Abstract
We understand soft skills as an integrated set of knowledge, skills and values that facilitate the effective, affective and efficient development of a skill or activity. The objective of this study was to identify the soft skills that are most often used in the orientation process and those that improve employability, according to Spanish counselors. A qualitative methodology was used. The participants (n = 57) were orientation professionals. A total of 273 interviews were conducted over five years. The results and conclusions show that communication and decision-making are the most important competencies in the orientation process and at the level of employability, followed by intrapersonal skills, skills in interpersonal relationships, teamwork, problem solving, adaptation to new situations, creativity and leadership.
Highlights
The objective of this study was to identify the soft skills most used in the Spanish orientation process and compare them with the soft skills that improve employability according to Spanish counselors
Seventy-four percent of the counselors who participated in the research considered communication and decision-making to be the key soft skills for improving employability
Communication is basic and transverse to other competencies; it is explored in such statements as “Participant 31: If you do not know how to communicate with yourself and with others, the rest of the soft skills will be hindered”; “Participant 18: Communication helps with problem-solving, teamwork, work in international contexts and many other soft skills”; “Participant 7: Decision-making involves action and being proactive, and users who are able to make appropriate decisions find work and/or maintain the work they already have much more ”; and “Participant 24: I am increasingly surprised by the importance of decision-making in the orientation process and employability
Summary
The objective of this study was to identify the soft skills that are most often used in the orientation process and those that improve employability, according to Spanish counselors. Our goal was to reinforce quality professional guidance that contributes to equal opportunities and favors citizens who need such guidance the most and are in vulnerable circumstances, such as the unemployed. Soft skills are an infinite resource that must be prioritized to provide equal opportunities and free and accessible learning for all [5,6]; far from trying to confuse the issue, the purpose of this article is to describe the actual situation, analyze it and attempt to present unified criteria to improve the employability levels of individuals and contribute to a more just and equitable society. The objective of this study was to identify the soft skills most used in the Spanish orientation process and compare them with the soft skills that improve employability according to Spanish counselors. Beyond showing the key roles of communication, decision-making and emotional skills in the orientation process, the aim of this study was to show how soft skills can be used as an instrument for social equality
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