With more and more medical facilities catering to the needs of the aging population, seniors have become savvy about shopping around. Peruse any consumer rating of a private practice or other healthcare facility and it will become quickly apparent that soft skills matter. Just under professional competences in priority order, the soft skills exhibited by the health practitioners and their supporting staff make a big difference in patient choice. Hiring managers know this and those searching for jobs in an allied health field can use this knowledge to leverage a competitive advantage.
Many professionals in the job search today have excellent skills and strong educational qualifications. Taking time in a cover letter to address proficiency in successful soft skills can be a good strategy to employ. If a person writing a letter of recommendation can give specific examples of how an internship, job or other experience led the candidate to a more empathetic insight into patient care then the letter writer should definitely be asked to do this. Among the top soft skills needed for long term success in a healthcare facility that serves seniors are the ability to:
- Communicate to patients and their families in an effective and patient manner
- Remember not to talk to family as if the patient isn’t in the room
- Be an empathetic listener
- Have a kind and gentle tone of voice
- Remain calm in difficult situations
In addition to these skills, being an observant note taker, keeping excellent records and writing directions down helps to support the overall quality of care, especially for patients who may not remember everything that was discussed once they leave the office.
For allied health students and career changers, acquiring effective soft skills can boost a résumé almost as much as taking additional training or picking up a new specialty. Working with seniors isn’t for everyone, but for those that do it the personal and professional rewards are many. Demonstrating the knowledge as well as the soft skills necessary to do a job effectively contributes not only to professional success, but also to the patient outcomes and reputation of a medical facility. Hiring professionals are looking for well-rounded candidates across nearly all healthcare sectors, presenting a holistic professional profile can help secure the competitive advantage in today’s diverse healthcare marketplace.
