Over the next several weeks, we will be doing a deep dive into each of the 5 domains — or critical soft skills for early career professionals — tested in the Vendition Success Aptitude Test (VSAT). As a reminder, each of these domains encompasses several sub-skills, called “facets,” which we will also touch on in these blogs.
This article is all about self management, the first of our 5 domains and a crucial soft skill to look for in your entry-level candidates. Let’s jump in!
What is self management?
Self management refers to the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a way that promotes productivity. It extends beyond the workplace, as it considers the integration between work and personal life.
There are seven facets under the Vendition self management umbrella:
- Time management: using time effectively while accomplishing goals
- Organizational skills: arranging personal affairs in a way that is conducive to productivity
- Responsibility management: fulfilling promises and commitments
- Capacity for consistency: reliably performing routine tasks
- Goal regulation: setting and working towards ambitious, but smart personal goals
- Decision-making skill: making well-reasoned, deliberate choices
- Capacity for independence: thinking, working, and making decisions by oneself
Why self management matters
If you’re a bit skeptical about the importance of self management in entry level talent or why you should prioritize this and other soft skills in addition to (or instead of) technical skills, consider the benefits of building a team full of individuals with high self management skills.
These individuals are able to consistently stay on task and manage their time effectively, overall contributing to the productivity and effectiveness of the team. They understand and are confident in their strengths, so they can set and work independently towards goals that will benefit the larger organization. You as a leader can trust them to remain on target without you needing to micromanage or constantly look over their shoulder.
Additionally, self management is especially important in today’s largely remote or hybrid work environment. Employees with this skill are more likely to thrive on widely distributed teams.
How to assess self management in a candidate
If you’re looking to hire someone with high self management skills, there are a few ways you might assess them.
Some are more obvious; for example, a good indicator of a candidate’s strength in the time management realm is whether or not they show up on time for their interview. For other, less obvious sub-skills, consider asking candidates more targeted interview questions and listening for certain indicators of aptitude in that particular area.
When trying to gauge a candidate’s responsibility management, you might ask them to describe their work ethic. As they respond, listen for indications that they are willing to work diligently until a task is completed satisfactorily. For goal regulation, ask the candidate to tell you about a time they set and achieved a goal. Make note of candidates who are able to outline clear, specific goals and break down the actions they took to accomplish them.
How Vendition helps
Of course, you may not want to spend valuable interview time asking these types of questions. That’s part of why we created the VSAT — to give our hiring partners a more comprehensive understanding of a candidate’s soft skills before the interview process even begins.
If you’re looking to hire candidates with high self management skills, Vendition can help. Fill out the form below to get started.
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