Soft Skills Are the Hardest Skills to Find

In the shipping game, we are obsessed with "Hard Skills."

• Can they use the ERP?

• Do they know the Incoterms?

• Do they have the Master’s license?

We treat these like the holy grail. We hire the resume that checks the boxes.

But let’s be real for a second. Hard skills are a commodity. You can teach anyone how to file a customs entry in 3 weeks. You can teach a smart junior how to negotiate a rate in 3 months.

But do you know what you can’t teach? You can’t teach Empathy. You can’t teach Hustle. You can’t teach Self-Awareness. You can’t teach the ability to stay calm when a client is screaming at you.

The "EQ" Gap

We see it all the time. You hire the "Perfect CV." On paper, they are a genius. But they destroy your culture. They are toxic. They don't care about the person sitting next to them.

And then you have the candidate with the "Okay CV." Maybe they lack 2 years of experience. But they have high EQ (Emotional Intelligence). They listen. They are hungry. They want to win for you.

That person will outsell and outperform the "Genius" every single time in the long run.

The Macro vs. The Micro

In 2026, the companies that win won't be the ones with the best software. Everyone has software. The winners will be the ones with the best Human Beings.

Stop hiring for the "What" (the task). Start hiring for the "Who" (the character).

How We Play the Game

At Tetrus Recruiting, we don't flip resumes. That’s a transaction. We are in the relationship business. We vet for the "Soft Skills" because we know those are actually the Hardest Skills to find.

Bet on character. It has the highest ROI.