Your education will get you in the door, but it is your soft, or “people”, skills that will help you land the job and launch a successful career. Soft skills are the new hard skills—the distinguishing qualities that will help you outclass the competition. Soft skills are the missing link between your education and success in the business world.

Following are The Etiquette School of New York’s top 10 tips for polishing your soft skills:

1.     Know the proper protocol for introducing yourself and others. Always have a prepared self-introduction for every interview and networking event you attend—one that will stimulate interest in you and highlight your USP (unique selling point). 

2.      Shake hands with a firm grip, direct eye contact, and good posture. These are considered your presence power points; they ‘speak’ volumes about your confidence and credibility as a person who is going places.

3.      Suit-up for success: wear appropriate business attire, and always make sure you  are well-groomed when you go for a job interview, networking event , or business meeting. Polished shoes translate to attention to detail. A polished appearance opens doors! 

4.      Cultivate a strong, clear speaking voice; enunciate your words; and don’t use slang, foul language, or filler words. Knowing how to communicate clearly and effectively  is essential to your success.

5.      Polish your electronic and written communications. Be professional: conduct yourself in a business-like manner at all times by using appropriate business language. Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation to be sure they are correct. 

6.      Learn what is considered professional and appropriate when using your landline or cell phone for business. Always identify yourself when placing and answering a call. Be prepared to leave a voice mail message when you place a call, since over half of all calls placed go to voice mail.

7.      Know what is considered appropriate, and what does not reflect positively upon you, when use your social networking tools. Every communication in the virtual, as well as the real world, is an opportunity to make a good impression. Often your first impression is made online, since HR professionals often Google your name to read about you before meeting you in person.                         

8.      Master the art of mingling, networking, and making small talk. Being skillful at mingling and networking will not only help you land a job, but it will also help you stand out in your new job.

9.      Be polished and professional at the dining table. Perfected dining skills and suitable table manners are a must! You may have an interview scheduled as a lunch so your potential employer can observe your dining skills and table manners; and there is no better or worse place to make an impression than at the table.        

10.   Practice good manners at all times! Civility counts! People remember people with good manners.

You are invited to attend one of our “Social Success Makeover–Finishing School for Adults” group classes this summer. You will gain the etiquette knowledge and skill set needed to polish your soft skills and master the top 10 tips outlined above. There will be a class on June 13 and July 18 this summer. For additional information or to register for a class:  info@etiquette-ny.com. 

By: Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick

    Updated May 2018