STEM vs. Soft Skills: What You Need for Success in Your Career

STEM vs. Soft Skills - What you need for success in your career
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As recruiters, we can’t begin to tell you how many times we hear the phrase, “I’ll know it when I see it.” Companies often struggle to articulate what they’re looking for in a candidate. They know they need the right technical skills, but they can’t quite put their finger on the intangible personality traits a person should bring to the table.

 

These are what hiring professionals often call “soft skills.” It’s important that you can demonstrate these soft skills throughout the hiring process in order to land the job offer. Technology can be learned, but personality is inherent. Be sure to put your best food forward with these traits.

 

Ability to Communicate

You have the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) background, now how do you describe your expertise to people who may or may not have, nor understand, your technical background?

Your ultimate goal is to communicate how you can solve their business problems simply by being a part of their team. You can do this on your resume by avoiding overly technical terms to communicate what you do. For example, don’t just list the languages you know for coding, but talk about the way your code has achieved success for your former employers.

Leadership Skills

In the movies and on TV, tech professionals are often portrayed as the lone wolf in their workplace. But business in the real world is team oriented and collaborative. Even if you’re not being hired in a management position, you want to demonstrate your leadership skills to the hiring manager. Starting with your resume, share details from your career that showcase how you’ve made important decisions and led a team to success. Know how your skills fit in best with others in the organization.

Organization of Time

Employers often think they need someone who can multi-task, but the very concept is a myth. The human brain isn’t designed to multi-task in the way we’ve been told. The truth is, people who excel at multi-tasking are people who also shine at organizing and prioritizing tasks. You want to show a potential employer this is one of the traits that has allowed you to succeed in your tech career.

Be Adaptable

Technology is a rapidly changing industry, and someone who is good at it needs to be aware and able to make changes in their own skills throughout their career. There have even been cases where processes are outdated before they can be implemented.

So, it’s important that you are aware of the industry advancements and can incorporate them into your skills rather than feeling stuck with one way because it’s the way it’s always been done.

Able to Solve Problems

You’re being hired with one goal in mind: improving the company’s core business. You need to showcase how you do that and how your technical skills can advance their mission. This involves critical thinking, problem solving skills, and innovation. Sharing experiences from your past that demonstrate these things can give you the edge you need to be considered for your next tech position.

Are You Looking for a Career to Showcase Your Stem Skills in Louisville

Contact the recruiters at nFuzion to learn more today!

 

 

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