# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Soft Skills Every Employee Needs | PeopleReady

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills don’t get as much attention as technical skills, but they’re just as important to grow your career. Here are the most important soft skills to learn and how a temp agency can help you learn them.

# data[].attributes.headline
What Are Soft Skills? Definition, Importance, and Examples

# data[].attributes.subject
What Are Soft Skills? Definition, Importance, and Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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. 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

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."

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.

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.

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.

What Is Soft Skills Training?

Soft skills training is training to help develop or improve interpersonal skills. It consists of lessons to improve communication, increase active listening, resolve conflicts, and more.

The Bottom Line

While hard skills are highly valued in today's economy, many employers recognize the importance of soft skills as well. For that reason, workers with both hard and soft skills may find it easier to get hired and rise through the ranks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Are Soft Skills? Definition, Importance, and Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize relationships with other people and complement hard skills in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Key Takeaways

How Soft Skills Work

Soft skills relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal (people) skills, communication skills, listening skills, time management, problem-solving, leadership, and empathy, among others. They are among the top skills employers seek in the candidates they hire because soft skills are important for just about every job.

Hiring managers typically look for job candidates with soft skills because they make someone more successful in the workplace. Someone can be excellent with technical, job-specific skills, but if they can't manage their time or work within a team, they may not be successful in the workplace.

Soft skills are also important to the success of most employers. After all, nearly every job requires employees to engage with others in some way.

Another reason hiring managers and employers look for applicants with soft skills is that soft skills are transferable skills that can be used regardless of the person's job. This makes job candidates with soft skills very adaptable and flexible employees.

Alternate names: Interpersonal skills, essential skills, noncognitive skills

Example of Soft Skills

Soft skills are particularly important in customer-based jobs, for example. These employees are in direct contact with customers. It takes several soft skills to be able to listen to a customer and provide that customer with helpful and polite service.

Note

Types of Soft Skills

Soft skills include the personal attributes, personality traits, and communication abilities needed for success on the job. Soft skills characterize how a person interacts in his or her relationships with others.

Soft skills include:

How To Get Soft Skills

Unlike hard skills that are learned, soft skills are similar to emotions or insights that allow people to "read" others. These are much harder to learn, at least in a traditional classroom. They are also much harder to measure and evaluate.

Job Training Programs

Some job training programs cover soft skills. They may discuss soft skills so job seekers know what they are and the importance of highlighting them on their resumes. There are also free online courses that can help you improve your soft skills.

On-the-Job Training

If you've been working for a while, chances are you've already developed some soft skills. For example, if you've worked in retail, you've worked in a team environment. If you've helped unhappy customers find a resolution, you've used conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.

Education and Volunteering

If you're new to work, think of other activities you've done, either through school or on a volunteer basis. Chances are you've had to communicate, adapt to changes, and solve problems.

You can also reflect on the soft skills you need to develop. For example, instead of just discussing problems with your manager, suggest solutions to those problems. If you see a colleague struggling, offer to pitch in. If there's a process that could improve your workplace, suggest it.

Note

How To Highlight Your Soft Skills

When you're applying for a new job, highlight your soft skills, as well as your job-specific ones. First, make a list of the soft skills you have that are relevant to the job you want. Compare your list of soft skills with the job listing.

Include some of these soft skills in your resume. You can add them to a skills section.

You can also mention these soft skills in your cover letter. Pick one or two soft skills you have that appear to be the most important for the job you'd like. In your cover letter, provide evidence that shows you have those particular skills.

Finally, you can highlight these soft skills in your interviews. You can demonstrate your soft skills during the interview by being friendly and approachable. If you pay close attention while the interviewer is talking, you will show your listening skills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are soft skills important?

How can I improve my soft skills?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are non-technical skills that include how you interact with colleagues, solve problems, and manage your work. Learn how soft skills work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You're searching through a job board, scanning postings for positions that might be right for you, and in the requirements section you see: "strong communication skills" or "team player" or "skilled multitasker." Do your eyes just jump over these? Or do you note them the same way you would qualifications such as "must have three years of experience as a Salesforce administrator" or "must be proficient in JavaScript?"

You should be paying attention, because those notes tell you which soft skills are crucial to the role you're applying for. And they're often just as important as hard skills when it comes to your job search-and overall career success.

"Soft skills are intangible attributes related to how you work," says Muse career coach Jennifer Smith, founder of Flourish Careers. Soft skills are the traits and qualities you possess that dictate how you'll engage with others-also known as interpersonal skills -and how you'll perform in the workplace. For example, one big category of soft skills is communication skills, which help you to interact with your coworkers, clients, and anyone else you come across in your job. Strong communication skills will mean fewer misunderstandings, clearer indications of progress toward goals, and a more cohesive work environment, among other benefits.

While hard skills are often based on specific knowledge, "soft skills focus more on your actual behaviors or habits in work situations," says Muse career coach Al Dea. Are you always coming up with outside-the-box solutions and proposals? Can you give a presentation that makes everyone in the room sit up and pay attention? Do you always step in to help when someone on your team needs it? These are demonstrations of your soft skills-creativity, public speaking, and teamwork, respectively.

Soft skills are also more subjective than hard skills. Saying that you know how to prepare someone's taxes or upload content using WordPress is fairly straightforward: Did the taxes get filed correctly? Is the content uploaded? Then you have those skills. But saying that you're a good leader isn't as clear-cut. What is a good leader? That depends entirely on who's answering the question and can be difficult to explain, show the results of, or learn if you're not inherently skilled at it.

Why Are Soft Skills Important?

Think about your favorite and most admired coworkers, managers, and leaders. Why did you choose these people? Was it because they were great at doing data analysis? Maybe, but it's unlikely that mastery of a hard skill is the only reason. It's more likely you enjoyed interacting with this person and appreciated how they did their jobs.

Was that one colleague always so excited to dive into a new project that they motivated others on the team? Did they always speak up at meetings to point out when someone else was being spoken over? Was that favorite boss always understanding of people's lives outside of work? "The way you get work done and interact with others is a critical component within the workplace," Smith says, so soft skills are crucial to your success and reputation, no matter what your role or seniority level.

Now think about a company you were part of or a team you were on that really got things done in a way that felt rewarding. Why was that? Sure, the individuals on the team probably had the hard skills to complete their work tasks, but that's just the "what." The "how" comes from soft skills. Maybe innovation and creativity flourished. Maybe communication was very open and direct without ever being harsh. Maybe the environment was very collaborative and individuals were never blamed for failures. Maybe the team had a great rapport. Soft skills make these things possible.

Soft skills are also more transferable and timeless than hard skills. "Many soft skills will continue to be needed for the foreseeable future even as the industry and market evolve," Dea says. A lot of common tech tools, like those we use for social media or Search Engine Optimization, didn't even exist until recently-and neither did the hard skills that go with them, Dea says. And technologies will continue to evolve, meaning that the hard skills you need now might not be as important in five or 10 years. Adobe Flash-based content used to be everywhere on the internet, for instance, but now it's a rarity-and a sign of an outdated site-so knowing how to create it isn't nearly as attractive a skill as it once was. But working hard and being dependable are unlikely to ever go out of style.

How Can You Improve Your Soft Skills?

Because they're not based on specific knowledge like hard skills, soft skills are often considered more difficult to learn or strengthen. And there's a bit of truth to that, but that doesn't mean you can't develop your soft skills.

The first thing to do is establish where your soft skills stand now. Our experts suggest the following methods:

Look at past feedback from performance reviews and other sources and/or ask for current feedback: Are there any common themes, either positive or negative?

Take some time to look at your past and current work responsibilities and try to identify which soft skills have helped you succeed in your job and which ones would have helped that you could develop.

Take a skills assessment or quiz (like this, this, and this).

Identify one or two areas you want to focus on first. Then, just like anything else, soft skills can be improved through practice. Smith recommends putting yourself in situations where you'll have to stretch your soft skills, but start small. For example, do you struggle with public speaking? Maybe you can give a short presentation to your immediate team at an upcoming meeting. Are your leadership skills lacking? Volunteer to take point on a simple project. And whenever possible during your practice, ask for feedback.

You might also consider taking a class. While they're less common than classes on how to use a flashy new program, you can still find courses online that will help you with your interpersonal and other skills.

And don't forget that you can turn to people in your network, too. "Find a mentor who is good at what you're trying to improve and ask them to coach you," Smith suggests. Or, if you have a coworker who's great at the soft skill you're trying to work on, you might observe and evaluate what they do and think about how you can apply these strategies yourself, Dea says.

How Can You Highlight Your Soft Skills in a Job Search?

When you're looking for a job, employers want to know not only what you can do, but how you'll do it and what you'll be like as a coworker. How can you tell which soft skills matter most for a particular job? "Review the job description!" Smith says. Companies aren't asking for a self-starter with great attention to detail for no reason. You can also "take a look at LinkedIn profiles for people who work at the company and see what skills they have," Smith says. Or you can talk to people who already work in a position or at a company you're interested in and ask them which soft skills are most vital to success. You can highlight them:

On Your Resume

While many job seekers think of their resume as the prime space to show off their hard skills, you should also make sure your soft skills shine. You might include your most important soft skills in a resume summary. You might even list the soft skills mentioned in or directly related to the job description in your skills section, Smith says, though Dea suggests only going this route if you have extra space.

