When it comes to applying for a new job, it’s important to make sure that you stand out from your competition. One of the ways to do this involves putting together a strong portfolio. Specifically focusing on the soft skills section is a great way to get noticed since soft skills are more important than ever. Here’s how to optimize your portfolio to focus on your soft skills so you can ace your next job application.
What is a portfolio?
A professional portfolio is a tool that will help develop your career and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Specifically, it can be used to list out and expound upon your skills and work history, similar to a resume. Also, like a resume, there are many formats your portfolio can take, and no single way is “the best”. Depending on where you are applying and what you want to emphasize your portfolio will be unique for each job application.
While there are several ways to create and format a portfolio, common elements may include:
- Table of contents
- A short biography and relevant contact information
- Your career goals
- Résumé that highlights your achievements
- List of references, including names, titles, and contact information
- Employee evaluations or other performance metrics
- A few samples of your work
- A list of hard and soft skills
Your portfolio is a window into your professional career and should inform any hiring manager why you are qualified for any opening to which you’ve applied. In this case, your soft skills may be one of the most crucial aspects to manage.
What exactly are soft skills?
Most people are familiar with hard skills, or technical skills. These are the abilities that are directly related to a job position. For example, an IT technician (depending on their specific field) may need to be skilled in JAVA, coding, etc.
Soft skills, on the other hand, are less specific to a job, and more beneficial to a variety of work. They tend to focus more on your individual character rather than your specific skills. Soft skills may include public speaking, attention to detail, communication, and more. For many leads and developers, soft skills are an absolute necessity to effectively complete the job. Common soft skills include:
- Time management
- Written communication
- Verbal communication
- Adaptability
- The ability to work with others
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Leadership
- Dependability
While an exhaustive list of soft skills isn’t necessary for your portfolio, you should tailor your list to any skills relevant to the position you’re applying for. This will help you stand out, especially in a world where soft skills are becoming more important than ever!
Why Soft Skills are More Important Than Ever
While soft skills have always been necessary for success in the business world, they are perhaps more important now than ever before. When COVID-19 began, many businesses were forced to move online, and employees began working remotely. As people quarantined and stopped gathering together, soft skills became less used.
Now, as companies are reopening and employees are coming back together in the workplace, the ability to communicate, lead, and develop interpersonal relationships are the lifeblood of the workforce. In short, many employees stopped developing their soft skills during the pandemic, and now they are needed as businesses reopen.
Showing that you possess many soft skills is a great way to show a hiring manager that you are a valuable asset to their company, not just because of what you can do (hard skills) but because of how you can do it (soft skills). Take time to emphasize your soft skills in your portfolio, and you’re sure to stand out during your next interview process!
How Can Techbridge Help?
At TechBridge, our goal is to bridge the gap between business and employee, matching qualified workers with the companies who need them. If you have any further questions or you’re interested in our staffing and recruiting process, contact us today!
