If you had to think quickly about what an accountant needs to be successful in their career, you’d certainly think that they need to know all the taxes in force, right? But have you ever thought that running or a theater course could be decisive for this accountant – or any other professional – to get that dream job? That’s what Mad Skills are here to show us!
Until some time ago, the job market focused on hard skills, that is, the technical skills related to the area of activity. Then, soft skills entered the game, making behavioral questions relevant to assess the performance of professionals.
Now, mad skills come into play and broaden the vision of recruiters and managers, showing how hobbies and what candidates do in their spare time impact their careers. Find out all about them in this article!
What are mad skills?
Applied to the job market, the term “mad skill” is another way of saying “outstanding ability”.
In general terms, mad skills can be interpreted as the set of extracurricular activities that a person does outside working hours and that are not directly related to the position or area of professional activity.
Why are mad skills important for the job market?
For recruiters, mad skills are resources outside the technical skill box that can demonstrate skills that a person uses to perform their professional role, but that are not necessarily taught in college or in fulfilling their role.
Here are some examples of mad skills and what they can mean for your resume:
● Collective sports participation (soccer, volleyball): indicates good social skills and a greater propensity to work well as a team;
● Individual sports participation (running, cycling, tennis): focus, discipline and self-control;
● Theater: good diction, easy to make presentations and speak in public;
● Handicrafts (crochet, painting): creativity, concentration, appreciation for details;
● Content production (writing, podcast, videos): ease to transform ideas into projects, communication skills;
● Languages: even when it comes to languages not used in the routine of the profession, this skill demonstrates a commitment to learning.
How can I improve my mad skills?
Now that you know what mad skills are and their importance, you can start listing the ones you fit into.
However, it is important to demonstrate them on your resume, indicating them in your professional summary, on LinkedIn and other social networks that can be seen by recruiters. Also, mention them during interviews and in conversations that encourage networking.
To improve your skills, you can also do the opposite: analyze what characteristics you would like to develop and look for extracurricular activities that help you in this regard.
For example, if you are very shy and would like to have an easier time speaking in public, theatre lessons can be excellent for your mad skills.
If you would like to increase your creativity and stimulate your coordination, guitar or other musical instrument lessons can be added to your list of hobbies.
Finally, keep in mind that mad skills also contribute to mental health, bringing moments of pleasure to your routine and, thus, contributing to better professional performance. This means that you should invest in pleasurable activities that act as an antidote to better cope with stressful and challenging situations.
If you are interested in mad skills and skills development, you will appreciate knowing how to increase employability after graduation. Read it now and dig deeper!
