Hiring staff? Look for traits not talent.

Soft skills are the personal qualities that make people easy to work with and they’re key for business success.

Here are 6 important soft skills and the best open-ended interview questions you can ask to help find out whether a candidate is right for your business. 

1. Communication 

Give me an example of a time when you had to deal with a difficult team member. How did you ensure that you communicated with them well.

2. Adaptability

Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something for the first time. How did you react? What did you learn?

3. Culture fit

What three things are most important to you in a job?

4. Collaboration

Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How did you handle interactions with them?

5. Time management

Describe a time you fell behind schedule. What went wrong and what would you do differently next time?

6. Find out their ‘why’

What is important to you and why is it important? Is their why aligned with your why? (Refer to the book Find your why by Simon Sinek)