But remember that anyone can say that they have strong leadership skills or problem-solving abilities. You have to show prospective employers how you've used your soft skills and what you've achieved. This means working your soft skills into your bullet points. You might devote bullet points to only highlighting particular soft skills. For example, if you wanted to talk about your leadership skills, Smith suggests something like:

Assumed leadership role for sales team with the lowest worker satisfaction survey results in the company. Motivated and engaged employees by encouraging feedback, holding a variety of team-building events, and celebrating top performers at weekly meetings, increasing positive sentiment by 34% in one year.

Or you can combine your soft and hard skills into one bullet point. For example:

Collaborated with a team of 3 to conduct market research through one-on-one meetings with customers about their needs and concerns. Wrote clear and concise questions used by entire team and assigned tasks and tracked progress in Asana. Presented findings visualized with Tableau and made recommendations to senior staff.

For each of your resume bullets (which should be quantified and achievement-oriented) think, "Which of my soft skills helped me to accomplish this?" You might also choose action verbs (collaborated, led, presented, motivated) that speak to the appropriate soft skills, as in the examples above.

In Your Cover Letter

Cover letters are a great place to expand on your soft skills. Tell a story that explicitly mentions your experience with the soft skills in the job description to highlight your fit for the role, Smith says. So if a job description calls for someone with "excellent organizational skills" and you wanted to emphasize yours, you could say:
"When I started my current job as office manager for BubbleTech, supplies were stashed wherever there was room-I found Post-its in the kitchen and snacks in a cabinet over the printer! So I put my organizational skills to work, inventorying and rearranging all the supplies. I also sent around a Google Sheet that told everyone where they could find each item. In addition to checking the inventory weekly, I made sure my colleagues could note on that same Google Sheet when something was running low and I'd know to order more. As a result, BubbleTech stopped wasting money on extra supplies and never again found themselves completely out of any item when it was needed."
In a Job Interview

You can and should mention examples of how you've used your soft skills in your answers to interview questions. Think about which of your soft skills you want to emphasize before your interview, and come prepared with stories that show those skills in action. You can structure your answers using the STAR method to ensure that you include not only how you used your skills, but also what results they had.

Your behavior before, during, and after an interview will also show employers some of your soft skills firsthand, Smith says. For example, every email you send and each phone call, video meeting, and in-person interaction you have with someone at a company you're interviewing with says something about your communication skills, Dea says. Arriving on time for an interview is a given, but speaks to your dependability and time management skills. Being prepared with strong, inquisitive questions about the role will show the hiring manager how curious and proactive you are, and asking your interviewer questions about themselves and responding earnestly to their answers will show your empathy and active listening skills.

What Are Some Examples of Soft Skills?

Here are some of the most important types of soft skills and some of the individual skills that fall under each category. This list isn't exhaustive, but you can use it to start thinking about which soft skills you have and which you'd like to develop further.

Communication Skills

"Every job involves some types of communication," Dea says. Having the ability to communicate effectively is vital for any role and can affect a number of experiences in the workplace-from how well you convey your expectations and how well you understand others' expectations to whether or not you land that big account.

Active Listening

Giving Clear Feedback

Negotiation

Nonverbal Communication/Reading Body Language

Persuasion

Presenting

Public Speaking

Verbal Communication

Written Communication

Leadership Skills

Don't skip this section just because you aren't a manager or senior-level employee. "You don't need to be a leader to demonstrate leadership!" Dea says. Employees at any level can still demonstrate their leadership skills on projects and within their teams.

Conflict Management/Resolution

Decision-Making

Delegation

Empathy

Flexibility

Giving and Accepting Feedback

Influencing

Management

Motivating Others

Project Management

Relationship Building

Talent Management

Problem-Solving Skills

A big part of any job is solving problems, and not every problem has a clear-cut answer, Dea says. The ability to figure out how to approach new or particularly difficult problems is a key soft skill.

Analytical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Decision-Making

Open-Mindedness

Innovativeness

Proactivity

Research

Resourcefulness

Risk Management

Troubleshooting

Collaboration and Teamwork Skills

You need to know how to work with others toward a shared goal or objective. This can be as small as making sure a presentation gets done for a team meeting or as big as helping your company hit its goals for the quarter or year. These skills speak to your ability to effectively work as part of a team.

Collaboration

Dependability

Emotional Intelligence

Empathy

Disability Awareness

Diversity Awareness

Intercultural Competence

Motivating Others

Patience

Respect for Differences

Self-Awareness

Tact

Trust and Trustworthiness

Work Ethic/Work Style

These soft skills relate to your particular approach to work. You'll see that some of these traits and abilities are opposites of each other. That's because there's no one correct work style, and some work habits and personal qualities are better suited to different companies and work environments.

Ability to Work Well Under Pressure

Adaptability

Agility

Attention to Detail

Awareness of the Big Picture

Conscientiousness

Creative Thinking

Curiosity

Enthusiasm

Fast Learner

Hard Worker

Independence

Integrity

Management of Multiple Deadlines/Projects

Meeting Tight Deadlines

Multitasking

Optimism

Organization

Team Player

Perseverance

Proactivity

Process-Oriented

Reliability

Results-Oriented

Self-Motivation

Time Management

Regina Borsellino was born and raised in New York before moving to the Washington DC area to get a BA in English Lit from the University of Maryland and an MFA in Fiction from American University. She's excited to be back to a city that's only humid eight months of the year. Before joining The Muse, Regina worked scooping ice cream, attending parking lots, breaking into cars (legally!), opening mail, and editing for InvestorPlace.com.

More from Regina Borsellino

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
All Your Questions About Soft Skills, Answered

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You're searching through a job board, scanning postings for positions that might be right for you, and in the requirements section you see: "strong communication skills" or "team player" or "skilled multitasker." Do your eyes just jump over these?

# data[].attributes.body
Gives good information about soft skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Key Takeaways

How Soft Skills Work

Soft skills relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal (people) skills, communication skills, listening skills, time management, problem-solving, leadership, and empathy, among others. They are among the top skills employers seek in the candidates they hire because soft skills are important for just about every job.

Hiring managers typically look for job candidates with soft skills because they make someone more successful in the workplace. Someone can be excellent with technical, job-specific skills, but if they can't manage their time or work within a team, they may not be successful in the workplace.

Soft skills are also important to the success of most employers. After all, nearly every job requires employees to engage with others in some way.

Another reason hiring managers and employers look for applicants with soft skills is that soft skills are transferable skills that can be used regardless of the person's job. This makes job candidates with soft skills very adaptable and flexible employees.

Alternate names: Interpersonal skills, essential skills, noncognitive skills

Example of Soft Skills

Soft skills are particularly important in customer-based jobs, for example. These employees are in direct contact with customers. It takes several soft skills to be able to listen to a customer and provide that customer with helpful and polite service.

Note

Types of Soft Skills

Soft skills include the personal attributes, personality traits, and communication abilities needed for success on the job. Soft skills characterize how a person interacts in his or her relationships with others.

Soft skills include:

How To Get Soft Skills

Unlike hard skills that are learned, soft skills are similar to emotions or insights that allow people to "read" others. These are much harder to learn, at least in a traditional classroom. They are also much harder to measure and evaluate.

Job Training Programs

Some job training programs cover soft skills. They may discuss soft skills so job seekers know what they are and the importance of highlighting them on their resumes. There are also free online courses that can help you improve your soft skills.

On-the-Job Training

If you've been working for a while, chances are you've already developed some soft skills. For example, if you've worked in retail, you've worked in a team environment. If you've helped unhappy customers find a resolution, you've used conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.

Education and Volunteering

If you're new to work, think of other activities you've done, either through school or on a volunteer basis. Chances are you've had to communicate, adapt to changes, and solve problems.

You can also reflect on the soft skills you need to develop. For example, instead of just discussing problems with your manager, suggest solutions to those problems. If you see a colleague struggling, offer to pitch in. If there's a process that could improve your workplace, suggest it.

Note

How To Highlight Your Soft Skills

When you're applying for a new job, highlight your soft skills, as well as your job-specific ones. First, make a list of the soft skills you have that are relevant to the job you want. Compare your list of soft skills with the job listing.

Include some of these soft skills in your resume. You can add them to a skills section.

You can also mention these soft skills in your cover letter. Pick one or two soft skills you have that appear to be the most important for the job you'd like. In your cover letter, provide evidence that shows you have those particular skills.

Finally, you can highlight these soft skills in your interviews. You can demonstrate your soft skills during the interview by being friendly and approachable. If you pay close attention while the interviewer is talking, you will show your listening skills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are soft skills important?

