When it comes to hiring in 2025, technical skills might get someone through the first round, but it’s soft skills that really make the difference. Just ask Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo. She’s long championed the idea that the best teams aren’t just built on qualifications. They’re built on character.
Nooyi often talks about the importance of leading with empathy, clarity, and emotional intelligence and hiring people who do the same. At PepsiCo, she emphasized the need for what she called a “decency quotient.” In other words, she believed leaders should be kind, not just capable.
And she’s not wrong. In today’s job market, soft skills are rising to the top of every hiring manager’s list. So let’s talk about what they are, and how to spot them.
So, What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are the behind-the-scenes drivers of great performance. They’re what help you communicate clearly, handle stress, stay organized, or step up at work without being asked.
Think:
• Communicating without confusion
• Handling conflict without blowing up
• Taking initiative
• Managing time and priorities
• Regulating emotions
• Solving problems under pressure
• Being a great teammate
These are the traits that make you thrive on a team, even more so when your workplace is hybrid, remote, or just really fast-paced.
What PepsiCo Did Differently
Indra Nooyi once said, “You have to have an IQ, you have to have an EQ, but you also have to have a DQ, a decency quotient.” She wasn’t just looking for smart people. She was looking for people who were thoughtful, respectful, and grounded.
Her approach paid off. Under her leadership, PepsiCo grew by 80 percent. And more than that, her teams stayed strong, loyal, and focused.
How to Spot Soft Skills Before You Hire
Soft skills don’t show up on a resume, but that doesn’t mean you can’t uncover them during the hiring process.
Try this:
• Ask real-life, behavior-based questions like:
“Tell me about a time you had to deliver tough feedback.”
“How do you manage competing priorities when everything feels urgent?”
• Use team interviews to see how someone interacts in a group
• Give practical, problem-solving challenges
• Pay attention to how they communicate in emails and follow-ups
And remember, people will always tell you who they are through their patterns, not just their promises.
From the Front Lines of Hiring
“At every hiring event we run, it’s clear, soft skills set people apart,” says Jeff Straub, Co-Founder of Catalyst Career Group. “Employers want team members who can solve problems, talk to clients, and stay calm under pressure.”
“The resume shows what someone has done,” adds Jeff Naugle, also Co-Founder. “But it’s their attitude and how they handle real-life moments that show who they really are.”
So, What’s Your Takeaway?
Soft skills aren’t the cherry on top anymore. They’re the whole cake. And if you’re not actively looking for them, you might miss your best hire.
That’s where we come in. At Catalyst Career Group, we help companies connect with candidates who bring more than just job experience, they bring people skills, problem-solving, and purpose.
Whether you’re hiring entry-level or executive, our in-person and virtual job fairs make it easier to find the kind of people you’ll be glad you hired.
Check out our upcoming job fairs and recruitment services here: Job Fair Schedule.