UNAIR NEWS – Degrees and professional certifications do not always guarantee enhanced job opportunities. Beyond tangible hard skills, individuals must also cultivate soft skills, which are essential for adaptation and growth in the workplace.
To support its students in maximizing their potential, Universitas Airlangga’s Directorate of Career Development, Entrepreneurship Incubation, and Alumni Affairs (DPKKA) organized a webinar titled Soft Skills Knowledge to Grab Job Opportunities on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
As part of the Airlangga Career and Internship Club (ACIC) series, DPKKA UNAIR collaborated with Bosshire, an AI-driven marketplace designed to connect organizations with top talent and offer a wide range of high-quality job opportunities. The webinar featured Nurdin Hung S. Ikom, General Manager of PT Lumina Procare Meditech, as the keynote speaker.
Value of softskills
Hung emphasized that soft skills are critical determinants of success in job interviews, complementing hard skills. Soft skills, he explained, reflect an individual’s personality traits and compatibility with a company’s culture and expectations.
“For instance, at Lumina, a China-based organization where competition is intense, employees need more than just degrees. We seek individuals who are quick to adapt, possess language skills, and demonstrate other vital capabilities,” Hung explained.
He noted that soft skills are often developed through experience, shaped by one’s behavior, etiquette, and language, which are influenced by their environment and background.
While hard skills may help a candidate secure an interview, soft skills are what enable them to grow and succeed over time. Hung stressed the need for a combination of both, as the challenges encountered in academia differ significantly from those in the professional world.
Key soft skills to develop
According to the General Manager of Lumina, mastering five key soft skills is essential for achieving career success. The first is communication. “It encompasses not only verbal and nonverbal aspects but also includes manners and attitude,” emphasized Hung.
The next essential soft skills are teamwork and leadership. According to Hung, these skills involve understanding how to position oneself as a leader and the importance of maintaining objectivity when evaluating various suggestions.
Adaptability to change is another essential skill, particularly given the rapid advancements in technology. “Quoting the Chinese proverb huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo, meaning “live long, learn long,” Hung said.
Problem-solving is a further critical skill, requiring positive thinking to address challenges. “Every problem presents an opportunity to develop new ideas and innovative solutions,” Hung remarked.
Finally, emotional intelligence is indispensable for regulating emotions and demonstrating empathy. High emotional intelligence fosters collaboration and builds stronger relationships within teams. “This is crucial for creating a supportive and productive work environment,” Hung concluded.
Author: Zahwa Sabiila Ilman Ramadhani
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