How can I improve my soft skills?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are non-technical skills that include how you interact with colleagues, solve problems, and manage your work. Learn how soft skills work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here's a look at the essential soft skills that companies value the most.

1. Communication

Effective communication is essential to build strong relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders. Not only does this involve the ability to convey messages in a clear and compelling way, but also the ability to understand the needs of others and respond to feedback. Employers want people who can build professional relationships with colleagues, which is especially important when working with teams.

Communication is often evaluated in the workplace through informal feedback, such as verbal or written comments from colleagues and supervisors. An alternative method is a formal evaluation or assessment. The ability to communicate effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions.

Here are some examples of communication skills:

Active listening

Verbal communication

Nonverbal communication

Written communication

Presentation skills

2. Leadership

A good leader has the ability to inspire their team to achieve greatness. They are able to set a clear vision, communicate it effectively and create a culture of accountability and excellence. More importantly, they're able to inspire and influence team members to achieve shared goals and objectives.

The ability to lead effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions. Because most employees work in teams, leadership is widely recognized as a critical attribute for success in the modern workplace.

Here are some examples of leadership skills:

3. Teamwork

Teamwork involves the ability to work with others toward a shared goal. It requires communication, collaboration and a shared commitment to work in a group. Individuals who are able to work collaboratively with others are more likely to achieve their professional goals, and to contribute to the success of their organizations.

In a professional setting, good teamwork can help to foster creativity and innovation because it encourages members to share ideas, brainstorm new solutions and collaborate on new initiatives. Working as part of a collaborative team can also enhance job satisfaction and contribute to a positive work environment.

Here are some examples of teamwork skills:

4. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to think outside the box and come up with ideas that challenge assumptions. Needless to say, it requires a mindset of curiosity, risk-taking and a willingness to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty.

On another front, creativity is essential for effective problem-solving, meaning it allows individuals to tackle issues from new and different angles. Creative individuals also give organizations a competitive edge by enabling them to develop new products and systems that set them apart from their competition.

Here are some examples of creative skills:

5. Time management

Time management involves the ability to set priorities, organize tasks and allot time across different activities. It requires discipline and a willingness to avoid distractions and low-priority tasks.

Naturally, good time management skills can help individuals avoid the stress and anxiety that can arise from missed deadlines. But more importantly, those who can manage their time effectively are more likely to be seen as reliable and efficient, which allows them to stand out in the workplace.

Here are some examples of time management skills:

6. Adaptability

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, adaptability is a key soft skill that enables individuals to stay ahead of the curve. An employee with this skill can adjust to changing circumstances, for example, and learn new skills and technologies to remain relevant in the workplace.

Because it's impossible to avoid unexpected challenges, having adaptable employees allows organizations to bounce back from setbacks much faster. Plus, they can also read situations quickly and adjust their approach to adapt based on the situation.

Here are some examples of adaptability skills:

7. Problem-solving

Problem-solving involves the ability to come up with alternative solutions. This skill is crucial to identifying and addressing complex challenges and opportunities in a variety of contexts.

Problem-solving also makes it easier to make more informed decisions because employees are able to analyze situations and identify the best course of action. As a result, teams are able to get more done in less time.

Here are some examples of problem-solving skills:

8. Work ethic

Work ethic demonstrates an individual's commitment to their job. Having a strong work ethic makes you seem more reliable and dependable, which improves your credibility in the workplace.

There are a lot of ways to demonstrate a strong work ethic. Some examples include arriving on time for meetings, meeting deadlines consistently and being accountable for your actions. If you encounter any challenges in the workplace, you should also maintain a positive demeanor and adapt to changing situations.

Here are some examples of work ethic skills:

9. Critical thinking

Critical thinking enables individuals to approach problems and challenges with a strategic and analytical mindset. When making informed decisions, this skill allows you to weigh available options and consider potential outcomes.

A critical thinker can evaluate the strength of arguments and identify flaws in reasoning. They consider multiple perspectives, which makes them more likely to pinpoint the short-term and long-term consequences of their decisions. Additionally, they can also identify the root cause of a problem and generate multiple solutions.

Here are some examples of critical thinking skills:

10. Conflict management

Not every employee can get along with colleagues every time. As a team tackles obstacles, conflict and opposing ideas could arise every now and then.

Conflict management is the process of addressing disputes or disagreements in a constructive and effective manner. Often, this requires good communication skills, active listening, empathy, negotiation skills and a willingness to collaborate and find common ground.

When managing conflict, it is important to identify common goals and interests for all parties involved. This can help to establish a sense of unity and collaboration, and even lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Being open to different ideas and perspectives can also make individuals feel motivated to work towards resolution.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

11. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions and those of others. In today's collaborative work environments, this skill enables employees to navigate complex social dynamics and work effectively within teams. It also allows them to provide constructive feedback in a way that is sensitive to the emotions of others, leading to more successful outcomes and stronger relationships.

Effective leaders often have the ability to motivate others and navigate challenging situations with grace and empathy.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

Bottom Line

In the modern workplace, employers seek candidates who possess technical expertise and soft skills that enable them to thrive in a collaborative work environment. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity, adaptability, problem-solving, work ethic, critical thinking and conflict management can be developed and honed over time. While it is important for individuals to continue to build their technical expertise, developing soft skills can ultimately set you apart in the workplace and lead to long-term success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
11 Essential Soft Skills In 2023 (With Examples)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In today's fast-paced world, success in the workplace requires more than just technical expertise and knowledge. As the nature of work continues to evolve, it is important for individuals to possess attributes and abilities that allow them to collaborate with teams and colleagues-otherwise known as

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Key Takeaways

How Soft Skills Work

Soft skills relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal (people) skills, communication skills, listening skills, time management, problem-solving, leadership, and empathy, among others. They are among the top skills employers seek in the candidates they hire because soft skills are important for just about every job.

Hiring managers typically look for job candidates with soft skills because they make someone more successful in the workplace. Someone can be excellent with technical, job-specific skills, but if they can't manage their time or work within a team, they may not be successful in the workplace.

Soft skills are also important to the success of most employers. After all, nearly every job requires employees to engage with others in some way.

Another reason hiring managers and employers look for applicants with soft skills is that soft skills are transferable skills that can be used regardless of the person's job. This makes job candidates with soft skills very adaptable and flexible employees.

Alternate names: Interpersonal skills, essential skills, noncognitive skills

Example of Soft Skills

Soft skills are particularly important in customer-based jobs, for example. These employees are in direct contact with customers. It takes several soft skills to be able to listen to a customer and provide that customer with helpful and polite service.

Note

Types of Soft Skills

Soft skills include the personal attributes, personality traits, and communication abilities needed for success on the job. Soft skills characterize how a person interacts in his or her relationships with others.

Soft skills include:

How To Get Soft Skills

Unlike hard skills that are learned, soft skills are similar to emotions or insights that allow people to "read" others. These are much harder to learn, at least in a traditional classroom. They are also much harder to measure and evaluate.

Job Training Programs

Some job training programs cover soft skills. They may discuss soft skills so job seekers know what they are and the importance of highlighting them on their resumes. There are also free online courses that can help you improve your soft skills.

On-the-Job Training

If you've been working for a while, chances are you've already developed some soft skills. For example, if you've worked in retail, you've worked in a team environment. If you've helped unhappy customers find a resolution, you've used conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.

Education and Volunteering

If you're new to work, think of other activities you've done, either through school or on a volunteer basis. Chances are you've had to communicate, adapt to changes, and solve problems.

You can also reflect on the soft skills you need to develop. For example, instead of just discussing problems with your manager, suggest solutions to those problems. If you see a colleague struggling, offer to pitch in. If there's a process that could improve your workplace, suggest it.

Note

How To Highlight Your Soft Skills

When you're applying for a new job, highlight your soft skills, as well as your job-specific ones. First, make a list of the soft skills you have that are relevant to the job you want. Compare your list of soft skills with the job listing.

Include some of these soft skills in your resume. You can add them to a skills section.

You can also mention these soft skills in your cover letter. Pick one or two soft skills you have that appear to be the most important for the job you'd like. In your cover letter, provide evidence that shows you have those particular skills.

Finally, you can highlight these soft skills in your interviews. You can demonstrate your soft skills during the interview by being friendly and approachable. If you pay close attention while the interviewer is talking, you will show your listening skills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are soft skills important?

How can I improve my soft skills?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are non-technical skills that include how you interact with colleagues, solve problems, and manage your work. Learn how soft skills work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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. 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

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."

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.

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.

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.

What Is Soft Skills Training?

Soft skills training is training to help develop or improve interpersonal skills. It consists of lessons to improve communication, increase active listening, resolve conflicts, and more.

