Soft skills: a requisite for professional success.

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Way before 2020, I was bent on building my career, so I focused solely on getting good grades, and gathering work experiences that would propel me forward in reaching the highest level in my chosen field in no time. That was how it used to be. Go to school, get good grades, and you'll have jobs waiting for you by the time you're done with school, however, everything changed so fast. Thanks to AbdHakeem, a very good friend of mine that took his professional development seriously, and he dragged me along to also improve.

He introduced me to the world of soft skills which have been helping me over the years. Soft skills are non-technical skills relating to human innate attributes and personalities, and how they interact with one another. Unlike the hard skills, soft skills are not easily learned but can be developed with time. Soft skills play huge roles in a person's success at a job.

The first of the skills that my friend made sure I developed and got better at was 'effective communication'. It is important to learn how to talk to people, address their challenges, speak in clear terms, and having a maximum control over your emotions. This particular skill will help you practise effective listening, and practise an efficient feedback, and also learn to give and take constructive criticism without letting your emotions overtake you.

Another important skill he made sure I developed was leadership skill. People management is a very important skill needed by a leader. It is important to understand people, and how to help them be productive to yield maximum result at work. I remember getting recommended for a job in 2021 because my recommender trusted my people management skill.

Emotional intelligence is also very important. Knowing when to joke with issues around fellow employees, practising practising empathy, and understanding when and how to deal with your employer is an important skill needed in the world of work.

AbdHakeem, after training me by himself, further recommended some courses I took part in which helped me to develop those skills further, improving on the foundations that he had helped with.

I am currently undergoing trainings in data analytics, and in one of those courses, I learnt that attention to detail is one important skill that cannot be done away with for someone in the world of analytics. Every little detail matters, because you don't want to give wrong recommendations to your employer and the stakeholders, else, it'll boomerang big time.

Presentation skill is another important skill that's not only needed in the world of analytics, but also in the full world of work. From time to time, you'll present some findings to your subordinates and superiors, and you want to be deliver timely, while being detailed at it.

Now, another very important skill is Time management. This will help you plan your time accordingly, plan and execute tasks effectively, promptly get things done, and also include a time for proper rest, family time, and period for self-care.

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One important skill that I really want to learn now is negotiation skill. I know that it requires a little research in my chosen field to know the minimum pay for the role I applied to, but, the confidence to negotiate without underpricing myself is an important skill I need to master now, but first, I should reach a level of proficiency in my trainings.

For every job you intend to apply to, it is important to research the skills needed, both hard and soft skills so that you will not struggle to maintain your position in the company. Every job has its specifics, and it is important that you familiarize yourself with the ones relating to your chosen field.

This is my entry to the #inleo prompt for June. You can hop on it here

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