• Make sure what employers read about you online is consistent with whom they meet in person and read about on your resume. Take steps to secure your personal online accounts and flesh out your professional profiles.

• Research a company thoroughly so you have a good sense of company culture before setting foot in the interview room.

• If you find a job online you’re interested in, apply sooner rather than later. In the world of job seeking, early applicants are more likely to land jobs.

• Don’t apply to a job without first checking to see if you know someone who works or used to work at that company. An employee referral can make all the difference in your job search.

• Your resume only gets six seconds to make the right impression with a potential employer. Make sure your resume is crafted to capture attention.

• Never rely on only one source for job leads—diversify.

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Questions:

1. How do I “secure” my personal brand?

If you are posting information for your personal brand and not for your professional brand, use separate profile photos. Use separate screen names as well; this way, your personal profile will not appear in searches conducted using your legal or professional name.

2. Networking seems to be important for the job search. How can I expand my network?

Everyone has a network already, whether they realize it or not. Begin by cultivating the network you already have. Do an advanced search on LinkedIn, for example. When you’re ready to expand, take advantage of opportunities to connect with people with similar interests.

3. What are some ways I can learn about a company’s company culture?

Job seeking and dating are very similar. Think about ways you might scope out a first date! Peruse company websites, “about us” sections, and social media sites. There’s a huge transparency trend today in many companies’ cultures; use this to your advantage as a job applicant.

4. How do I make sure my resume passes the 6­-second test?

When crafting your resume, don’t just write a recipe. Think about tailoring your resume to the specific job you’re applying for, considering which specific skills are applicable to that position.

Amanda Augustine is a Career Management Expert who helps recent college graduates and accomplished professionals reach their full career potential. Her goal is to get professionals into the right jobs sooner through personalized job search and career guidance. Amanda offers consulting, speaking engagements, and training sessions to all professionals ready to advance their careers. Follow Amanda on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JobSearchAmanda, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobsearchamanda, at http://www.jobsearchamanda.com/, or on The Ladders.com at http://www.TheLadders.com/AskAmanda.

Creating your LinkedIn profile allows you to include a picture but not just any picture. Choose a photo that reflects a professional image. In today’s world, most hiring managers and recruiters will review your social media profiles before inviting you to an interview, and they want to see you. While choosing a picture seems like an easy task, Part 2 of this three-part webinar series, How to avoid these 9 most common LinkedIn profile picture mistakes, discusses the don’ts when selecting your profile photo. This webinar also includes tips and advice related to LinkedIn and profile pictures. (more…)

There is not much time for job seekers to make a great impression with their resumes. Job seekers have around six seconds to impress recruiters with their resumes if they expect to become potential job candidates. Part 1 of this three-part webinar series, 10 things to remove from your resume right away, informs recent college graduates and career changers of 10 things to eliminate from their resumes to improve their job searches. This webinar also provides resume tips and advice when applying for jobs. (more…)

LinkedIn is no longer optional. It’s an indispensable component of the modern job search. Unfortunately, the effective use of LinkedIn is not intuitive. In this webinar, you will learn everything you need to know to create a winning LinkedIn Profile to gain attention from employers. The webinar is conducted as a step by step demonstration to illustrate site functionality and empower you to utilize the enhancements you need to create your own LinkedIn Profile.

The webinar Everything you need to know to create a winning LinkedIn Profile features social media consultant Chaim Shapiro (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaimshapiro), moderated by College Recruiter’s former National Account Manager Andrea McEwen-Henderson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreamcewen).

Key takeaways:

1. Create a LinkedIn Profile featuring a consistent and winning brand.
2. Learn how to promote yourself via LinkedIn.
3. Discover what to include and what not to include in your Profile.
4. Master the tips and tricks to really make your Profile stand out.

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1. What are some of your best tips for students and others who are creating LinkedIn Profiles?

• Promote your brand visually by selecting key photos.
• Carefully select industry, headline keywords, etc., featured at the top of your LinkedIn Profile and in searches.
• Provide links to your other social media pages or profiles so your contacts on LinkedIn can connect with you elsewhere.
• Take advantage of the opportunity to showcase academic or professional publications. Future employers and recruiters and your peers may find your publications interesting and impressive.
• When selecting which skills to feature on your Profile, be picky, and list them in order of importance. Use the “above the fold” rule. The higher up it is on your Profile, the more likely it is to be noticed by recruiters, employers, and contacts.
• Only feature contact on your Profile that presents you in the best possible light.

2. When should students start reaching out to people on LinkedIn?

• Students should create a solid LinkedIn Profile before networking on LinkedIn (before adding contacts).

4. What is the deal with endorsements?

• Endorsements were originally a great idea on LinkedIn, but they are often misused. Many people endorse everyone and do not use discretion. It’s best not to endorse people unless you truly have knowledge of their skill base, however, so that your endorsement really means something, and you can stand behind it.

6. How do I choose which skills to feature on my Profile?

• Identify people who are leaders in your field (using various search options on LinkedIn). After determining which skills those leaders feature on their own LinkedIn Profiles, mimic their selections.

Bio: Chaim Shapiro, President of Zorach Consulting, is a freelance writer, public speaker and social media consultant specializing in LinkedIn. He has presented his popular LinkedIn workshop at National Conferences, universities, public libraries and for communal organizations across the country.

Chaim is the Assistant Director of Career Services at Touro College in New York. He earned a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel from Loyola University, Chicago, and also studied in the Institutional Leadership and Policy Studies Ph.D. program at the University Of California Riverside Graduate School Of Education. Chaim has more than 15 years of experience working in organizational administration.

College students and recent college graduates—part of Generation Z—often find themselves feeling unprepared for upcoming internship and job interviews. Part 2, Nailing the interview, of this three-part webinar series, Beyond text: Communication and Gen Z, prepares college students and recent college graduates for upcoming interviews by providing them with an understanding of nonverbal and verbal communication skills needed to succeed during the interview process. The webinar offers valuable tips for nailing the interview, practical do’s and don’ts, and anecdotes related to common interview mistakes. (more…)