Employers should get creative

I DISAGREE with the notion of soft skills defining the employability of an individual.

Soft skills differ from person to person, as much as talents do. I do not believe there is any one proven method that can bring out the myriad of skills available. Additionally, any prescribed 'employment' profile being circulated in schools will only result in homogeneity, which is what employers, I gather, are trying to avoid.

What worries me the most though, is that in aspiring towards the vision of an 'ideal' worker, we lose the sense of the individual, respected and appreciated as they are.

The great irony is that as a nation, we have been preaching creativity, diversity and equality, but yet subconsciously expect any aspirant to success to conform to a prescribed profile.

Perhaps it might be useful for employers to be creative about how to utilise their workforce, rather than expect a workforce to conform.

Goh Wen Zhong, 25, is pursuing professional legal training in London

Soft skills set one apart

AN ADMINISTRATIVE internship at New York's prestigious Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts demands 'initiative, a sense of humour and enthusiasm'.

Will this become the new pre-requisite for employment?

As a music student, I quickly understood that technical ability alone could not guarantee success.

While only a few are blessed with pure talent, one weapon that many successful musicians wield is their personality.

In a field where relationships and contacts are crucial, a major part of an artiste's success comes from excellent interpersonal skills.

It should be no different for others. After all, when millions of university graduates hold similar qualifications, what ultimately makes one more memorable than the rest?

Yet, it is important to realise that these qualities make not just an attractive resume, but a more appealing individual as a whole, both in and out of the workplace.

Melissa Khong, 21, is a final-year music student at the Manhattan School of Music

Harsh realities of a global marketplace

DESPITE my aversion to shameless self-adulation, the vagaries of internship applications have moulded me into a credible resume artisan; adding colour and placing dazzling emphases on unique work skills and hire-able qualities.

Trying to whet employers' appetites with such gratuitous spices is not a recent phenomenon.

Possession of any aptitude beyond the basic competence of a vocation dramatically increases one's employability, and is a must-have in any resume.

This new emphasis on soft skills is perhaps yet another example of a passive trailing of the 'invisible hand' in reacting to industry needs.

One thing is clear though: The harsh realities of a global marketplace guarantee that the paper chase has no finishing line.

Wong Chun Han, 22, is a second-year history student at the London School of Economics

No place for smart robots

NO GRADE can quantify a person's character, street smarts or social skills.

In a country where a degree is now commonplace, employers value qualities that come beyond what is apparent on an application form.

It's all about the nurturing of one's character which progresses from being an impressionable child learning from his elders to an adolescent being influenced by his peers.

The development of skills from a young age not only boosts one's self esteem, but it helps to gain perspective about what working adults like to call the 'Real World'.

In such a setting, the book smarts may fall short if they are unable to handle tough situations with no answers.

The employer then ends up with a crew of smart robots; ask them to suggest something innovative, and their systems shut down.

Eunice Quek, 21, is a third-year English student at Nanyang Technological University

Good grades still matter more

IS ALL this emphasis on soft skills merely cosmetic?

Scholarship applications are increasingly focused on communication and leadership skills, but the reality of it is that if they do not come with good results, it may be neglected.

Academic achievements clearly remain the determining factor over soft skills.

It is of significant importance because our education is engineered by the system.

If we become entrenched in a mentality of 'certification over capabilities', what chance is there for people to appreciate skills that require non-contextual knowledge or experience?

It cannot be all intention - which does not materialise as actions - because our society generally follows the Government's lead.

Without the Government setting a clear example, it is natural to hesitate before putting all our eggs in one basket.

Alson Yong, 20, has a place to read social sciences at the National University of Singapore

What's your cultural quotient?

IN AN increasingly borderless world, coupled with the rise of emerging economies, businesses have to cater to a truly global marketplace.

However, they too have to bear in mind cultural relativity, and take a localised approach in each country.

As such, a strong appreciation of disparate cultures is a vital skill workers should have.

Local knowledge is an imperative to get work done. It also helps one avoid local taboos, potential minefields bound to cause embarrassment.

Having knowledge of various associated local rites, festivals, beliefs, music and cuisine and showing such appreciation of cultural nuances could endear one easily to the local party and help seal a deal.

This soft skill is one cultivated over years and thus, one which employers will be happy to pay a premium for.

Monish Shah, 20, will be pursuing undergraduate studies at Yale University