5 Essential Soft Skills Needed for STEM Careers

There’s no doubt that technical skills are super vital for a career in STEM, whether that’s engineering, software development, nursing, or general medicine.

However, we can not ignore the soft skills needed for STEM careers that recruiters and organizations usually look for in a candidate.

Extensive research from leading institutions like Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates that interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence are significantly more influential in career success than technical expertise.

These studies suggest that approximately 85% of professional achievement is linked to soft skills, while hard skills contribute to the remaining 15%.

Here are the top five soft skills that will make you a magnet for hiring organizations in STEM careers.

1. Communication

Communication is the number one soft skill most recruiters will look for in a STEM candidate.

They want to know that you can effectively communicate and advocate for your ideas to different stakeholders, orally and in writing.

Organizations are also looking for employees who are quick to understand and speak up if things are unclear.

2. Collaboration

Working in STEM means working with people and different teams to come up with solutions.

You need to be comfortable being a productive team member who pulls in their fair share of the weight to contribute to a team’s success.

You must also be willing to navigate misunderstandings and challenges in a way that does not hurt team morale.

3. Problem Solving and Creativity

Organizations in the STEM career field usually seek individuals who consider how they can add value to the world. This is crucial, as roles in STEM careers often involve changing variables, tight deadlines, and problems that could lead to significant losses, and in some cases, impact lives.

To succeed, you must learn to approach problems from various angles and anticipate the risks and opportunities of each solution. Moreover, you should be able to solve problems creatively, developing simple solutions on a budget while maximizing value.

4. Adaptability

There will come a time in your STEM career when things may not go as expected. Employers will look for individuals who understand and can adapt to changing circumstances.
For example, if your organization introduces new technology, can you quickly learn and utilize it? If a project faces delays, can you pivot to a new solution while still reaching the goal?
Being open-minded, resourceful, and flexible enough to tackle any challenge is essential for success in STEM careers.

5. Attention to Detail

As mentioned earlier, most decisions in STEM careers can lead to serious financial problems and, in other cases, the loss of life. As such, you must have top-notch attention to detail so nothing important is lost through the cracks.

To achieve this level of attention to detail, you’ll need to be organized, listen actively, and record the most important details.

Takeaway on Skills Needed For STEM Careers

The LinkedIn Global Talent Trends 2019 report found that 92% of talent professionals said soft skills matter “as much or more than hard skills” when it comes to hiring.

So, if you want to wow recruiters and your organization, invest in these soft skills we have discussed. They’re essential for standing out in the competitive STEM field and driving your career forward.