The Bottom Line

While hard skills are highly valued in today's economy, many employers recognize the importance of soft skills as well. For that reason, workers with both hard and soft skills may find it easier to get hired and rise through the ranks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Are Soft Skills? Definition, Importance, and Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize relationships with other people and complement hard skills in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You're searching through a job board, scanning postings for positions that might be right for you, and in the requirements section you see: "strong communication skills" or "team player" or "skilled multitasker." Do your eyes just jump over these? Or do you note them the same way you would qualifications such as "must have three years of experience as a Salesforce administrator" or "must be proficient in JavaScript?"

You should be paying attention, because those notes tell you which soft skills are crucial to the role you're applying for. And they're often just as important as hard skills when it comes to your job search-and overall career success.

"Soft skills are intangible attributes related to how you work," says Muse career coach Jennifer Smith, founder of Flourish Careers. Soft skills are the traits and qualities you possess that dictate how you'll engage with others-also known as interpersonal skills -and how you'll perform in the workplace. For example, one big category of soft skills is communication skills, which help you to interact with your coworkers, clients, and anyone else you come across in your job. Strong communication skills will mean fewer misunderstandings, clearer indications of progress toward goals, and a more cohesive work environment, among other benefits.

While hard skills are often based on specific knowledge, "soft skills focus more on your actual behaviors or habits in work situations," says Muse career coach Al Dea. Are you always coming up with outside-the-box solutions and proposals? Can you give a presentation that makes everyone in the room sit up and pay attention? Do you always step in to help when someone on your team needs it? These are demonstrations of your soft skills-creativity, public speaking, and teamwork, respectively.

Soft skills are also more subjective than hard skills. Saying that you know how to prepare someone's taxes or upload content using WordPress is fairly straightforward: Did the taxes get filed correctly? Is the content uploaded? Then you have those skills. But saying that you're a good leader isn't as clear-cut. What is a good leader? That depends entirely on who's answering the question and can be difficult to explain, show the results of, or learn if you're not inherently skilled at it.

Why Are Soft Skills Important?

Think about your favorite and most admired coworkers, managers, and leaders. Why did you choose these people? Was it because they were great at doing data analysis? Maybe, but it's unlikely that mastery of a hard skill is the only reason. It's more likely you enjoyed interacting with this person and appreciated how they did their jobs.

Was that one colleague always so excited to dive into a new project that they motivated others on the team? Did they always speak up at meetings to point out when someone else was being spoken over? Was that favorite boss always understanding of people's lives outside of work? "The way you get work done and interact with others is a critical component within the workplace," Smith says, so soft skills are crucial to your success and reputation, no matter what your role or seniority level.

Now think about a company you were part of or a team you were on that really got things done in a way that felt rewarding. Why was that? Sure, the individuals on the team probably had the hard skills to complete their work tasks, but that's just the "what." The "how" comes from soft skills. Maybe innovation and creativity flourished. Maybe communication was very open and direct without ever being harsh. Maybe the environment was very collaborative and individuals were never blamed for failures. Maybe the team had a great rapport. Soft skills make these things possible.

Soft skills are also more transferable and timeless than hard skills. "Many soft skills will continue to be needed for the foreseeable future even as the industry and market evolve," Dea says. A lot of common tech tools, like those we use for social media or Search Engine Optimization, didn't even exist until recently-and neither did the hard skills that go with them, Dea says. And technologies will continue to evolve, meaning that the hard skills you need now might not be as important in five or 10 years. Adobe Flash-based content used to be everywhere on the internet, for instance, but now it's a rarity-and a sign of an outdated site-so knowing how to create it isn't nearly as attractive a skill as it once was. But working hard and being dependable are unlikely to ever go out of style.

How Can You Improve Your Soft Skills?

Because they're not based on specific knowledge like hard skills, soft skills are often considered more difficult to learn or strengthen. And there's a bit of truth to that, but that doesn't mean you can't develop your soft skills.

The first thing to do is establish where your soft skills stand now. Our experts suggest the following methods:

Look at past feedback from performance reviews and other sources and/or ask for current feedback: Are there any common themes, either positive or negative?

Take some time to look at your past and current work responsibilities and try to identify which soft skills have helped you succeed in your job and which ones would have helped that you could develop.

Take a skills assessment or quiz (like this, this, and this).

Identify one or two areas you want to focus on first. Then, just like anything else, soft skills can be improved through practice. Smith recommends putting yourself in situations where you'll have to stretch your soft skills, but start small. For example, do you struggle with public speaking? Maybe you can give a short presentation to your immediate team at an upcoming meeting. Are your leadership skills lacking? Volunteer to take point on a simple project. And whenever possible during your practice, ask for feedback.

You might also consider taking a class. While they're less common than classes on how to use a flashy new program, you can still find courses online that will help you with your interpersonal and other skills.

And don't forget that you can turn to people in your network, too. "Find a mentor who is good at what you're trying to improve and ask them to coach you," Smith suggests. Or, if you have a coworker who's great at the soft skill you're trying to work on, you might observe and evaluate what they do and think about how you can apply these strategies yourself, Dea says.

How Can You Highlight Your Soft Skills in a Job Search?

When you're looking for a job, employers want to know not only what you can do, but how you'll do it and what you'll be like as a coworker. How can you tell which soft skills matter most for a particular job? "Review the job description!" Smith says. Companies aren't asking for a self-starter with great attention to detail for no reason. You can also "take a look at LinkedIn profiles for people who work at the company and see what skills they have," Smith says. Or you can talk to people who already work in a position or at a company you're interested in and ask them which soft skills are most vital to success. You can highlight them:

On Your Resume

While many job seekers think of their resume as the prime space to show off their hard skills, you should also make sure your soft skills shine. You might include your most important soft skills in a resume summary. You might even list the soft skills mentioned in or directly related to the job description in your skills section, Smith says, though Dea suggests only going this route if you have extra space.

But remember that anyone can say that they have strong leadership skills or problem-solving abilities. You have to show prospective employers how you've used your soft skills and what you've achieved. This means working your soft skills into your bullet points. You might devote bullet points to only highlighting particular soft skills. For example, if you wanted to talk about your leadership skills, Smith suggests something like:

Assumed leadership role for sales team with the lowest worker satisfaction survey results in the company. Motivated and engaged employees by encouraging feedback, holding a variety of team-building events, and celebrating top performers at weekly meetings, increasing positive sentiment by 34% in one year.

Or you can combine your soft and hard skills into one bullet point. For example:

Collaborated with a team of 3 to conduct market research through one-on-one meetings with customers about their needs and concerns. Wrote clear and concise questions used by entire team and assigned tasks and tracked progress in Asana. Presented findings visualized with Tableau and made recommendations to senior staff.

For each of your resume bullets (which should be quantified and achievement-oriented) think, "Which of my soft skills helped me to accomplish this?" You might also choose action verbs (collaborated, led, presented, motivated) that speak to the appropriate soft skills, as in the examples above.

In Your Cover Letter

Cover letters are a great place to expand on your soft skills. Tell a story that explicitly mentions your experience with the soft skills in the job description to highlight your fit for the role, Smith says. So if a job description calls for someone with "excellent organizational skills" and you wanted to emphasize yours, you could say:
"When I started my current job as office manager for BubbleTech, supplies were stashed wherever there was room-I found Post-its in the kitchen and snacks in a cabinet over the printer! So I put my organizational skills to work, inventorying and rearranging all the supplies. I also sent around a Google Sheet that told everyone where they could find each item. In addition to checking the inventory weekly, I made sure my colleagues could note on that same Google Sheet when something was running low and I'd know to order more. As a result, BubbleTech stopped wasting money on extra supplies and never again found themselves completely out of any item when it was needed."
In a Job Interview

You can and should mention examples of how you've used your soft skills in your answers to interview questions. Think about which of your soft skills you want to emphasize before your interview, and come prepared with stories that show those skills in action. You can structure your answers using the STAR method to ensure that you include not only how you used your skills, but also what results they had.

Your behavior before, during, and after an interview will also show employers some of your soft skills firsthand, Smith says. For example, every email you send and each phone call, video meeting, and in-person interaction you have with someone at a company you're interviewing with says something about your communication skills, Dea says. Arriving on time for an interview is a given, but speaks to your dependability and time management skills. Being prepared with strong, inquisitive questions about the role will show the hiring manager how curious and proactive you are, and asking your interviewer questions about themselves and responding earnestly to their answers will show your empathy and active listening skills.

What Are Some Examples of Soft Skills?

Here are some of the most important types of soft skills and some of the individual skills that fall under each category. This list isn't exhaustive, but you can use it to start thinking about which soft skills you have and which you'd like to develop further.

Communication Skills

"Every job involves some types of communication," Dea says. Having the ability to communicate effectively is vital for any role and can affect a number of experiences in the workplace-from how well you convey your expectations and how well you understand others' expectations to whether or not you land that big account.

Active Listening

Giving Clear Feedback

Negotiation

Nonverbal Communication/Reading Body Language

Persuasion

Presenting

Public Speaking

Verbal Communication

Written Communication

Leadership Skills

Don't skip this section just because you aren't a manager or senior-level employee. "You don't need to be a leader to demonstrate leadership!" Dea says. Employees at any level can still demonstrate their leadership skills on projects and within their teams.

