Secure a Job Right Out of High School With these Soft Skills

If you’ve just graduated from high school and don’t have any work experience, you might be wondering about your chances of landing a good job. However, due to the current worker shortage coupled with increased demand for manufactured goods, industrial employers are offering those with high school degrees rewarding opportunities.  

 How can you land one? 
 First, you’ll want to submit a strong application, prepare for interviews, and get a list of references ready. During the hiring process, also make sure you focus on your soft skills.  
 
What are soft skills? 
Soft skills are personal habits, attitudes, and traits that impact how you work. Hard skills, in contrast, are technical abilities, knowledge, and experience you’ve gained through past jobs. 
 
If you don’t have a lot of job experience, or any at all, it’s important to demonstrate the right mix of soft skills. These communicate to potential employers that you’ll be a team player and a hard worker.  
 
So, which soft skills are most valuable? Here are a few to keep in mind: 
 
Communication. 
Good writing and speaking skills are key to your first job out of high school. To make a good impression on a hiring manager, make sure you have a well-written resume and cover letter. Also, research common interview questions and prepare answers ahead of time, so you don’t stumble during responses.   
 
Collaboration. 
Employers need those who work well with others. This means being comfortable as a part of the team, listening actively, and voicing your own thoughts and opinions in a professional way. When you’ve mastered these skills, it will go a long way in making you stand out. 
 
Critical thinking. 
Navigating the workplace requires critical thinking skills. You won’t always have someone to turn to for answers all the time, and you will therefore need to be able to think through problems and come up with solutions on your own.  
 
To convey this ability to a hiring manager, think about a problem you had at school or on a sports team, the solution you came up with, and how you implemented it.  
 
Work ethic. 
Employers want those who are dependable, hardworking, and responsible. It’s why showing up on time to the interview, be prepared with your resume and a list of references, and dressing professionally are all important.  
 
In addition, communicate that you’re a hard worker with specific examples of times you’ve went above and beyond, whether at home or at school, to further set you apart from other candidates. 
 
Confidence. 
Employers want workers who are self-assured and confident. Even if you have a lot to learn, you want to demonstrate to the hiring manager that you’re eager to gain new skills and can be trained on the job.  
 
When you’re applying to your first job, just out of high school, it’s important to keep these soft skills in mind. If there is one or more you don’t have, the good news is that they can be learned. As you grow and develop in your career, you’ll attain more and better soft skills so that you can achieve your goals. 
 
Need help finding a new job out of high school? 
 
At Gill Staffing, we’re one of West Michigan’s leading recruiters and have a range of positions to consider, especially in the manufacturing industry. We can learn about your background and interests and match you with the best-fit one. Search our jobs now to get started.