STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED
Technical Skills Needed in STEM to Seal the Deal Soft skills are just as important as technical skills when it comes to getting a job.
W
hile different employers prioritise different competencies depending on their organisation’s vision, values and culture, there are several common soft skills, or transferable skills, that they look for in graduate candidates. Here are eight typical soft skills that are highly valued by employers, and how recruiters assess applicants to find out if they possess these skills.
1
Communication skills
What is it? Communication skills include both written and verbal abilities, as well as interpersonal skills. In your working life, you’ll have to deal with different people of varying levels and backgrounds. Sometimes, you’ll even have to deal with people of diverse nationalities based in other countries, across various time zones. As such, it’s important for you to adapt your style of communication when necessary.
2
Leadership potential
What is it? Assessors for many graduate schemes will be interested in whether you have an aptitude for leadership. It’s important to be able to identify vital facts and communicate these clearly, concisely and enthusiastically to a team. Being organised and aware of time constraints while remaining courteous and respectful in stressful situations are also important leadership qualities.
How you’ll be assessed Group exercises may be a key tool for assessing your leadership potential, but this doesn’t mean that you should try to take charge of your group from start to finish. A pushy candidate forcefully taking the lead will be viewed negatively, hurting your chances at the job role. However, it’s still important to speak out when you have something productive to say, or challenge a view that you think is incorrect.
How you’ll be assessed In group tasks, you may find that other candidates have been given dissimilar information from you, and that you need to negotiate and decide among yourselves which aspects are most important. Recruiters are impressed by hopefuls who appreciate and respect each other while still getting the task done. Apart from ensuring that everyone is able to speak up, candidates will also be assessed on how they handle disagreements and conflicts among each other.
24
STEM Career Guide 2022
3
Able to work in a team
What is it? Working in a team makes up a huge part of working life, so recruiters look for applicants who realise that they can achieve more as part of a team, rather than as individuals, and focus on working towards common goals.
How you’ll be assessed Employers value graduates who actively participate, are open, honest, respectful and are willing to support others. For instance, behaviour such as listening to what others have to say, building other candidates’ confidence, and encouraging quieter teammates will be noted.
4
Problem-solving skills
What is it? At its core, it’s about finding innovative solutions to challenges the company’s facing.
How you’ll be assessed At assessment centres, you may be given a task involving a lot of information, so it’s wise to note down what you think are the most important points in a fashion that works for you, perhaps in a chart or flow diagram. Remember, your notes may be collected and analysed afterwards by the assessors. This can count in your favour if you’re on the right track, but unable to get your points across to other team members. In an interview, you may also be asked to think of an example of a problem you solved, describe how you tackled it, what the outcome was and what you took from the experience.
