L & L #27: 8 Tips to Showcase Your Soft Skills in Job Interviews
[Reading Time: 4 mins]
“Soft skills get little respect, but they will make or break your career.” — Peggy Klaus
CONTEXT
Based on my experience working with top professionals, it's clear that soft skills are essential in job interviews
They’re not just nice to have.
They’re game-changers that can set you apart from the competition.
While technical skills and industry knowledge are crucial, it’s your soft skills that often make the real difference.
These are the qualities that reveal how you handle challenges, build relationships, and adapt to new situations.
Unlike hard skills, which are easily measured, soft skills need to be shown in a more subtle way during interviews.
I created the infographic below to show 8 tips that will help you showcase these essential qualities. It’s a handy, quick-reference guide for you to review before heading into a job interview. Click on it for a printable high-res PDF version.
Here are 8 powerful tips to help you highlight these important qualities and ace your next job interview:
1. Preparation: Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Preparation isn’t just about knowing the job; it’s about knowing yourself.
Understanding your key soft skills is the first step toward confidently demonstrating them in an interview.
➥ Example: A candidate who clearly explains how they’ve used their communication skills to solve problems shows both self-awareness and the ability to apply soft skills in real-life situations.
How to Prepare:
- Do a Self-Assessment: Use tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or DiSC profile to identify your soft skills.
- Ask for Feedback: Get input from colleagues or mentors on your interpersonal skills.
- Practice Talking About Your Strengths: Be ready to discuss how your soft skills have helped you succeed in previous jobs.
➤ 🔍Quick Tip: List your top soft skills and prepare examples to share during your interview.
2. Active Listening: Engage Fully During the Interview
Active listening isn’t just a skill.
It’s a superpower.
It shows respect, builds rapport, and helps you respond with precision.
➥ Example: A candidate who listens carefully to the interviewer’s questions and then tailors their answers demonstrates adaptability and attention to detail.
How to Practise Active Listening:
- Keep Eye Contact: This shows that you are fully involved in the conversation.
- Don’t Interrupt: Let the interviewer finish speaking before you respond.
- Reflect Back: Repeat or summarise what the interviewer says to make sure you understand before you answer.
➤ 🔍Quick Tip: Practise active listening in your daily conversations to make it a natural part of your interview skills.
3. Storytelling: Use Examples to Illustrate Your Soft Skills
Stories stick.
They make your experiences real and memorable and provide clear proof of your abilities.
Telling a good story is one of the best ways to show your soft skills.
➥ Example: A candidate who shares a story about leading a team through a tough project shows leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.
How to Improve Your Storytelling:
- Use the STAR Method: Organise your stories around the Situation, Task, Action, and Result for a clear and concise narrative.
- Be Specific: Use detailed examples that show your soft skills in action.
- Keep It Relevant: Make sure your stories match the job description and the employer’s needs.
➤ 🔍Quick Tip: Prepare at least three stories that show different soft skills and practice telling them briefly.
4. Body Language: Non-Verbal Cues Matter
Your body language says a lot about your confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism.
Even if your words are perfect, poor body language can send the wrong message.
➥ Example: A candidate who sits up straight, smiles, and uses open gestures shows confidence and approachability.
How to Improve Your Body Language:
- Practice Good Posture: Sit or stand upright, and avoid crossing your arms or legs, which can seem defensive.
- Mirror the Interviewer: Copy the interviewer’s body language subtly to build a connection.
- Watch Your Facial Expressions: Smile naturally, and make sure your expressions match the conversation.
➤ 🔍Quick Tip: Record yourself in a mock interview to see and improve your body language.
5. Emotional Intelligence: Show Empathy and Self-Awareness
Emotional intelligence isn’t just a buzzword.
It’s the secret sauce that makes great leaders.
It’s crucial at work because it affects everything from teamwork to handling conflicts. In an interview, demonstrating EI can set you apart.
➥ Example: A candidate who acknowledges a coworker’s perspective and explains how they resolved a disagreement shows high emotional intelligence.
How to Show EI:
- Be Empathetic: Show that you understand and care about others’ feelings and viewpoints.
