Future of Work | 7 Most In-Demand Soft Skills By Singapore Employers
Updated: Mar 23, 2022
We gave an overview of why soft skills matter in our 5W1H guide. In this article, we dive into what are the soft skills that Singapore employers are looking for and how you can start to build them.
Table of contents
Tips to improve communication skills
Tips to improve teamwork skills
4 Steps to approach any problems
Tips to improve problem-solving
Growth mindset vs Fixed mindset
Tips to improve growth mindset
Actions you can take to be more adaptable
Tips to improve leadership skills
With rapid globalisation and an increasingly educated workforce, competition has been toughening long before the pandemic hit. Economic indicators have consistently reflected a Singapore economy faced with challenging circumstances. COVID-19 was the final nail to the coffin.
While people have always talked about the importance of soft skills, its urgency and absolute necessity can be felt today. In an uncertain post-pandemic economy, soft skills such as adaptability and creative problem-solving are likely going to make the difference in whether a business sinks or swims.
There are overlaps in recurring mentions of soft skills that Singapore employers are looking for (read this Straits Times Op-ed that provides a landscape view on skills and this CNBC article on how mid-career workers are upskilling). We have found the most comprehensive sweep to be NTUC LearningHub’s Employer Skills survey.
Conducted during Singapore’s Circuit Breaker (April 2020), the survey identifies 10 soft skills that businesses are actively seeking as their top priority.
With the ‘work-from-home’ era set to stay, it’s also worth mentioning that skillsets in web design (31%) and digital marketing (44%) are amongst the top 10 digital skills identified. A not-so-subtle plug, but while you’re here, check out the courses we have Hatch to help you find employment in these thriving sectors!
Without further ado, here are the 7 soft skills that Singapore employers are looking for (2020 edition)
1. Communication
Communication soft skills cover a two-way street: to convey ideas clearly and to listen empathetically to others.
To convey
Great communicators take nuanced approaches when interacting with others in different situations. Take for instance team project discussions which can sometimes lead to unproductive or hurtful clashes of perspectives. An individual who is skilled in communication can tactfully deliver his disagreement while avoiding conflict. Based on their knowledge of their audience’s response, they can adjust their communication styles to articulate ideas with precision and extra sensitiveness when needed.
To listen
Good communicators are also active listeners. This means they put in conscious effort to comprehend what the speaker is saying. While they are at it, they keep an open mind towards new ideas because they seek first to empathise. In the long-term, this establishes rapport and builds trust between colleagues and stakeholders.
Some tactics of active listening:
Paraphrasing what was said to clarify understanding
Asking questions
Not interrupting and jumping straight to problem-solving mode
Digital and Non-verbal communication
Digital communication via emails, instant messaging platforms and video conferencing platforms is an undeniable mode of communication in the 21st century working world. Even in written text, subtle cues in tonality are reflective of an individual’s professionalism and friendliness.
Communication can also be implicit through body language and gestures, tonality and facial expressions. Experts generally agree that