You built a successful career in science based on a strong education and meaningful experience. But do soft skills ever come into play during your daily work routine either in the office or the lab? Frankly, being able to communicate well, show leadership, and solve problems matters whatever the industry.
Let’s analyze a few of the reasons why soft skills are important when working in science. Being a well-rounded employee benefits both you and your employer. In short, improving yourself in these areas puts your career on an even faster track to success.
Soft Skills Are an Emerging Hiring Trend in the Scientific Community
Companies in science increasingly look for candidates with the right mix of technical acumen and soft skills. In fact, this latest hiring trend provides enough proof for their importance within the field. Communication ability (especially multi-lingual), leadership potential, and problem solving skills rank at the top of what scientific companies want in their employees.
Teamwork and Collaboration Are Vital
The Agile and DevOps methodologies help tech organizations reach higher levels of productivity. They thrive on fostering teamwork and a collaborative spirit among technical co-workers. The Agile project management approach is also applicable to the scientific community.
Ultimately, science professionals happy to be a productive part of a team are increasingly valued throughout the industry.
Yes, Even Public Speaking Matters in Science
Occasionally, even scientists are tasked with speaking in front of a large group of people. The reasons for this form of public interaction are numerous, ranging from giving a presentation to project stakeholders to providing vital information to the press. As such, science employees with the unique ability to present complex information in an easy to understand manner are worth their weight in gold.
Public speaking also provides a great way to build your professional network – an especially important benefit during a job search. Consider joining a local Toastmasters chapter to improve your speaking skills.
Creativity and Innovation
Scientists with a measure of creativity are behind many of the important innovations throughout history. In fact, it’s arguably one of the top soft skills for anyone working in science. Employees blessed with that spark of inspiration to devise an elegant solution to a pressing problem are invaluable within the scientific community.
If you need some advice for navigating a successful career as a scientist, talk with the knowledgeable recruiters at Synerfac. As one of the top technical staffing agencies on the East Coast, we know the companies looking for talented candidates like you. Connect with us at your earliest convenience.