This article outlines the employer's perspective in selection and recruitment to start with. It takes certain valuable lessons from the selection process of the Armed Forces. The example of how Benjamin Franklin created his personal brand is outlined along with his famous list of 13 virtues that he followed all through his life. It concludes that certain soft skills in good measure help identify and nurture the leadership and provide competitive advantage in various organizations.

Since times immemorial, quali fications prescribed and the skills set desired for a particular job have been the deciding factors in selecting the right candidate. Depending on the job on offer, it has been comparatively easier for the employer to define the skills set. With increasing globalization, the reality of a global village looms large on the job market, making heavy demand on the not so clearly defined qualities in prospective employees. The advent of outsourcing, prolific application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in every conceivable field, and the ever-increasing demand for trained and competent manpower necessitate the need for an effective combination of hard and soft skills for better employability. Gone are the days when a candidate could flaunt his academic degrees to gain employment. Both the manufacturing and service sectors are looking beyond hard skills in their potential employees. The current happenings in the job markets all around the world indicate the increasing emphasis on the employability aspects of the job seekers. Various studies clearly established that besides certain basic character traits, there are many trainable behavioral aspects that can tilt the balance in favor of a candidate. The soft skills could sometimes clinch a leadership role for a candidate. More than all other things, one could effectively build a brand for oneself which will help in one's career prospects and growth.

HRM Review Magazine, Information Technology, IT, Information and Communication Technology, ICT, Communication skills, Interpersonal Relations, Self-Management, Employability Skills, Leadership Qualities, Personality Development, Benjamin Franklin, Emotional Intelligence, Personality Development.