Conflict Management/Resolution

Decision-Making

Delegation

Empathy

Flexibility

Giving and Accepting Feedback

Influencing

Management

Motivating Others

Project Management

Relationship Building

Talent Management

Problem-Solving Skills

A big part of any job is solving problems, and not every problem has a clear-cut answer, Dea says. The ability to figure out how to approach new or particularly difficult problems is a key soft skill.

Analytical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Decision-Making

Open-Mindedness

Innovativeness

Proactivity

Research

Resourcefulness

Risk Management

Troubleshooting

Collaboration and Teamwork Skills

You need to know how to work with others toward a shared goal or objective. This can be as small as making sure a presentation gets done for a team meeting or as big as helping your company hit its goals for the quarter or year. These skills speak to your ability to effectively work as part of a team.

Collaboration

Dependability

Emotional Intelligence

Empathy

Disability Awareness

Diversity Awareness

Intercultural Competence

Motivating Others

Patience

Respect for Differences

Self-Awareness

Tact

Trust and Trustworthiness

Work Ethic/Work Style

These soft skills relate to your particular approach to work. You'll see that some of these traits and abilities are opposites of each other. That's because there's no one correct work style, and some work habits and personal qualities are better suited to different companies and work environments.

Ability to Work Well Under Pressure

Adaptability

Agility

Attention to Detail

Awareness of the Big Picture

Conscientiousness

Creative Thinking

Curiosity

Enthusiasm

Fast Learner

Hard Worker

Independence

Integrity

Management of Multiple Deadlines/Projects

Meeting Tight Deadlines

Multitasking

Optimism

Organization

Team Player

Perseverance

Proactivity

Process-Oriented

Reliability

Results-Oriented

Self-Motivation

Time Management

Regina Borsellino was born and raised in New York before moving to the Washington DC area to get a BA in English Lit from the University of Maryland and an MFA in Fiction from American University. She's excited to be back to a city that's only humid eight months of the year. Before joining The Muse, Regina worked scooping ice cream, attending parking lots, breaking into cars (legally!), opening mail, and editing for InvestorPlace.com.

More from Regina Borsellino

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
All Your Questions About Soft Skills, Answered

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You're searching through a job board, scanning postings for positions that might be right for you, and in the requirements section you see: "strong communication skills" or "team player" or "skilled multitasker." Do your eyes just jump over these?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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. 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

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."

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.

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.

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.

What Is Soft Skills Training?

Soft skills training is training to help develop or improve interpersonal skills. It consists of lessons to improve communication, increase active listening, resolve conflicts, and more.

The Bottom Line

While hard skills are highly valued in today's economy, many employers recognize the importance of soft skills as well. For that reason, workers with both hard and soft skills may find it easier to get hired and rise through the ranks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Are Soft Skills? Definition, Importance, and Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize relationships with other people and complement hard skills in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are core skills sought after in every profession.

Whether you're a server in a restaurant or a big-shot CEO, your soft skills will be as decisive for your success as your technical know-how.

Motivation and time management, leadership, and open-mindedness - all of those are widely sought-after soft skills.

And these are just a few out of many!

But you might be wondering which soft skills are relevant for YOUR career? And which ones should you focus on developing?

This is where this article comes in!

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft Skills Vs Hard Skills

Top 10 Soft Skills Employers Love (For Any Profession)

90+ Soft Skills Examples for 10 Careers

How to List Soft Skills On Your Resume

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills consist of a combination of people, social, and communication skills, character traits, attitudes, and mindsets, as well as social and emotional characteristics, among others, which are sought for in all professions.

Some examples of soft skills include:

Communication

Teamwork

Leadership

Problem-solving

If you're applying for a job, soft skills are key in setting apart ideal candidates from adequate ones - especially when recruiters are deciding among applicants with similar work and education experience.

Studies also attest to it - 97% of employers say that soft skills are either as important or more important than hard skills and that more than half of new employees that fail within 18 months do so because they lack soft skills.

Soft Skills Vs Hard Skills

There are two types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills, also referred to as measurable abilities, include anything from mastering Photoshop to emergency care knowledge. You obtain hard skills through your education, training, certifications, and professional experience.

Soft skills, also called people skills, are the mix of social and interpersonal skills, character traits, and professional attitudes that all jobs require. Teamwork, patience, time management, communication, are just a few examples. Soft skills can be personality traits or they can be traits obtained through life experiences.

Usually, you'd include both hard and soft skills in your resume as follows:

But for the most part, skills are something a recruiter learns about you through an interview.

Top 10 Soft Skills Employers Love (For Any Profession)

Soft skills can tell a lot about how a candidate will interact in the workplace, how they might react under pressure, or what their professional potential is.

As such, a lot of employers prioritize hiring employees with the right soft skills over hard skills.

But which soft skills are really important, and which ones are less so?

In 2022, the most in-demand soft skills are as follows:

Time management

Communication

Adaptability

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Creativity

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Work ethic

Attention to detail

#2. Communication

Communication is the ability to convey or share ideas and feelings effectively and it's among the top soft skills employers require across all fields.

The most common communication skills are:

#3. Adaptability

Your adaptability shows how well you can embrace change and adjust to it.

Companies and work environments constantly change: new team members come in, old ones leave, companies get bought or sold, and so on.

So, you need to be able to adapt to different situations at your workplace.

Here are some skills related to adaptability:

#4. Problem-solving

Being able to analytically and creatively solve problems will come in handy no matter your job.

After all, there's no job in the world where you won't have any problems to deal with. That is why creative problem-solvers are always in high demand.

These are the skills associated with problem-solving:

#6. Creativity

We're used to linking creativity with fields like art, or design, but creativity is a broad term that involves several sub-skills from questioning to experimenting. As such, any professional can make just as much use of creative skills as artists.

Here are some examples of creative skills:

#7. Leadership

Leadership refers to the ability to mentor, train, or guide. No matter the industry, employers prefer to hire applicants who show they have leadership potential for 2 reasons:

1. Employees with leadership skills show more initiative and are more likely to invest themselves in helping the company grow.

2. The company can eventually promote employees with strong leadership roles to better management positions.

Skills related to leadership include:

#10. Attention to Detail

Here's another skill no employer will reject - the ability to be thorough and accurate in your work. Paying attention even to minor details is what sets apart dedicated employees from those who just want to get the job done and go home.

Some other soft skills related to attention to detail are:

90+ Soft Skills Examples for 10 Careers

Now sure which soft skills are good to mention for your profession?

Below, we compiled a list of 90+ best soft skills for 10 different career paths. Just find the one that's relevant for you and plug the skills into your resume!

#2. Healthcare

A career in healthcare takes years of studying, a lot of training, and a variety of hard skills. At the same time, healthcare workers also need to be able to work well under pressure or pay close attention to detail.

Studies pointing to the importance of empathy in providing quality care, for example, are among many highlighting how soft skills are essential in developing a patient-centered approach.

Here are some other examples of soft skills in healthcare:

#3. Digital Marketing

Marketing surely is one of the most popular career choices, but the fast development of new technologies and the transition to online work have brought digital marketing under the spotlight too.

But just because the industry utilizes digital technologies to market products and services doesn't mean a career in digital marketing doesn't require its own set of soft skills.

Here are 10 essential soft skills for a career in digital marketing:

#4. Management

An essential task of a successful manager is to coordinate and administer human resources. This makes soft skills all the more important for any type of management role.

Here are some examples of what's required from managers in terms of soft skills:

#10. Web Development

Being good at C++ or Java is not all it takes to make a career in web development. There are several soft skills required from developers too, such as creativity and problem-solving.

In other cases, developers are required to collaborate with designers to bring an idea to life, and that's where active listening comes in.

The top soft skills for web developers consist of the following:

How to List Soft Skills On Your Resume

The way you list your skills on your resume matters.

For example, you need to ensure that you're listing the right soft skills in the first place (and that they're relevant for the role you're applying for).

You should also back those soft skills up with experiences - you can't just say "I'm a great leader" if nothing in your resume supports this claim.

So, here are our top 4 tips on how to list your soft skills in your resume and get an edge over the competition.

#1. Tailor Soft Skills to the Job

The more job-specific you are with the skills on your resume, the better.

What we mean by this is, you should only list skills that are relevant to the position.

For example, if you're applying to be a server, you probably won't need problem-solving and critical thinking skills as much as effective communication and teamwork.

Tailoring your soft skills to the job is easier than you think - all you need to do is use the job description as a cheat sheet. Basically, just read the job ad in detail and make a list of the required skills. Then, add them to your resume.

Let's assume you're applying for a sales manager position. The requirements are:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field.

5 years of experience in sales.

Strong oral and written communication skills.

Proven ability to lead a team to meet quotas.

Excellent leadership skills.

Experience setting sales goals.

You just got four skills tailored to the job just by reading the requirements:

Oral and written communication skills

Leadership

Goal-oriented

Teamwork

#2. Back-Up Soft Skills With Other Sections

Anyone can mention that they have amazing critical thinking and leadership skills in their resume.

