Tis the season to…develop your “soft skills” and land a great job!

It’s everywhere and can’t be avoided! Yes, Christmas is coming and now only 6 weeks away! The trees, the baubles and the tinsel mark the start of silly season, but for many, mark the opportunity to make some extra money. Typically, retail outlets are starting the process of staffing their stores ready for the Christmas shopping mayhem and if you’re looking for temporary work then now is the time to get yourself ready and polished for interview.

of course you’ll be up against many others with the same motivation, so standing out from the crowd both on paper and in person is crucial. For the majority of these roles, the retailers are looking for people who are friendly with great communication skills and can work well within a team, have an ability to work under pressure with an attention to detail. Highlighting these skills with examples of experience will help you get ahead and through to the next round. But what happens next? Employers will want to experience these skills in person and walking your talk will be the key to landing the job.

Last week I delivered a workshop to ONE Nottingham’s young entrepreneurs on networking and the importance of “soft skills” when looking for clients or a new job. Networking, or relationship building (as I like to call it) is important for anyone at any stage in their career. People buy from or invest in people they like and trust. Being able to demonstrate interpersonal skills on a face-face basis is possibly the most important skill to have as it generates a rapport and builds credibility. It helps ensure that when an opportunity arises that you’re the first person they think of. people think of networking as being conducted in a defined space with a sign that says “networking event” above the door. In reality, networking can happen at any time with anyone, it’s all about communication and finding that common thread that binds you together which you can build on to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.

you may say that this isn’t important for interview, I’d say its absolutely crucial. if you’re able to develop a rapport with your future employer, show empathy, listen as well as communicate then these are all going to work in your favour. So some top tips to utilise your interpersonal skills when attending interview:

1. Practice small talk. You may have to attend a group interview or assessment centre, being able to enjoy small talk with fellow candidates and assessors will work in your favour. It demonstrates your ability to listen and get on with people. It also helps with the awkward walk from the reception to the interview room and remember, first impressions are critical!
2. Define your story: preparing answers to questions is an obvious must before interview. Think about examples for each skill requirement and practice talking them through. In addition, think about the story you want to tell the employer. Stories engage and if you can practice the “tell me a bit about yourself” question in a relevant and interesting manner then you’re going to draw in the interviewer and generate a rapport.
3. Ask questions: Try and generate a bit of a conversation with the recruiter through asking key questions. Listen and ask some more. This provides first hand evidence that you’re able to communicate in a natural manner
4. Offer solutions: Use the information gathered through questioning to provide your opinion or solutions on how you could contribute, this demonstrates your ability to think on your feet, your understanding of the problem and your willingness to get stuck in.
People buy from people and they buy from people that they like or are a bit like them. try and glean an understanding of the recruiter to help engage and develop that rapport. Practice, practice, practice, and if you need some help defining your story or overcoming interview nerves, please do get in touch. www.pennystrutton.co.uk