Robert Walters: Employers rate soft skills and attitude over qualifications

The majority of employers rate attitude and soft skills as the most important attribute of a candidate, according to a survey recently conducted by specialist professional recruitment consultancy Robert Walters.

The survey of almost 700 human resources representatives, conducted to form the basis of Robert Walters' new whitepaper, 'Thinking laterally to identify and secure top talent', found that 63% of employers said attitude and soft skills are the most important attribute in a candidate. In addition, 99% of employers said they would not be prepared to hire a candidate with the right qualifications and experience, but not the right attitude.

Robert Walters' Managing Director – Australia, James Nicholson, says that these figures indicate that job-seekers need to ensure they sell their soft skills in their job applications and during interviews.

"While selling your job-specific skills and experience is obviously important, many candidates can forget to also sell their soft skills and show that they have the right attitude for the job. Job-seekers should also ensure they properly research the company they're applying to. This will allow them to emphasis the soft skills that would appeal to a potential employer, and convince the employer they're the right fit for the company."

In other findings, 62% of employers said they would be prepared to hire a candidate with great potential but not the right experience.

The new whitepaper examines how employers can increase their chances of identifying and securing top performers. It is the third in the Robert Walters Spotlight Series of whitepapers, which aims to help employers identify and address topical issues that could be affecting their recruitment process. The paper can be downloaded here.