What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's
ability to interact effectively with others. In the workplace, soft skills are
considered to be a complement to hard skills, which refer to a person's knowledge
and occupational skills.1 Psychologists may use the term "soft skills" to describe
someone's emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) as opposed to intelligence
quotient (IQ). In a competitive labor market, individuals who demonstrate that
they have a good combination of hard and soft skills often enjoy a greater demand
for their services.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 Soft skills include attributes and personality traits that help employees
effectively interact with others and succeed in the workplace.
 Examples of soft skills include the ability to communicate with prospective
clients, mentor co-workers, lead a team, negotiate a contract, follow
instructions, and get a job done on time.
 Hard skills are measurable and usually obtained through formal education
and training programs.
 Workers with good soft skills can help companies achieve higher levels of
efficiency and productivity.
 In contrast to hard skills, soft skills are more difficult to acquire through
formal training.

Understanding Soft Skills

Many employers look for a balance of hard skills and soft skills when making
hiring decisions. For example, employers value skilled workers with a track record
of getting jobs done on time. Employers also value workers with strong
communication skills and a good understanding of company products and
services. When communicating with prospective clients, workers with soft skills
can put together compelling presentations even if their specific job is not in sales
or marketing. Another valued soft skill is the ability to coach co-workers on new
tasks.

Company leaders often are most effective when they have strong soft skills. For
example, leaders are expected to have good speaking abilities, but great leaders
are also good at listening to workers and to other leaders in their fields. As a
recent article in the Harvard Business Review put it, "Employers who fail to listen
and thoughtfully respond to their people's concerns will see greater turnover. And
given that the highest rates of turnover are among top performers who can take
clients and projects with them, and the frontline employees responsible for the
customer experience, the risk is clear."2

Negotiation is also a big part of the job for many company leaders. When
negotiating with employees, clients, or associates, leaders need to be skilled in
staying considerate of what others want while remaining focused on achieving
what they want. Good leaders also need to know how to effectively assign tasks to
other team members.

Companies often like to hire employees who possess soft skills that mesh well
with those of the rest of the staff, considering them to be a good cultural fit for the
company.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Workers acquire hard skills through formal education, training programs, and
concentrated effort. Hard skills are the quantifiable skills that workers need to
successfully perform a specific job. Employers often test or evaluate a candidate's
hard skills before hiring. Examples of hard skills include computer programming,
writing, web development, and graphic design. Some hard skills are more in
demand than others, and employers may need to hire recruiting agencies
or headhunters to fill jobs that require specialized, high-level hard skills.

Hard skills can be learned and perfected over time, but soft skills are more
difficult to acquire and change. For example, the soft skills a doctor might need
are empathy, understanding, active listening, and a good bedside manner.

Alternatively, the hard skills a doctor requires include a vast comprehension of

illnesses, the ability to interpret test results and symptoms, and a thorough
understanding of anatomy and physiology.

Coaching is one of the most effective methods for improving soft skills.3

Valuable Soft Skills for Employees

Soft skills benefit businesses when they are practiced on a company-wide basis.
For example, a collaborative spirit among workers is important. Team members
who are able to work well with people of different generations and backgrounds
are generally more productive and better able to focus on common priorities.
Efficiency and output improve when workers collaborate by sharing knowledge
and tools to get jobs done. The ability to learn new methods and technologies is
also a desired soft skill for all workers.

Companies that value learning as a soft skill recognize various learning styles and
encourage workers to pursue the methods that work best for them. Good
troubleshooting is another soft skill that companies value. For example,
companies can operate more efficiently and increase productivity when all
workers know how to troubleshoot software problems instead of relying on the
information technology (IT) department for every fix.

Soft skills can also be thought of as people skills. These can include good
communication and interpersonal skills, leadership, problem solving, work ethic,
time management, and teamwork. These are characteristics that can be carried
over to any position.

What Is the Difference Between a Soft Skill and a Hard Skill?

Hard skills are the measurable skills acquired through training, education, and
practice. They are the abilities needed to perform a specific task or job. Soft skills
are behavioral and interpersonal skills that relate to how effectively people
interact with others and handle situations.

Why Are Soft Skills Important?

How well you interact and treat others is crucial for career success. Trust develops
through positive interactions and relationships, and productivity increases in
environments where soft skills flourish.

