“Study hard and you’ll get a good job” is what millennials tend to hear from their parents. But that might not be all what it takes.

Nowadays, with the job market becoming extra competitive, grades will not always be the deal-maker. To be honest, most of the skills used in the workplace will be taught there, which is why employers do not worry too much about academic record.

What they do pay attention to, however, are an employee’s “soft skills,” the skills that cannot be quantified but can certainly have a huge impact.

Here are the five examples of these soft skills employers want their new hires to have:

1. Flexibility.

Deadlines might change all of a sudden and an employee needs to be ready. There might be a project due this Thursday, but the boss decides they might need the work a day earlier. This is where flexibility comes into play. A good worker needs to remain calm, set priorities and get to work.

2. Innovation.

When employers hire people, they are not looking for a robot that just follows orders. They need to know that the people they hire can make a change in the workplace if needed. That is why employers often ask during the interview about a time when that person “thought outside the box.” Creativity and innovation are the two main drivers of development in the workplace, and one should be sure they showcase them when at the job.

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3. Interpersonal skills.

Going to work is not only about getting work done. A good employee needs to be able to socialize with coworkers and leave a good impact on the people they work with. A key skill employers take into consideration when deciding whether someone gets promoted is how well they get along with whoever they supervise. That is why maintaining friendly yet professional relationships with coworkers is a must.

4. Giving and accepting objective criticism.

It's naive to think that all of the work produced in a single day is perfect and without flaws. People will always give some feedback and a good employee must always take it with an open heart and mind. Employers need to make sure their workers are not sensitive when it comes to their work because there is always room for improvement. And if an employee has any comments regarding a procedure or task that is being done, they are encouraged to voice their opinion so long as it is done in an objective and respectable manner. Employers need to make sure that everyone has their own opinion and are not afraid to express it; an admirable trait that portrays both confidence and respect.

5. Problem-solving.

Working will not be smooth-sailing and an employee is bound to hit some obstacles. What matters is how one deals with them, and remembering that an employer notices things like that. Managers want to make sure that employees take up any challenge they face at the workplace and find the best way to solve them. It might be a quarrel with a coworker, an expected deadline or simply a project that is a bit too complicated. No matter what it is, trying is better to try hard to understand the underlying problem in order to choose the most appropriate manner to solve it. It also helps to not be afraid to ask for guidance or help, for it shows a willingness to learn and grow.

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