Unless they back this up with some facts and experiences, though, the recruiter won't take you seriously.

Now, this may not be as easy as tailoring them to the job, but there are certainly ways around it.

Let's say you're applying as a creative director for an advertising agency.

Your required soft skills would probably include some of the following:

Creativity

Leadership

Oral communication

Project management

First things first - you'd mention these skills in the dedicated skills section.

Afterward, you'd back them up as follows:

When listing your work experiences, mention achievements or responsibilities that show off these soft skills.

For example, to show off your project management skills, you can write:

Coordinated 10 people to create a YouTube video ad for a client that resulted in the client's revenues increasing by over $50,000 within a month.

Or, to showcase your creativity, you can include the following bit:

Conceptualized and pitched an ad idea that went on to win the Epica Award.

#3. Use Transferable Skills When Switching Careers

Transferable skills can be particularly useful if you're switching careers or changing directions within the industry. They include skills that are not job-specific, but still useful to the position.

Let's assume you are leaving your job as a news reporter and applying for a Public Relations position. Although the industries are different, both are communications-related professions.

This means you can list some relevant soft skills acquired as a reporter on your new resume to show you're not completely unfamiliar with the job.

As a news reporter, your soft skills can include (but are not limited to):

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Creativity

These are all skills you can easily 'transfer' into your PR resume and show you can take on the change.

Soft Skills FAQ

Still have some questions about soft skills?

Check out our FAQ below!

Key Takeaways

Phew! And that wraps up everything you need to know about soft skills and your career.

Now, let's do a quick recap of the most important points we covered in this article:

Soft skills consist of a combination of people, social, and communication skills, character traits, attitudes, and mindsets, among others, which are sought for in all professions.

There are two types of skills: soft skills and hard skills. For the most part, skills are something a recruiter learns about you through an interview, although both go into your resume.

Although several soft skills are valued in every profession, each industry requires its own set of soft skills for a successful career in the field. So, when applying for a job, make sure to list soft skills that are relevant for YOU.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top Soft Skills for 2022 [90+ Examples for Your Resume]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are core skills sought after in every profession. Whether you're a server in a restaurant or a big-shot CEO, your soft skills will be as decisive for your success as your technical know-how. Motivation and time management, leadership, and open-mindedness - all of those are widely sought-after soft skills.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in today's job market. They refer to the personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Employers are looking for candidates who possess these skills in addition to their technical expertise. In this article, we will guide beginners on how to showcase their soft skills on their resume.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills refer to a set of personal attributes, behaviors, and social attitudes that enable individuals to interact effectively with others in a workplace or social environment. These skills are essential for building healthy relationships, communicating effectively, solving problems, and collaborating with others. Soft skills are intangible and subjective qualities that cannot be measured or quantified like hard skills. They include

communication

teamwork

problem-solving

critical thinking

adaptability

time management

leadership

creativity

emotional intelligence

(More examples below)

Developing soft skills is crucial in today's job market, where employers value employees who can demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills that can help organizations thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment. Moreover, soft skills are not just limited to the workplace. They also play a significant role in our personal lives, helping us build meaningful relationships, manage conflicts, and navigate social situations effectively.

Soft skills are often developed through life experiences, practice, and self-reflection, and can be honed through various methods such as attending workshops, reading books, or seeking feedback from others. In summary, soft skills are a vital component of personal and professional success and are essential for individuals looking to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in the world.

How to share soft skills

1. Identify the soft skills required for the job

The first step is to research the job requirements and identify the soft skills that are essential for the role. This information can be found in the job description or by speaking to people in the industry. Once you have a list of required soft skills, you can focus on highlighting them in your resume.

2. Incorporate soft skills into your resume objective or summary

Your resume objective or summary is the first thing that recruiters will read. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. You can incorporate them by using phrases such as "I am a highly motivated individual with excellent communication and teamwork skills."

3. Provide examples of your soft skills in the experience section

In the experience section of your resume, provide specific examples of how you have used your soft skills in previous roles. For example, if you are applying for a customer service role, you could highlight how you have resolved customer complaints by utilizing your problem-solving skills. Use action verbs such as "managed," "coordinated," "facilitated," or "led" to describe your soft skills in action.

4. Highlight soft skills in the skills section

The skills section of your resume is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. List them under a separate heading and use bullet points to describe each one. For example, under the heading "Teamwork," you could list bullet points such as "collaborated with team members to achieve project goals" or "supported team members in achieving their individual goals."

5. Provide additional evidence of your soft skills

Finally, provide additional evidence of your soft skills in your resume by including any relevant certifications or awards. For example, if you have completed a leadership course or received an award for outstanding teamwork, be sure to include it in your resume.

Examples of Soft Skills

1. Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful professional relationship. Being able to articulate your thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely in written or verbal form is crucial for maintaining productive working relationships. This soft skill also encompasses active listening, understanding and interpreting non-verbal cues, and adapting communication style to suit different audiences.

2. Teamwork

Teamwork is about working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal. It involves sharing ideas and resources, taking on different roles and responsibilities, and being willing to support and assist team members as needed. A strong team player also understands the importance of building trust and rapport with colleagues, communicating effectively, and being receptive to feedback.

3. Problem-solving

The ability to identify, analyze and solve problems is an essential soft skill in any workplace. A skilled problem-solver has a logical and systematic approach to identifying the root cause of issues, as well as the creativity to generate and implement effective solutions. This skill requires a combination of critical thinking, research, data analysis, and innovation.

4. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. It requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization and organization. This soft skill also involves the ability to stay focused and avoid distractions, delegate tasks when appropriate, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

5. Leadership

Leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve a common objective. A skilled leader can provide direction and guidance, manage resources and people effectively, and make difficult decisions when necessary. This soft skill also encompasses effective communication, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and the ability to foster a positive and inclusive team culture.

6. Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to change and new situations with ease. A highly adaptable person can work effectively in diverse environments, be flexible with changing priorities, and learn new skills and systems quickly. This soft skill also involves being open-minded, creative and innovative, and able to think on one's feet.

7. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and approach problems from different angles. This soft skill requires imagination, curiosity, and the ability to see connections between seemingly disparate ideas. Creativity is essential for innovation, process improvement, and finding new solutions to complex problems.

8. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and relate to others' emotions and experiences. This soft skill involves active listening, showing compassion, and being able to put oneself in others' shoes. Empathy is crucial for building strong relationships, resolving conflicts, and creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

9. Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is the ability to manage and resolve conflicts effectively. A skilled conflict resolver can identify the underlying causes of conflict, communicate clearly and empathetically, and negotiate win-win solutions. This soft skill also involves active listening, problem-solving, and the ability to remain calm and objective under pressure.

10. Active listening

Active listening is the ability to focus on and understand the speaker's message fully. This soft skill involves paying attention to non-verbal cues, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback to the speaker. Active listening is essential for effective communication, building trust and rapport, and resolving conflicts.

11. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively and make informed decisions. This soft skill involves evaluating evidence, identifying assumptions, and recognizing biases. A skilled critical thinker can synthesize complex information, consider multiple perspectives, and make logical and evidence-based conclusions.

12. Cultural competence

Cultural competence is the ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This soft skill involves understanding and respecting cultural differences, being aware of one's own biases, and adapting communication and behavior to suit different cultural contexts. A culturally competent person can build strong relationships with people from all walks of life.

13. Customer service

Customer service is the ability to provide exceptional service to customers and clients. This soft skill involves actively listening to customers' needs, providing accurate and timely information, and resolving issues in a timely and professional manner. A skilled customer service provider can build strong customer relationships, foster loyalty, and enhance the company's reputation.

14. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make effective decisions based on available information. This soft skill involves weighing different options, considering potential outcomes, and evaluating risks and benefits. A skilled decision-maker can make timely and effective decisions, communicate their reasoning clearly, and be accountable for their choices.

15. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage one's own emotions and the emotions of others. This soft skill involves being aware of one's own emotional state, being empathetic towards others, and responding appropriately to emotional cues. A person with high emotional intelligence can build strong relationships, resolve conflicts effectively, and lead with empathy.

16. Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This soft skill involves being open-minded, responsive to feedback, and able to adjust to new situations with ease. A flexible person can work effectively in fast-paced environments, handle unexpected challenges, and maintain a positive attitude.

17. Goal-setting

Goal-setting is the ability to set achievable goals and work towards achieving them. This soft skill involves being proactive, organized, and focused on results. A person who sets effective goals can prioritize tasks, track progress, and maintain motivation in the face of challenges.

18. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with others. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution. A person with strong interpersonal skills can build rapport, establish trust, and collaborate effectively with others.

19. Negotiation

Negotiation is the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts effectively. This soft skill involves identifying common ground, being persuasive, and finding win-win solutions. A skilled negotiator can build relationships, resolve conflicts, and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

20. Patience

Patience is the ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations. This soft skill involves self-control, emotional regulation, and the ability to take a long-term view. A patient person can stay focused on goals, maintain relationships, and handle difficult situations with grace and resilience.