How Do You Improve Soft Skills?

Although not customarily acquired through formal training, soft skills can be
learned. To improve soft skills, an individual must be open to feedback and
willing to change behaviors. Training can provide tips and strategies for
developing better practices, such as active listening and empathizing with others.
And practicing can strengthen areas where deficiencies exist.
Soft Skills in Demand

Personal qualities and behaviors known as soft skills make you a more well-
rounded worker. These are the soft skills that employers want most.
 Soft skills are qualities and behaviors like communication and time
management.
 Many hiring managers seek job applicants with strong soft skills.
 Job seekers should make an effort to highlight them on their resumes.
 There are also many new soft skills you can learn or practice.

The degree-specific skills you learn in school are key to getting a job, but it's not
all employers care about. Your personal qualities — also known as soft skills —
matter as well.

What are soft skills? They are attributes that make you a more well-rounded
worker, such as showing up on time, being willing to learn, and working well with
others, especially teammates.

Some soft skills are part of your personality or work ethos, while others are
learnable. Any number of them can give you an advantage in the job market.

“Ninety-three percent of employers say soft skills play a critical role in their
decision about whom they want to hire”
— Ian Siegel, co-founder and CEO of ZipRecruiter

Understanding your value and how to leverage both your academic and soft skills
to get a job is crucial. If a recession comes, competition for jobs will be fierce. You
should know what sets you apart from other candidates — especially when your
skills are in demand.

Read on to find out which soft skills are needed most. You'll also learn why soft
skills matter in the workplace, if you should put them on your resume, and how to
learn new ones.

1. Communication
Whether you work on a team or with clients, good communication is key. Being an
effective and concise communicator can keep conflicts from arising.

2. Time Management

Many careers require you to balance multiple responsibilities or projects at the

same time. Effective time managers break large assignments into smaller chunks
and finish them on time.

3. Interpersonal Skills

When working as part of a diverse team, you may not always see eye to eye with
others. Managers seek employees who listen to others' ideas and understand other
points of view. Employees who can effectively communicate and proactively
resolve conflicts without intervention make valuable team members.

4. Flexibility

Workplaces demand flexible professionals who can function despite unexpected

challenges. The ability to change course quickly and seamlessly is important in a
variety of careers. Being adaptable also shows a willingness to learn new skills and
try different methods when tackling obstacles.

5. Problem-Solving

Many job interviews ask you to discuss a problem you've encountered and how
you overcame it. Employers want to hire independent, driven professionals.
Problem-solvers are able to analyze situations, incorporate input from others, and
create an action plan to address the issue.

6. Collaboration

Employers look for candidates who can work well with their colleagues.
Collaboration is an important skill in all careers, whether you work as part of a
small team or across departments. You must give and receive constructive
feedback, stay receptive to diverse ideas, and resolve conflicts.

7. Innovation
Hiring managers look for employees who can think outside the box when
analyzing problems. Creative thinkers are often more open-minded and receptive
to different ideas and can provide fresh perspectives and new solutions.

8. Mentoring

Even if your role is not a straightforward leadership position, employers want to

hire candidates with leadership qualities, such as the ability to make decisions, take
initiative, and facilitate conversations.

9. Multi-tasking

Employers highly value workers who can stay on top of multiple projects. A strong
multi-tasker can complete primary tasks and manage other obligations without a
dip in productivity.

10. Proactivity

The most proactive workers are self-motivated, enthusiastic, and hard-charging.

They get results, think ahead, and avoid potential problems — all of which are
traits employers want.

Why Do Soft Skills Matter?

The job market is favorable for new graduates due to a high number of job
openings, but it won't last forever. Soft skills can set you apart when you need
them to beat out other job seekers with more experience.

Soft skills are often self-developed and highly desirable for employers. These skills
are typically applicable across all work environments.

Having a strong set of soft skills helps employees stand out in a workplace.
Technical knowledge is important, but being able to get along with co-workers and
function as part of a team may be even more desirable.

Should I Put Soft Skills on My Resume?

Although soft skills should not always be a standalone section on a resume, you
should highlight them in your work experience section.
When using action verbs to summarize your responsibilities in each position, you
can report duties and tasks that emphasize your soft skills. You can also include
soft skills in a general skills section.

When deciding what soft skills to include in your resume, check the job description
for keywords and phrases like "creative," "collaborative," or "organized."
Customize your resume to list skills that align with the company's mission.

