E+ WESS - German proposed soft skills to succeed in the labor market

1. „Soft skills“ (attitudes and behaviour the German students think the
employers want their staff to have) in order of frequency of naming (20
students filled out the questionnaire):
1. team skills (15 x)
2. punctuality (13 x)
motivation (13 x)
3. open-mindedness (9x)
friendliness towards customers (9x)
4. helpfulness (8x)
orderliness (8x)
politeness (8x)
5. social behavior towards fellow staff (respect, consideration) (7x)
reliability (7x)
6. creativity (6x)
7. commitment (5x)
readiness to learn (5x)
8. ambition (4x)
adaptability, flexibility (4x)
self-confidence (4x)
organization skills (4x)
9. self-reliance (3x)
honesty (3x)
diligence (3x)
autonomy/ self-reliance (3x)
10.curiosity (2x)
calmness (also in difficult situations ) (2x)
determination (2x)
pleasant outer appearance
Further (one nomination each):
- careful work
- responsibility
- communication skills
- physical fitness
- optimism
- being well-informed about company
- charisma
- professional behavior
- language skills
- willingness to do extra work/ unpleasant chores etc.

3. Soft skills required by regional companies
(Ahaus, Germany):
1. Berken, department store
 positive attitude to work and life
 healthy sense of self
 open‐mindedness
 pleasant outer appearance
 flexibility
 creativity
 good communication skills
 willingness to perform
 own initiative
2. Dr. Riepe (ear specialist)
 punctuality
 exactness
 discretion
 reliability
 politeness
 good manners
 right amount of talkativeness
3. Manzke, Lift maintenance
 respect
 punctuality
 loyalty
 good outer appearance
 reliability
 discipline
4. Pietsch, bathroom fittings
 friendliness
 good oral expression
 team spirit
 independent work
 conscientiousness
 interest in challenges
 good outer appearance
5. Alma Küchen (kitchen manufacturer)
 friendliness
 imaginative
 perseverence
 achievement‐orientation
 stress‐resistance
 responsibility
6. expert electronics store
 independence
 responsibility
 purposefulness
 commitment
 communication skills
 self‐confidence
 politeness
 self‐organization skills
 team spirit
 good outer appearance
 flexibility
 stress‐resistance
 willingness to travel
7. Shopware
 creativity
 English skills
 team skills
 interest in new challenges
 organization skills
8. 2g Energy solutions
 commitment
 self‐organization skills
 team skills
 purposeful work
 willingness to travel
 punctuality
 communication skills
 reliability
 solution‐oriented approaches
9. Beresa Mercedes dealer
 enjoying personal contacts
 adaptability
 team skills
 analytic thinking
 attention to detail
 reliability
 responsibility

4.
10. Redlich, recycling
 punctuality
 reliability
 keeping the workplace clean
 voluntary tasks
 politeness
 readiness to do unpleasant tasks
 readiness to work longer than 9‐5
11. Tobit Software
 personal competences:
 self‐reflexion
 commitment
 motivation
 curiosity
 social competences:
 communication skills
 integration skills
 resilience w. regard to criticism
 good manners
 methodological skills:
 new media skills
 structured and purposeful work
 analytic thinking
12. Volksbank – bank
 honesty
 activity
 resilience w. regard to criticism
 communication skills
 openness
 self‐confidence
 team skills
 reliable, trustworthy
 purposeful
 appreciative