- Talk About Your Growth: Share how you’ve developed emotional intelligence through your work experiences.
- Reflect on Emotions: Discuss how you’ve managed emotions in past challenges.
➤ 🔍Quick Tip: Practise empathy in your daily interactions to strengthen your emotional intelligence.
6. Problem-Solving: Showcase Your Analytical and Creative Thinking
Problem-solving skills are a must-have.
Showing how you approach challenges calmly and creatively can leave a strong impression.
Employers value candidates who can approach problems calmly and find smart solutions. Highlighting your problem-solving skills
➥ Example: A candidate who explains how they found and fixed a process issue shows both their analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.
How to Show Problem-Solving Skills:
- Share Detailed Examples: Describe the problem, how you thought through it, and the outcome.
- Highlight Creativity: Talk about how you’ve used creative thinking to overcome challenges.
- Focus on Results: Show how your problem-solving skills led to positive outcomes.
➤ 🔍Quick Tip: Prepare examples of different types of problems you’ve solved — technical, interpersonal, and strategic.
7. Adaptability: Prove You Can Thrive in Change
Adaptability is essential in today’s fast-paced world.
Show employers that you can adjust to new situations and still perform well.
➥ Example: A candidate who explains how they successfully navigated a major change at work shows adaptability and resilience.
How to Show Adaptability:
- Highlight Varied Experiences: Talk about how you’ve thrived in different roles or industries.
- Show Learning Agility: Share examples of how you’ve quickly picked up new skills or knowledge.
- Discuss Change Management: Describe how you’ve managed or adapted to change in previous jobs.
➤ 🔍Quick Tip: Be ready to talk about a recent time when you had to adapt quickly and how you handled it.
8. Teamwork: Emphasise Collaboration and Leadership
Teamwork is at the heart of success in most organisations.
Show that you’re a team player who can also lead when needed.
➥ Example: A candidate who shares how they led a cross-functional team to achieve a goal highlights their teamwork and leadership skills.
How to Show Teamwork:
- Discuss Collaborative Projects: Share examples of when you worked closely with others to achieve a common goal.
- Highlight Leadership in Teams: If you’ve led teams, talk about how you motivated and supported your team members.
- Show Interpersonal Skills: Emphasise your ability to communicate, compromise, and build strong relationships.
➤ 🔍Quick Tip: Prepare examples that show both your ability to lead and your willingness to support others in a team.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Soft skills aren’t just a side note in your career.
They’re the foundation of your success.
Learning to showcase these skills effectively can make you stand out in any interview and leave a lasting impression on potential employers. .
“Technical skills might get you the job, but soft skills will make you exceptional at it.”
Extra Resources to Dive Deeper
📌 Top pick on personal development: “How To Highlight Soft Skills In A Job Interview”. This article from Forbes. Read more here
📌 Top pick on professional development: “How to Showcase Soft Skills in an Interview”. This resource is from Welcome to the Jungle. Read more here
📌 Top pick video: “The Importance of Soft Skills in the Workplace”
A concise video that explains the significance of soft skills in the workplace.
Watch below ⇣⇣⇣
📌 Book pick: “The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: Workplace Lessons” by Peggy Klaus
Klaus gives practical tools and techniques for mastering soft skills across the career spectrum. Find it on Amazon
📌 AudioBook pick: “HBR's 10 Must Reads on Strengthening Your Soft Skills” by Harvard Business Review. It focuses on core topics: leadership, strategy, change, managing people, and managing yourself. Find it on Audible
Until next week, let your soft skills shine!
Véronique,
PS: Want to learn more about showcasing your soft skills beyond the interview room (And grow your brand on LinkedIn)? I have good news.
I’m teaching exactly how I grew from 5k to 35k followers in less than 6 months. If you’re looking to become a thought leader on LinkedIn and want to open doors to new opportunities, book your coaching session now. There are only 3 slots left for August!
You can read what people say about working with me here.
Also sending a warm welcome to everyone who joined The Linked And Lift community since last week! Be sure to check the welcome email I sent you to find out how to download, for free, all 70+ high-value resources I offer - for free.