Can I Learn Soft Skills?

Don't worry if you feel you're lacking some in-demand soft skills. You can always
learn and develop new ones at your own pace.

Before deciding which soft skills to work on, make an inventory of the soft
skills you view as your strengths. Consulting friends, family, and co-workers can
help shed light on which areas you excel in. You may also find quizzes online to
help you determine your best soft skills.

Once you have identified your best traits, make a list of soft skills you'd like to
improve. Treat soft skills like hard skills and use this list to draft an action plan.
Research and study each skill and practice using these soft skills in your day-to-
day life.

To learn more about soft-skills training, check out self-help books, subscribe to
podcasts, watch videos, and read blogs. You may be able to find free online
courses to improve these valuable traits.

Whichever study path you choose, you should have a specific plan with a clear
timeline for achieving your goals. Consider creating a calendar to keep yourself
accountable.

Top Soft Skills Employers Value

Candidates with strong soft skills are in high demand for many different types of
jobs.1 What are soft skills, and why are they so important?
Soft skills are the interpersonal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace.
They are how you work with and relate to others—in other words, people skills.

Key Takeaways

 Soft skills, otherwise known as people skills, help you work well with others
and achieve goals as a team.
 Because even technical jobs require soft skills, employers are especially
keen to hire and promote workers who have these abilities.
 Scan job descriptions for the soft skills employers are looking for and then
emphasize those skills in your resumes, cover letters, and job interviews.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are the skills that enable you to fit in at a workplace. They include your
personality, attitude, flexibility, motivation, and manners. Soft skills are so
important that they are often the reason employers decide whether to keep or
promote an employee.2

Soft skills are different from hard skills (also known as technical skills), which are
directly relevant to the job for which you are applying. Hard skills are often more
quantifiable, and easier to learn than soft skills.

A hard skill for a carpenter, for example, might be the ability to operate a power
saw or use framing squares. A soft skill would be the carpenter’s ability to
communicate effectively with co-workers and clients.

Note

Regardless of the job to which you're applying, you need at least some soft skills.

In order to succeed at work, you must get along well with all the people with
whom you interact, including managers, co-workers, clients, vendors, customers,
and anyone else you communicate with while on the job. These are the types of
skills all employers value.

Employers want employees who can interact effectively with others. These skills
are also very hard to teach, so employers want to know that job candidates already
have the soft skills they’ll need to be successful.

List of Top Soft Skills

Below is a list of the most important soft skills employers are interested in. The list
includes sublists of related soft skills that employers tend to look for in job
applicants.

Develop these skills and emphasize them in job applications, resumes, cover
letters, and interviews. Showing the interviewer that you have the skills the
company is seeking will help you get hired.

Communication

How well do you communicate? Communication skills are important in almost

every job. You will likely need to communicate with people on the job, whether
they are clients, customers, colleagues, employers, or vendors. You will also need
to be able to speak clearly and politely with people in person, by phone, and in
writing.

Note

You will also likely need to be a good listener. Employers want employees who
can not only communicate their own ideas but can also listen empathetically to
others. Listening is a particularly important skill in customer service jobs.

 Listening
 Negotiation
 Nonverbal communication
 Persuasion
 Presentation
 Public speaking
 Reading body language
 Social skills
 Storytelling
 Verbal communication
 Visual communication
 Writing reports and proposals
 Writing skills

Critical Thinking

No matter what the job, employers want candidates who can analyze situations
and make informed decisions. Whether you are working with data, teaching
students, or fixing a home heating system, you need to be able to understand
problems, think critically, and devise solutions. Skills related to critical thinking
include creativity, flexibility, and curiosity.

 Adaptability
 Artistic aptitude
 Creativity
 Critical observation
 Critical thinking
 Design aptitude
 Desire to learn
 Flexibility
 Innovation
 Logical thinking
 Problem-solving
 Research skills
 Resourcefulness
 Thinking outside the box
 Tolerance of change and uncertainty
 Troubleshooting skills
 Value education
 Willingness to learn

Leadership

While not every job opening is a leadership role, most employers will want to
know that you can make decisions when push comes to shove and can manage
situations and people. The ability to step up to the plate in a difficult situation and
help resolve it is something employers look for in prospective employees.

