If you’re a job seeker in today’s crowded market, you’ve probably heard a lot of suggestions about how to improve your prospects, from updating your skills to getting additional training. The results of a recent survey suggest you may want to add “brush up on interpersonal skills” to your job-hunting to-do list. Thirty-four per cent of Canadian chief financial officers surveyed by Robert Half International said that when evaluating applicants with similar qualifications, “personality or people skills” would tip the balance over such attributes as software proficiency and advanced certifications. This number is up significantly from five years ago when interpersonal skills were cited by only 1 per cent of respondents.

While interpersonal skills may be difficult to summarize on an application or resume, job seekers can demonstrate these important qualities at the interview stage. Here are the key “people skills” that employers value, along with tips for showcasing your strengths in each area.

• The skill: Communication. Hiring managers give high marks to candidates who are articulate and able to clearly and effectively convey information and ideas. Both oral and written skills are equally important.

  How to demonstrate it: This is one skill where “showing” is more compelling than telling. Throughout the interview, maintain eye contact, smile and listen attentively to the interviewer’s questions. Be careful not to interrupt, talk excessively or use slang and verbal “tics” (such as “um” and “like”). When answering a question, be concise and organized. If written communication will be a key responsibility of the position, you may want to bring along writing samples from previous jobs. When speaking about former employers, supervisors or coworkers, be tactful and circumspect. This will show prospective employers your professionalism and discretion.

• The skill: Collaboration. With the project team approach widely used by companies of all kinds, hiring managers are looking for candidates who have experience working as part of a team in a variety of situations.

  How to demonstrate it: When discussing your previous work experience, highlight those occasions when you were a member of a team or project group. Describe the structure of the team and its purpose (e.g., to improve communication, increase customer satisfaction, eliminate a design flaw, streamline operations, or develop more cost-effective procedures). Then explain your role within the context of the team. Were you a coordinator, ensuring that everyone stayed on schedule and met deadlines? Or were you a subject matter expert who contributed technical expertise, industry-specific experience or special financial knowledge? If your experience in working with teams is limited, you can talk in general about how you’ve cooperated with and assisted coworkers in the past.

• The skill: Leadership. Companies want individuals who are able to manage projects, resources and coworkers to deliver the desired results.

  How to demonstrate it: Even if you’ve never officially supervised someone or been a “manager” of a project, chances are you’ve shown leadership qualities during your career. Occasions when you trained or mentored junior colleagues count, as do instances when you provided assistance or support before being asked to do so. Another way of showing leadership is to take the initiative. Review your previous work experience for times when you solved a problem by communicating effectively with colleagues, such as helping the group to develop a more efficient process or suggesting improvements to a product or service.

• The Skill: Diplomacy. When interviewing candidates, hiring managers look for people who are able to work harmoniously with others even under difficult circumstances. They want employees who overcome interpersonal challenges and find solutions without always looking to management for help.

  How to demonstrate it: In your previous positions, perhaps there was some friction among members of your project group. Did you mediate any of these disputes and help the team get back on track? Alternatively, did you work as a manager or supervisor who had to give performance evaluations to your staff? The manner in which you handled this delicate task can showcase your tactfulness and diplomatic skills.

• The Skill: Open-mindedness and Creativity. Changes in companies’ markets continually demand innovative approaches. Businesses need people who can think beyond the job description and challenge themselves—and others—to try creative alternatives.

  How to demonstrate it: When discussing your work history, talk about situations in which you went “against the grain” and convinced colleagues and supervisors of reasons they should try a new approach to a process or project. Show how your critical thinking paid off and helped your former company leap ahead and grow market share ahead of less-imaginative competitors.

Industry knowledge and experience, technological proficiency, professional training and education are all essential qualities for job seekers. But to succeed in your job hunt and progress in your profession, it’s important that you also develop your interpersonal skills. A track record of leadership and collaboration, along with strong diplomatic and communication skills just might be the critical element that moves you to the top of an employer’s short list for a position.

Robert Half International has more than 360 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can be accessed at www.rhi.com