Social Skills in a Job Search and How to Build on Them

Social Skills in a Job Search and How to Build on Them Social Skills in a Job Search and How to Build on Them Upon the release of Clark Frey and Michael Osborne’s research The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerization in 2013, automation anxiety was at an all-time high. This research estimates that “about 47 percent of total U.S. employment is at risk” of being computerized within the next two decades. As social skills are difficult to automate, their importance will continue to increase. Although the jury is still out on whether robots will actually start taking over our jobs, advances in artificial and deep-learning technology are exacerbating the concerns over the future of work. As technology continues to produce machines that complete increasingly complex tasks that were once safely reserved for humans, the question remains: what jobs will be left for us? Making Yourself Hard to Automate No need to panic, because recent research by NBRE suggests that as long as you have great social skills, then you’ll likely avoid having your future opportunities taken away by artificial intelligence- mainly because social skills have been proven very difficult to automate. NBRE’s research shows that employment and age growth have been particularly strong in occupations with high cognitive and social skills. It argues that these high-skilled, hard-to-automate jobs will increasingly demand social adeptness. Having social skills is clearly important if you’re looking for a position that will not be at risk of being automated in the future. So how exactly are we defining social skills and how can you build on them? Social skills are the skills we use to interact and communicate with our peers, both verbally and non-verbally. Below, let’s take a look at some basic social skills that your next employer may be looking for, and how you can build on them. 3 Social Skills in a Job Search and How to Build on Them Confidence in Communication The ability to confidently communicate and present information, whether in a small or large group setting, is a skill many employers value. Some people are naturally outgoing and able to present this confidence, but if you don’t particularly feel you have this skill, try taking a speech or public speaking course. You’ll likely feel out of your comfort zone, but these classes can help you learn how to present your ideas confidently, regardless of the setting. Good Listener If you ask someone in sales why they are great at their job, they’ll likely tell you that they’re good listeners. And that’s because they have to tune into the prospect’s cues, both verbal and non-verbal, in order to truly understand what their needs are. Try this simple trick to see if you’re a good listener: the next time you’re in a conversation with your peers, count how many times you interrupt the conversation. If you’re constantly interrupting, it’s likely you’re not really listening. Use this as a small stepping stone to build on your listening skills. Flexibility Flexibility may not really sound like a typical social skill, but in the workplace your ability to show you are flexible in various situations indicates you’re a team player. In order to contribute to the cohesive structure that’s so essential to successful teamwork, you’ll need to be outwardly flexible. Let your team know you’re capable of lending your support to any situation, and by doing so, you’ll likely gain respect in your position. Be conscious of your ability to be flexible when others ask for your help. During an interview, describe various situations in which you displayed your flexibility- it will likely go a long way. This is just a small glance at the many social skills that one can utilize in their favor for a future position. And because the threat of job automation remains very real, working on these social skills could help you obtain a future position in the growing sector of jobs that require high social skills. Readers, do you use your social skills when conducting a job search? Share your tactics with us below! PGi has been a leading global provider of collaboration software and services for over 20 years. PGi is constantly innovating new technologies to help professionals do business outside the office, making virtual meetings easier and more productive than ever before. Learn more at our blog, The Future of Business Collaboration.