Note

If you are interviewing for a job that has the potential for advancement, the
employer will want to know that you have what it takes to become a leader.

Other skills related to leadership include the ability to resolve problems and
conflicts between people and to make executive decisions.

 Conflict management
 Conflict resolution
 Deal-making
 Decision-making
  Delegation
 Dispute resolution
 Facilitation
 Giving clear feedback
 Inspiring people
 Leadership
 Management
 Managing difficult conversations
 Managing remote/virtual teams
 Meeting management
 Mentoring
 Motivating
 Project management
 Resolving issues
 Successful coaching
 Supervising
 Talent management

Positive Attitude

Employers are always seeking people who will bring a positive attitude to the
office. They want employees who will be friendly to others, eager to work, and
generally a pleasure to be around. Being able to keep things positive is especially
important if you’re working in a fast-paced, high-stress work environment.

 Confidence
 Cooperation
 Courtesy
 Energy
 Enthusiasm
 Friendliness
 Honesty
 Humor
 Patience
 Respectability
 Respectfulness

Teamwork
Hiring managers look for job candidates who can work well with others. Whether
you will be doing a lot of team projects or simply attending a few departmental
meetings, you need to be able to work effectively with the people around you. You
need to be able to work with others even if you do not always see eye to eye.

Some skills related to teamwork include the ability to negotiate with others and to
recognize and appreciate diversity in a team. Another related skill is the ability to
accept and apply feedback from others.

 Accepting feedback
 Collaboration
 Customer service
 Dealing with difficult situations
 Dealing with office politics
 Disability awareness
 Diversity awareness
 Emotional intelligence
 Empathy
 Establishing interpersonal relationships
 Dealing with difficult personalities
 Intercultural competence
 Interpersonal skills
 Influence
 Networking
 Persuasion
 Self-awareness
 Selling skills
 Social skills
 Team building
 Teamwork

Work Ethic

Employers look for job candidates with a strong work ethic. Such people come to
work on time, complete tasks in a timely manner, and stay both focused and
organized.

They can budget their time and complete their work thoroughly. While they can
work independently, people with a strong work ethic can also follow instructions.
A strong work ethic is difficult to teach, so employers will be impressed if you can
demonstrate it in your job application.

 Attentiveness
 Business ethics
 Competitiveness
 Dedication
 Dependability
 Following direction
 Independence
 Meeting deadlines
 Motivation
 Multitasking
 Organization
 Perseverance
 Persistence
 Planning
 Proper business etiquette
 Punctuality
 Reliability
 Resilience
 Results-oriented
 Scheduling
 Self-directed
 Self-monitoring
 Self-supervising
 Staying on task
 Strategic planning
 Time management
 Trainability
 Working well under pressure

More Soft Skills

Here are additional soft skills you may want to mention in resumes, cover letters,
job applications, and interviews. Skills will vary based on the job for which you're
applying, so pay close attention to the requirements listed in the job description.

 Assertiveness
 Business ethics
 Business storytelling
 Business trend awareness
 Customer service
 Effective communicator
 Emotion management
 Ergonomic sensitivity
 Follows instructions
 Follows regulations
 Follows rules
 Functions well under pressure
 Good attitude
 Highly recommended
 Independent
 Interviewing
 Knowledge management
 Meets deadlines
 Motivating
 Performs effectively in a deadline environment
 Performance management
 Positive work ethic
 Problem-solving
 Process improvement
 Quick-witted
 Results-oriented
 Safety conscious
 Scheduling
 Self-awareness
 Self-supervising
 Stress management
 Team player
 Technology savvy
 Technology trend awareness
 Tolerant
 Trainable
 Training
 Troubleshooting
 Willing to accept feedback
 Willingness to learn
 Work-life balance
 Works well under pressure
How To Make Your Skills Stand Out

Add relevant skills to your resume. Include the terms most closely related to the
job you’re applying for in your resume, especially in the description of your work
history.

Highlight skills in your cover letter. You can incorporate soft skills into your
cover letter. Include one or two of the skills mentioned here and give specific
examples of instances when you demonstrated these traits at work.

Mention skills during job interviews. You can also use these words in your job
interviews. Keep the top skills listed here in mind during your interview, and be
prepared to give examples of how you've used each. Each job will require different
skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job description carefully and
focus on the skills listed by the employer.