The Importance of Soft Skills in the Irish Workplace

Soft skills are the non-technical skills that you use every day in your job, such as working as part of a team, interacting with clients and managing your time effectively. These are very valuable in the world of employment since they make all the difference in how successfully you can carry out your job and achieve your goals.

The Irish employment market is populated with world-leading employers in the pharmaceutical, technological, finance and agricultural industries, and talented individuals come from all over the world to work here. However, soft skills are particularly important here since they allow employers to differentiate between individuals who have all the technical qualifications for the role and those who also have the soft skills to deliver real results.

Why Soft Skills are Valuable

Soft skills are very important in most job roles, especially if working with others is a part of your job, and you should draw attention to particular strengths in your cover letter and interview. The soft skills you choose to highlight should be relevant to the job you are applying for and you should give examples of where you have used these skills effectively to achieve a goal or complete a project in a previous role. Soft skills worth mentioning include:

• Time management. Managing your time effectively can make a world of difference to your productivity, particularly if you are project managing or working to a deadline. Take the opportunity to highlight your time management skills and mention how these have served you well in the past.

• Teamwork. Working effectively within a team is essential in many job roles and showing yourself as a team player can make you much more appealing as a candidate for a job. Highlight examples of your previous team experience and make sure this is relevant to the job you are applying for, choosing examples where the outcomes were positive and explaining how your role enabled this success.

• Problem solving. Being able to think creatively and solve problems is a vital soft skill that will increase your chances of securing the job you want. If you can think outside the box, demonstrate this to your interviewer by coming up with an example of how you have problem-solved successfully in the past.

• Communication. Communication skills are very important in most job roles, especially when you are working with others or interacting with the public. The way you communicate your ideas to a team or present to an audience may be demonstrated in an interview, which is a good opportunity to showcase your communication skills.

• Adaptability. Being adaptable means you are more likely to be able to think on your feet and change course when problems arise or situations change. In your cover letter or at an interview, it is good practice to highlight occasions where you have done this and made the most of your ability to adapt to different situations.

• Critical thinking. Critical thinking is all about making clear and reasoned decisions and interpreting information and data efficiently. You can use examples from your previous job roles and other experiences to show off your critical thinking skills at an interview or in your cover letter.

• Interpersonal skills. This is not just about working within a specific team but about how you relate to others, including your close colleagues, management and clients. This will be demonstrated by your performance at the interview and it is worth practicing your interview technique to see how you can best show your interpersonal skills here.

How to showcase your soft skills

Some interviewers will ask questions designed to elicit your soft skills and you should think carefully about how to respond to these when you are preparing for your interview. Using examples from your previous job is usually the most relevant way to demonstrate your soft skills, showing that you know how important these can be. For instance, if you are applying for a job as a team leader, it will be helpful if you can give an example of a time you led a team and facilitated positive outcomes.

The way you present yourself at the interview and in your application is also a good way to show your soft skills without explicitly mentioning them. A concise, well-written cover letter, for instance, can show your interviewer that you are a clear, competent communicator. Your interpersonal skills will be on display at the interview, and simple steps such as dressing appropriately, building rapport with your interviewer and asking for feedback will help to ensure that you stand out.

Irish industries need soft skills

The Irish economy is driven by a variety of industries and offers job opportunities for all skill sets. Soft skills are vital in most of these industries, and you will be much more likely to succeed in applications and in your career if you can demonstrate that you have strengths such as those already mentioned. Communication skills, for instance, are essential when teams include members with diverse backgrounds and cultures, bringing people together and helping to bridge potential language and cultural barriers.

Service-oriented industries, such as hospitality, retail and tourism, rely on strong interpersonal skills and Irish businesses recognise the importance of this. Creating positive experiences for customers drives success in these industries, and securing talented individuals who can bring this skill to a business is vital.

All leadership roles require strong and authentic soft skills, and you will have spent years developing these if you are applying for a leadership position in Ireland. The soft skills you need to network and manage people will enable you to motivate and succeed in your position, and these include interpersonal skills, teamwork, critical thinking and adaptability. The way that you manage the application process and conduct yourself at the interview will be crucial in showing your potential employer that you have the qualities they need.

Why your soft skills could get you the job you want

When you are applying for a job in Ireland, your potential employer will want to know that you will be an asset to their business and can bring something special to the table. The soft skills you demonstrate may be the reason that you are successful in securing the job you want, ensuring that you stand out from other candidates and that you will go the extra mile to succeed.

The technical skills and qualifications required to perform a task are essential requirements in most jobs but the soft skills each individual brings to their job are vital for fostering a working environment that is productive, collaborative and inclusive. This makes all the difference to the development of a workplace culture and helps businesses adapt to the ever-changing demands of the business environment.

Talk to CareerWise Recruitment Agency In Ireland

When you’re applying for new jobs in Ireland, it’s a good idea to work with a recruitment agency such as CareerWise. Our expert team can help you to navigate the Irish job market and match you with positions that are a great fit for you and your skill set. We can assist you with the application process, including polishing your CV and honing your interview skills to get the best results.

CareerWise is Ireland’s leading specialist recruitment firm, based in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Dublin and Mayo, and we work with individuals looking for new roles as well as businesses in need of new talent. We specialise in the Engineering, Supply Chain, Science/Pharma, IT and Accounting industries in Ireland, and we look forward to working with you. Contact us online now or call us at +353 (0) 21 206 1900 to arrange a consultation with one of our experienced team today.

Joe Robbins

(Director) BBS (Hons), MBPICS – Shannon Office

Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.

He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.

He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.

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