As a hiring manager, there are certain soft skills you should be seeking in all EHS candidates. These skills will indicate whether a job applicant will be an engaged team member who is committed to working hard for your company. Here are eight essential soft skills you should look for in candidates:
1. Positive attitude: A good attitude is one of the best things a new employee can bring to your organization. You want new hires who are eager to learn and maintain an optimistic mindset. Staff members with negative attitudes can quickly impact the entire workplace by causing low morale and productivity among the entire team. This usually results in high turnover and can even discourage qualified talent to apply for open positions at your company.
2. Teamwork: The best workers understand that an entire team working together can accomplish more than just one individual. Candidates with strong teamwork skills listen to their colleagues, encourage cooperation, and get along with other team members even when they don’t necessarily agree with an opinion or idea.
3. Problem-solving: The ability to work through problems and devise solutions is vital for any job. When issues arise, good problem solvers are able to use critical thinking and come up with a resolution to keep things running smoothly.
4. Communication: The most successful workers are able to communicate with their team and managers both verbally and in writing. They are able to use tone and body language to support what they’re saying. Applicants with great communication skills also actively listen to their colleagues’ ideas and concerns.
5. Work ethic: Job candidates with a strong work ethic will produce quality work for your company. They’re not the types of people who will start to slack off just a couple of months into the job. They work hard and are willing to go the extra mile for your organization.
6. Attention to detail: When employees make an effort to be meticulous, they make fewer errors, saving your business both time and money. Attention to detail is an important skill for EHS job candidates in particular because you want to ensure that you’re hiring employees who are going to take the utmost care and safety precautions when they’re on the job.
7. Dependability: Candidates who are responsibility, hardworking, and punctual are typically the most dependable. Employees who are dependable produce high-quality work and follow deadlines, as well as make sure to keep confidential client and company data secure.
8. Initiative: In addition to hiring employees who have strong teamwork skills, you also want to make sure they can work independently. Having staff members who can drive projects forward and devise solutions to problems without a lot of oversight will save you a great deal of resources and time.
While it’s important to search for EHS candidates that have the hard skills they need to do the job well, don’t overlook important soft skills. This will ensure you’re hiring people who are going to be reliable, hardworking, and get along well with current employees and managers.
Adapted from:
7 Soft Skills You Should Be Looking For In Candidates, Global HR Research Blog, GHRR.com.
9 Critical Soft Skills to Look for In Candidates, Karli Kendall, Blog.CriteriaCorp.com.