21. Persuasion

Persuasion is the ability to convince others of one's ideas and opinions. This soft skill involves effective communication, building trust, and being able to present a compelling argument. A skilled persuader can influence decisions, build consensus, and negotiate win-win outcomes.

22. Positive attitude

A positive attitude is the ability to maintain a positive and optimistic outlook. This soft skill involves being resilient, adaptable, and solution-oriented. A person with a positive attitude can motivate others, foster collaboration, and build strong relationships even in difficult circumstances.

23. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to present ideas and information clearly and persuasively. This soft skill involves effective communication, organization, and the ability to engage an audience. A skilled presenter can influence decisions, build credibility, and create a lasting impression.

24. Problem analysis

Problem analysis is the ability to identify and analyze problems to find effective solutions. This soft skill involves critical thinking, data analysis, and the ability to think creatively. A skilled problem analyst can identify root causes, develop effective strategies, and implement sustainable solutions.

25. Self-motivation

Self-motivation is the ability to motivate oneself to achieve goals and overcome obstacles. This soft skill involves being proactive, focused, and disciplined. A person with high self-motivation can stay on track, take initiative, and achieve success in the face of challenges.

26. Stress management

Stress management is the ability to manage stress effectively and remain calm under pressure. This soft skill involves self-awareness, emotional regulation, and coping strategies. A person with strong stress management skills can maintain productivity, build resilience, and manage relationships effectively even in high-pressure situations.

27. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. This soft skill requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization, and organization. A skilled time manager can maintain focus, avoid distractions, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

28. Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness is the ability to maintain the trust and confidence of others. This soft skill involves being honest, reliable, and accountable. A person with high trustworthiness can build strong relationships, foster teamwork, and promote a culture of trust and respect.

29. Verbal communication

Verbal communication is the ability to articulate ideas and information clearly and effectively. This soft skill involves effective listening, tone, and the ability to adapt communication style to different audiences. A person with strong verbal communication skills can build rapport, resolve conflicts, and motivate others effectively.

30. Writing

Writing is the ability to write clearly and effectively to convey ideas and information. This soft skill involves grammar, syntax, and effective communication. A skilled writer can communicate complex ideas clearly, persuade readers, and create compelling content that engages and inspires.

31. Attention to detail

Attention to detail is the ability to notice small details and ensure accuracy and quality in work. This soft skill involves being meticulous, thorough, and focused on delivering high-quality results. A person with strong attention to detail can minimize errors, enhance productivity, and maintain customer satisfaction.

32. Coaching and mentoring

Coaching and mentoring is the ability to guide, teach and mentor others to achieve their goals. This soft skill involves providing feedback, modeling behavior, and supporting others in their professional development. A skilled coach and mentor can build relationships, inspire growth, and promote a positive team culture.

33. Conflict management

Conflict management is the ability to manage conflicts effectively and reach win-win solutions. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, and negotiation. A person with strong conflict management skills can resolve disputes, build consensus, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

34. Cultural awareness

Cultural awareness is the ability to understand and respect cultural differences in the workplace. This soft skill involves recognizing and appreciating diverse perspectives, beliefs, and values. A culturally aware person can work effectively in a global environment, build relationships across cultures, and promote inclusion and diversity.

35. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make informed and timely decisions. This soft skill involves analyzing data, evaluating options, and considering the impact of decisions on stakeholders. A skilled decision-maker can make sound decisions, take calculated risks, and achieve business objectives effectively.

36. Dependability

Dependability is the ability to be reliable and trustworthy in completing tasks and meeting deadlines. This soft skill involves being accountable, punctual, and responsive. A dependable person can maintain high standards, meet expectations, and build trust and respect among colleagues.

37. Diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion is the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and foster an inclusive workplace culture. This soft skill involves being open-minded, respectful, and supportive of differences. A person with strong diversity and inclusion skills can build a sense of belonging, promote creativity, and enhance business outcomes.

38. Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the ability to approach work with passion and energy. This soft skill involves being optimistic, engaged, and committed to achieving results. A person with strong enthusiasm can inspire others, promote positive attitudes, and drive success in a team environment.

39. Financial management

Financial management is the ability to manage financial resources effectively. This soft skill involves understanding financial principles, analyzing data, and making sound decisions. A person with strong financial management skills can optimize resources, minimize risk, and achieve business objectives.

40. Humility

Humility is the ability to admit mistakes and learn from feedback. This soft skill involves being open-minded, reflective, and willing to grow. A person with strong humility can build credibility, promote a culture of learning, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

41. Initiative

Initiative is the ability to take proactive steps to solve problems and improve processes. This soft skill involves being self-motivated, creative, and willing to take calculated risks. A person with strong initiative can drive innovation, enhance productivity, and achieve business goals.

42. Innovation

Innovation is the ability to create new ideas, products, or processes. This soft skill involves being creative, adaptable, and willing to take risks. A person with strong innovation skills can drive growth, solve complex problems, and enhance customer satisfaction.

43. Intercultural communication

Intercultural communication is the ability to communicate effectively across different cultures and languages. This soft skill involves being aware of cultural differences, using appropriate language and tone, and adapting to cultural norms. A person with strong intercultural communication skills can build strong relationships, promote understanding, and enhance global business outcomes.

44. Interpersonal communication

Interpersonal communication is the ability to communicate effectively and build strong relationships with others. This soft skill involves active listening, empathy, and effective use of non-verbal cues. A person with strong interpersonal communication skills can build trust, resolve conflicts, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

45. Learning agility

Learning agility is the ability to adapt to new situations and learn quickly. This soft skill involves being open-minded, curious, and willing to experiment. A person with strong learning agility can acquire new skills and knowledge, adapt to changing circumstances, and enhance personal and professional growth.

46. Organizational skills

Organizational skills are the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively. This soft skill involves being organized, efficient, and able to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. A person with strong organizational skills can meet deadlines, maximize productivity, and achieve business goals.

47. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to deliver compelling and engaging presentations. This soft skill involves being articulate, persuasive, and confident in delivering presentations to different audiences. A person with strong presentation skills can influence decisions, build credibility, and enhance business outcomes.

48. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and bounce back from setbacks. This soft skill involves being adaptable, positive, and able to maintain perspective in difficult situations. A person with strong resilience can maintain productivity, overcome obstacles, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

49. Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking is the ability to think ahead and plan for the future. This soft skill involves being able to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and develop effective strategies to achieve business objectives. A person with strong strategic thinking skills can maximize opportunities, minimize risk, and enhance business outcomes.

50. Work ethic

Work ethic is the ability to work hard, be persistent, and demonstrate a strong commitment to work. This soft skill involves being reliable, responsible, and willing to go the extra mile to achieve results. A person with strong work ethic can maintain high standards, build trust with colleagues, and achieve success in their career.

In conclusion, showcasing your soft skills on your resume is essential in today's job market. By identifying the soft skills required for the job, incorporating them into your resume objective or summary, providing examples in the experience section, highlighting them in the skills section, and providing additional evidence, you can set yourself apart from other candidates and increase your chances of landing the job.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Soft skills 101: definition + 50 examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn all about soft skills in this comprehensive guide. Discover how developing these interpersonal attributes can enhance your professional success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Recruiting Resources: How to Recruit and Hire Better

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills: What are they and how do you evaluate them in job candidates? Read our definition along with tips and 15 soft skills examples.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Recruiting Resources: How to Recruit and Hire Better

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills: What are they and how do you evaluate them in job candidates? Read our definition along with tips and 15 soft skills examples.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In today's rapidly evolving job market, having the right skills and qualifications is more essential than ever. While technical know-how is critical, it's only part of the puzzle. Soft skills - which include interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving abilities - are equally, if not more important for success in the workplace. In this article, we'll explore what soft skills are, why they matter, and some examples of these essential skills that can help improve your career prospects.

What is a Soft Skill?

Soft skills are essentially people skills - the personal attributes that enable someone to interact with others effectively and efficiently. Unlike hard skills, which are job-specific and technical in nature, such as proficiency in a particular programming language, soft skills tend to be transferable across a wide variety of jobs and industries.

Communication skills are a crucial aspect of soft skills. Good communication skills are essential to convey ideas and thoughts effectively to others. It involves not just speaking but also listening actively to the other person. It is the ability to understand and communicate with different people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Problem-solving abilities are another critical aspect of soft skills. It is the ability to identify a problem, analyze it, and come up with a solution. It involves thinking creatively and logically to find the best solution to a problem. The ability to solve problems effectively is highly valued by employers and is an essential aspect of professional success.

Critical thinking abilities are closely related to problem-solving abilities. It is the ability to analyze information, evaluate it, and make decisions based on that analysis. It involves questioning assumptions, considering different perspectives, and coming up with well-reasoned conclusions.

