Make Yourself Marketable

Soft Skills

Reading, writing, arithmetic. They’re the standard subjects of public education, but does it take more than basic skills to make the grade in today’s workplace?

Being a good communicator is essential in today’s business world, no matter what your profession. Unfortunately, many job seekers don’t realize the importance soft skills play from the very start. An interview is the place where potential employers first learn about a candidate’s soft skills. From the moment a candidate walks in the door, observations are made about his or her ability to interact, articulate and build rapport with all of the staff.

Poor writing skills can be an obstacle to success as well. That’s why it’s very important that your resume, application, and all correspondence be well written and grammatically correct.

Ultimately, strong soft skills can help job-seekers land great jobs. When it comes down to the final decision between two candidates with the same technical skills, the person with the better soft skills will win! 

Beginning the Job Search

When searching for a new job, it is important to explain your reason for looking appropriately. If you talk negatively about your current or former employer, it may reflect badly on you. For suggestions in preparing your explanation, please see 'Your Reason for Leaving Statement.'

Resume Writing:

For a short overview in preparing a basic resume, please refer to ‘Resume Basics.’ For detailed instructions in preparing a professional resume, see ‘Your Resume—In Detail.’

Choosing a Resume Format

References

Preparing a Scannable Resume

Sample Resumes

Tips for Completing Job Applications

Dress for Success – Presenting a Professional Image

The Job Interview

For a short overview in interviewing, please refer to ‘Just the Basics.’ For detailed instructions on preparing for an interview, please see 'Interviewing, in Detail.’

After the Interview

Handling Salary Questions