What Can You Discuss in a Soft Skills Interview?

Why Should We Value Soft Skills?

Because your job can be taken by someone with strong soft skills.

Americans have excellent speaking abilities, as their elementary education emphasizes expression, leading to articulate communication. In equal circumstances, even if Chinese individuals have better technical skills, job opportunities can still be snatched away by Americans. This is not about racial discrimination; it’s a matter of self-expression ability.

For instance, Indians have a strong presence in the U.S., especially in the management of high-tech companies, where the influence of Chinese individuals is far less. This is also due to the Indians' exceptional storytelling abilities. Although their English pronunciation may not be standard, they are willing to speak up and often get to the point. Consequently, we often see an Indian manager overshadowing several Chinese employees who may be technically superior. We often mock Indians for their “PPT governance,” but their storytelling ability is something to take note of.

This illustrates that the soft skills of “free artistry” are a shortcoming for contemporary Chinese individuals.

The Essence of an Interview is to Answer the Following Three Questions

1. Can you do it or not?
2. Do you want to do it or not?
3. Are you a good fit or not?

How to Answer These Three Questions?

The five discussion points in an interview.

1. Adversity. It’s not about how big the difficulties are, but how you overcame them. You need to prove that you were not only not defeated by adversity but became stronger. Ideally, downplay significant challenges with an optimistic tone. Also, take a moment to express gratitude to those who helped you during tough times, making it clear that you are a grateful person.

2. Influence. All communication issues are essentially leadership issues, and all leadership issues are fundamentally communication issues. If you are good at persuading others, it indicates you possess inherent leadership qualities.

3. Technical Proficiency. What stories can showcase your technical skills?

4. Fit. When the FBI used to interview candidates, they liked to ask what books applicants had read. Candidates would list numerous titles, but what the FBI really wanted to hear was that they had read Tom Clancy's spy novels. For a while, anyone who mentioned reading Clancy's novels had a higher chance of being hired. Eventually, this insider information leaked, and then everyone started saying the same thing, making that tactic ineffective.

5. Achievements. Compared to others, do you have any standout qualities? This is your opportunity to boast about past accomplishments. Achievements don’t necessarily have to be actual work experience.

On a larger scale, even U.S. presidential campaigns follow this pattern. Obama would say, “My father was an immigrant, and he abandoned my mother. I grew up in a single-parent household as a Black man, and it was tough for me… but none of that matters now; I am optimistic and strong.” Trump would say, “I have worked on this project, that project, and this project, and now I want to undertake a major project that benefits America.”

How to Prepare for These Five Discussion Points?

• Try more, experience failures, and enrich your life experiences;
• Engage with more people to practice your communication and organizational skills;
• Learn some technical skills and master practical tools;
• Be good at research to understand what is happening in your field; seek opportunities to achieve results that make you stand out.