Employers in city rate teamwork as top soft skill

Leeds employers frequently cite soft skills such as good time management and teamwork alongside technical skills and qualifications when hiring new staff.

Randstad examined job adverts posted on its site, to identify which soft skills were most sought after. The analysis found that team players were the most valued, with 57 per cent of employees including the term teamwork in their job advertisement.

Almost a quarter, 23 per cent, reference efficient time management in their list of required skills and experience.

Tara Ricks, managing director of Randstad Financial & Professional, said: “These days advancing on the career ladder doesn’t just depend on technical expertise and qualifications. It is also important to demonstrate good communication skills and the ability to work as a team in order to achieve your career goals.

“These types of skills are crucial to a business’s long-term growth and many employers in Leeds are now placing equal, if not higher, importance on soft skills and emotional intelligence.”

The research also found that employers frequently mentioned particular personality traits in the list of things they were looking for.

The most popular attribute was effectiveness with a quarter of employers, 26 per cent, saying they were looking for an efficient and productive candidate.

This was followed by accuracy with one in five employers, 20 per cent, listing attention to detail in their list of desired attributes. Other personality traits such as being driven, enthusiastic and passionate also featured highly, showing that having the right attitude is just as important as hard skills.

Ms Ricks said: “Career success is not just about having the right qualifications but also the right attitude. It is important for candidates to show employers that they have more to offer than simply their technical skills.”

Soft skills not only help employees climb the career ladder but also provide a good advantage when looking to switch careers.

“The key to soft skills is that they are so easily transferable,” said Ms Ricks.