DECEMBER 2020HR TECH OUTLOOK9Consider the Role of a Company's Culture Beyond job descriptions and position requirements, hiring managers should approach the candidate search with a solid understanding of the soft skills they seek, and how those soft skills fit into and help shape the larger organizational culture. Align internally to define the company culture and use it as a guidepost when evaluating candidates. In fact, soft skills are what may differentiate two candidates who have very similar backgrounds and propel one to the top of the list. The candidate you end up selecting might have soft skills that fit better into the organization and the team. And now more than ever, culture is what is helping to get many through today's environment--especially as remote work increased team collaboration. Look for New, Emerging Soft SkillsBeyond the traditional attributes, there are new emerging sets of soft skills that employers must now consider and look for during interviews. For example, the ability to connect with people and sense the needs of a team in a virtual environment is one of the most critical emerging soft skills. Employees can and will continue to do their jobs and do them well despite being remote. But when it comes down to assessing two candidates with similar backgrounds and work experiences, the candidate who is able to connect with people will likely get the job. There are some people who have the ability to bring everyone into the meeting virtually. They have the ability to notice who has not spoken during a video call, who seems distracted and who might be having an off day. That level of awareness and the ability to act on those observations are important for a team's ultimate success. Seek candidates who can bring that quality to the virtual world.As hiring managers continue to adapt and evolve to this new world of work, so should their approach to the interview. Employers are encouraged to lean into this new world of work by understanding the skills required to drive the organization's success and finding the candidates that can best navigate forward, no matter any distance. When removed from the context of an in-person environment, soft skills are much more difficult to evaluate
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