Negotiating - a key soft skill for Graduates

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Stephen Harrison, Head of Reed Graduates

Negotiating is something we all do on a daily basis, not just in a business setting.  It’s about finding a compromise to settle an issue or an argument that benefits us as much as possible.  The key to successful negotiating is focusing on shared interests.  We often assume we’re at one extreme of a particular debate and someone else is at the other, but if you look at any issue there is usually some common ground.  Understanding clearly what the other party is trying to achieve can help you move closer to a win-win situation.

How can candidates acquire this soft skill?

If you are proactive, there are a lot of opportunities at university that can help you develop these sorts of skills.  Committees or teams are good environments to hone your skills because in any group different people have different ideas.  There are probably limited budgets and other constraints too, like timetables.  There are always a number of different options in pursuing a common goal, but ultimately it’s about working together towards a situation that most people are happy.  All these things make group work a great setting to practice your negotiation skills. 

How can candidates demonstrate this soft skill to employers?

You need to draw on your own experience – whether that is in your private, professional or university life – to give well-thought out examples.   A good example is organizing a holiday with your friends.  It involves huge amounts of negotiation.  When are we going?  Where are we going?  What are we going to do when we get there?  For any example, think about what you wanted to achieve, the position you started with, other people’s viewpoints and how you brought about an agreement.  Explain how you achieved your objectives, but also the compromises you had to make along the way.  Negotiation is not just sticking to one position.  It’s about finding an agreement that benefits everyone involved. 

Notes to Editor

Reed Graduates is a leading independent specialist provider of qualified graduate staff.  With a combination of high street offices and the industry-leading website, reed.co.uk, Reed Graduates has a huge selection of skilled candidates and job opportunities available in the UK.

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