This article is part of our “Get started in finance” series for young professionals. Here, you’ll find tips and tricks to help you get your foot in the door. 

Building quality contacts won’t happen overnight, but here are some tips to increase your chances of getting the response you want to your networking efforts.

Read more from our “Get started” series: How to network for your career

At Aldrich & Co we’re always surprised to find how rarely soft skills feature on CVs, even though they are essential skills for so many roles.

This means that lots of people are missing a crucial trick for sweeping up great jobs – let’s make sure you’re not one of them!

What are some examples of soft skills?

Otherwise known as interpersonal skills, soft skills include:

• Time management
• Networking
• Teamwork
• Creative thinking
• Conflict resolution
• Listening
• Empathy
• Responsiveness
• Proactivity
• Responsibility

Fact: Soft skills are highly valued

It’s not all about domain knowledge and experience. Recruiters want to see that you’re going to be a good culture fit with the company, and more often than not this rests on your soft skills.

As well as what you know,you will be assessed onyour adaptability and the way you communicate. In life, we remember people who respond well, can think critically, and work well with others, rather than those who only show off what they know. It’s the same in business.   

Fact: You can develop soft skills anywhere, anytime

It’s not all that difficult to develop your soft skills. All you need is a willingness to learn and an openness in your approach. Here are a couple of pointers to get you started:

Analyse past meetings. If you’re fresh out of university, think about the last meeting you had with your supervisor. Did you respond swiftly to their request? Were you punctual? Did you thank the person for their time? What goals did they set at your meeting, and how did you meet them?

Get involved. The next time you’re at a networking event (either virtually or in-person), don’t be afraid to put your hand up and ask a question or even join in the conversation at an appropriate moment. The art of timing is something that requires practice.

How can I put my soft skills on my CV?

If you can show how you’ve exhibited soft skills at school, or university, or even a social or sports team, then you’re well on your way to finding a future employer.

The key here is to be specific! Rather than say “I am a good team player” show them what you did while you were a member of a team.

What are the essential soft skills for finance?

You should show evidence of many of the soft skills in the list above, but you’ll probably need to focus on highlighting some skills over others. In our experience, those who can negotiate, persuade, present ideas confidently, think critically, work in a team, listen, and be proactive will be well set for a career in banking.

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When we think of the people we love to work with at Aldrich & Co, we find its because of their interpersonal skills. We value people who are great at communicating, who give us feedback, who support and encourage us, and who connect us with like-minded people.