Soft Skills: They’re THE Differentiator

After years of study, you just earned your accounting degree, and now it’s time to begin the job search. But plenty of people graduate with accounting degrees each year, so what will differentiate you from the rest of your graduating class? Grades? Extracurriculars? Fancy résumé design? Sure, those may grab a recruiter’s attention, but in the end, they may not always make the difference. What will set you apart, however, are “soft skills.”

By Carver Smith, CPA

As a professional recruiter who specializes in helping companies find top accounting talent, I frequently see candidates list the “hard skills” on their applications and résumés. These include work experience, education, academic credentials, software skills and industry knowledge. In a highly technical field like accounting, all of this matters. However, all things being equal (and they rarely are), the soft skills — the inherent, intangible characteristics of you as a person that provide significant professional benefits — stand out more.

While you can learn or develop some soft skills over time —like public speaking, etiquette and listening skills — others are innate, such as drive, ambition and ability to handle difficult situations well. Personality and emotional intelligence (which includes attributes like relating to others, reading a room and being self-aware) are also soft skills. While these skills evolve and may be influenced by circumstance, they are often core to who you are.

The importance of soft skills goes beyond the interview process

Soft skills not only differentiate you in your résumé and during the interview; they also differentiate you in the workplace and enhance your ability to progress within an organization. Years ago, many public accounting firms were drawn to a candidate’s 4.0 GPA because they thought they had to hire the best and brightest. But good grades don’t necessarily mean a person is an effective communicator. Many technically competent accountants cannot articulate concepts to people who don’t have financial backgrounds, don’t know how to motivate their staff, or lack the entrepreneurial instincts needed to sell professional services. These soft skills are critical for anyone wanting to succeed in the accounting field, whether your goal is to make partner at a major firm or climb the career ladder in industry.

Soft skills alone are not enough

Previously in my career, I led campus recruiting at a major public accounting firm, where we studied our most successful people. From this study, we learned that for the first few years employees can survive on attitude (soft skills), but eventually aptitude (hard skills) became a critical factor required for advancement. Individuals with a solid blend of both soft and hard skills had virtually unlimited advancement opportunities within our firm.

So, although soft skills are a big differentiator, it’s important to remember they aren’t everything. You’ve probably heard people say that someone was “all show and no go.” Eventually, if you lack the technical expertise to back up your soft skills, it will catch up with you. That’s why continuing education and staying technically sharp is just as critical as developing your soft skills.

Showcasing your soft skills

Your résumé (and the stories it tells) is a great place to start highlighting your soft skills. When writing your résumé, be sure to include specific examples of accomplishments, both concrete achievements like GPA and degree as well as activities or projects that highlight your soft skills. The recruiter or hiring manager should be enticed to meet you and learn more about these accomplishments. When you have the opportunity to tell your story in person, make sure to bring your examples to life. Anyone can write a great cover letter, but if you back up those statements with memorable examples, you will likely impress the interviewer and increase your odds of moving forward in the process. Once you land that great opportunity, the development of both your hard and soft skills has only just begun.