How do you recommend working in my soft skills and their importance in the job interview when not directly asked?

I am a huge fan of the STAR format (and also keeping answers to two minutes or less)! For any interview, I think it's important to identify and prepare your key 3-4 examples, which you can then use to display a wide range of skills depending on the question type. When you're responding to a question using one of these examples, make sure to take the opportunity to quickly highlight some of those soft skills. Example: If you're asked about a time where you had to analyze data, of course you shoul ...Read More

I'd weave these topics in as you answer the hard skill questions. Depending on your examples, theu could be easier to be included. Things to touch upon: 1. Leadership + Influencing without authority  2. Collaboration with XFN teams 3. Dealing with ambiguity (in particular in startup/smaller companies) 4. Managing conflict  5. Inclusiveness (this is something I look for frequently but hardly ever touched upon by candidates) 6. Communicating across stakeholders However, please note that a good int ...Read More

Even if you get a very specific product marketing question during an interview, I promise you that your soft skills are still being assessed at the same time. Are you a clear and confident communicator? Were you able to use influence and persuasion to get your work done? Did you take initiative to drive your own outcomes, or follow in the path others made for you? Communication, influence, and initiative are all soft skills that can make a break a product marketer. Maybe think of the PMM questio ...Read More

I love this question! I always look for the soft skills because smart, hardworking people will learn the hard skills. When I'm hiring, I think about what the business and team needs in its current state through the next year or so. Sometimes that means I have the flexibility to hire someone who doesn't have all the hard skills (and can learn them) but sometimes it means I need someone who knows the job inside and out and can hit the ground running without much coaching on the hard skills. I beli ...Read More

Product marketing needs several soft skills including strong verbal and written communication, negotiation, mediation, time management, influencing people, building trust–the list goes on. You can weave these into many of your answers. In choosing your STAR scenarios think of examples where you can highlight that while the hard skills were necessary, they weren't sufficient - and it is the soft skill that really helped you succeed. E.g. Getting sales team trained on the product messaging and pit ...Read More

I agree that soft skills are key, and highlighting them during “STAR” stories is a great way to work them into your interview. You can also share them when expressing your interest in the role and/or asking about the role. Most job descriptions include some mention of soft skills, so note that when discussing the role with your interviewer and how the role felt like a great fit for you because of that. Ask about which soft skills the interviewer is looking for, and highlight which ones are your ...Read More

While interviewers focus on your response to the hard skills question, they are simultaneously evaluating your soft skills as well. Generally, they are evaluating your EQ and your communication skills, your ability to interpret questions and think critically in real time, and your ability to provide direct and concrete answers. Here is an example that I hope really illustrates my point: if an interviewer asks “Tell me about yourself,” they are looking for a concise career narrative but also watc ...Read More