Adaptability is another essential soft skill. It is the ability to adjust to changing circumstances and situations. In today's fast-paced world, being adaptable is crucial to stay relevant and succeed in the workplace. It involves being open to new ideas, learning new skills, and being able to work in different environments.

Teamwork is another critical aspect of soft skills. It is the ability to work effectively with others towards a common goal. It involves being able to communicate effectively, being open to feedback, and being able to collaborate with others. Teamwork is essential in almost all workplaces, and the ability to work well with others is highly valued by employers.

Leadership skills are also an important aspect of soft skills. It is the ability to inspire and motivate others towards a common goal. It involves setting an example, being able to communicate effectively, and being able to make decisions confidently. Good leadership skills are highly valued by employers and are essential for professional success.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage one's emotions effectively. It involves being able to recognize emotions in oneself and others, being able to regulate one's emotions, and being able to empathize with others. Emotional intelligence is essential in building relationships and creating positive work environments.

Time management is another critical aspect of soft skills. It is the ability to manage one's time effectively to achieve goals and objectives. It involves setting priorities, planning ahead, and being able to meet deadlines. Good time management skills are highly valued by employers and are essential for professional success.

Conflict resolution is the ability to resolve conflicts effectively. It involves being able to listen actively to both sides, being able to understand each other's perspectives, and being able to find a mutually acceptable solution. Conflict resolution is essential in almost all workplaces, and the ability to resolve conflicts effectively is highly valued by employers.

Although soft skills are often hard to quantify, they play an essential role in building relationships, creating positive work environments, and ultimately achieving professional success.

The Importance of Soft Skills for Professional Development

Soft skills have always been critical for professional development, but they've become even more crucial in recent years. Companies are now placing a greater emphasis on soft skills than ever before. Employers want to know that their staff can collaborate effectively, communicate professionally, manage their time well, and work well under pressure.

For instance, good communication skills are essential in today's workplace. You need to be able to articulate your ideas clearly and concisely, whether you're speaking to a colleague, client, or supervisor. Effective communication also involves active listening, which means paying attention to what others are saying and responding appropriately. This can help build trust and respect, which are essential for any healthy working relationship.

Another important soft skill is teamwork. In today's complex work environments, it's rare to find a job that doesn't require some degree of collaboration. Being a good team player involves being able to work with others towards a common goal, sharing ideas and resources, and being open to feedback and criticism. This requires a certain level of emotional intelligence, which is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.

Moreover, studies have also shown that people with soft skills are more likely to be promoted than those without them. This is because soft skills are essential for building strong relationships, both within and outside the organization. Moreover, employees with high levels of emotional intelligence and other soft skills are also better able to handle stress and overcome obstacles, which are vital qualities in a fast-paced and rapidly changing work environment.

So, if you're looking to advance your career, it's essential to develop your soft skills. There are many ways to do this, such as attending training programs or seeking feedback from colleagues. You can also work on improving your emotional intelligence by practicing self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication.

In conclusion, soft skills are becoming increasingly important in today's workplace. They are essential for building strong relationships, collaborating effectively, and managing stress and obstacles. By developing your soft skills, you can improve your chances of success and advance your career.

Examples of Soft Skills Needed for Success

There are several critical soft skills that an individual needs to succeed in their professional lives. Let's take a closer look at some of the most important ones:

1. Communication skills: One of the most critical soft skills is the ability to communicate effectively. This includes being able to convey ideas clearly, listening carefully, and adjusting your communication style to fit the person or group you're interacting with.

2. Problem-solving abilities: Another essential soft skill is the ability to think critically and solve complex problems. This involves breaking down a problem into smaller parts, analyzing data, and coming up with creative solutions that work for everyone involved.

3. Time management: Being able to manage your time effectively is also crucial for success. This means prioritizing tasks, setting goals, and implementing strategies to make the most of your time.

4. Leadership skills: Strong leadership skills are also essential. This includes the ability to motivate and inspire others, delegate tasks effectively, and make tough decisions when necessary.

5. Emotional Intelligence: Finally, emotional intelligence is another vital soft skill. This involves being aware of your own emotions and those of others, regulating your emotions, empathizing with others, and responding appropriately to different situations.

Strengthening Your Soft Skills for Career Advancement

Soft skills are essential for professional success. They are the personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people in the workplace. Soft skills include communication, leadership, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and teamwork. Employers value these skills because they help employees work well with others, build relationships, and achieve common goals.

Here are some tips that can help you improve your soft skills:

Take courses and training: There are many courses and training programs available that can help you improve your soft skills. Consider enrolling in a course or workshop that teaches communication skills, leadership, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. These courses can provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to enhance your soft skills and become a more effective employee.

Practice, practice, practice: Like any skill, soft skills require practice to master. Try to apply your soft skills in different situations, such as meetings, presentations, or job interviews. For example, if you are working on your communication skills, practice active listening, asking open-ended questions, and providing clear and concise feedback. The more you practice, the more confident and proficient you will become.

Solicit feedback: Asking others for feedback is an excellent way to gauge your progress. Seek out feedback from colleagues, mentors, or coaches who can help you identify areas for improvement. For instance, if you are working on your leadership skills, ask your team members for feedback on your leadership style. This feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and develop a plan for improvement.

Be receptive to criticism: No one is perfect, and there's always room for improvement. Be open-minded and receptive to constructive criticism, as it can help you improve your soft skills in the long run. For example, if you receive feedback that your communication skills need improvement, take it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Ask for specific examples and suggestions for improvement.

Volunteer for leadership roles: Volunteering for leadership roles in a non-profit organization, a school club, or another group can help you develop your leadership skills, communication, and teamwork. For instance, if you are interested in becoming a better team player, volunteer to lead a team project. This will give you the opportunity to practice your communication and collaboration skills and learn from your team members.

Improving your soft skills takes time and effort, but the benefits are worth it. By enhancing your soft skills, you can become a more effective employee, build stronger relationships with your colleagues, and advance your career.

In Conclusion

Soft skills are critical for professional success in today's job market. Employers are looking for individuals who can communicate effectively, solve problems, manage their time, and lead others. By developing and sharpening your soft skills, you'll not only improve your career prospects but also improve your overall quality of life.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What are Soft Skills? (Definition, Examples, and Importance in the Workplace)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover the meaning of soft skills, their importance in the workplace, and examples of how they can be applied to enhance your career.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The skills section of your resume shows employers you have the abilities required to succeed in the role. Often, employers pay special attention to the skills section of your resume to determine if you should move on to the next step of the hiring process. In this article, we examine 10 important skills to include on a resume, as well as tips on how to best craft the skills section of your resume.

Top 10 skills for resumes

Some important types of skills to cover on a resume include:

Hard skills vs. soft skills

Employers are looking to hire employees who have the right mix of two different types of skills: soft skills and hard skills.

Image description

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Hard Skills

1. Bilingual or multilingual

2. Database management

3. Adobe software suite

4. Network security

5. SEO/SEM marketing

6. Statistical analysis

7. Data mining

8. Mobile development

9. User interface design

10. Marketing campaign management

11. Storage systems and management

12. Programming languages (such as Perl, Python, Java and Ruby)

Hard skills are technical knowledge or training that you have gained through any life experience, including in your career or education.

Soft Skills

Soft skills are personal habits and traits that shape how you work, on your own and with others.

Hard skills are usually teachable while soft skills are much harder to develop because they are typically personality traits and, therefore, extremely valuable to employers. In most cases, your soft skills can enhance your hard skills. For example, if you're a detail-oriented software developer skilled in a computer programming language, you'll likely be able to catch errors and correct issues in the code you and your team create.

As a job seeker, it's important to highlight your best hard and soft skills to position yourself as a well-rounded candidate. It's also helpful to consider how the two types of skills relate to one another and the job so you can speak to this in your next interview.

How to identify your best skills

If you're not sure which skills you want to share, consider your previous experiences. Where did you excel? Where would your peers say you're especially practiced? Here are a few ways to determine good skills to put on a resume:

Consider your awards and achievements

Did you ever receive recognition for meeting a particular objective or excelling in a specific area? If so, your skills likely assisted you in reaching this achievement. Consider what personal talents or attributes helped you meet that milestone.

Ask former coworkers or fellow students

Talk to professionals in the field

If you're having a difficult time determining what skills an employer may want to see, consider contacting a professional already working in the industry or position similar to the one you're applying for. Find out what skills they consider most important, and identify which align with your own.

How to list skills on your resume

Review the job description and research the company

Though you may have several different areas of strength, include only those that are relevant to the job. Recruiters often have limited time when reviewing resumes, so it's best to keep your skills section specific and concise. Once you move on to the interview phase, you'll have the opportunity to elaborate on additional skills not mentioned on your resume.

Start by reviewing the job description and making note of any required skills or abilities that match your own. In addition to job requirements, consider the description of the company and its culture.

For example, a job description for a medical assistant may require proficiency in electronic medical records software and scheduling programs. It may also share that the company values teamwork and patient satisfaction. In this case, the best skills to put on a resume might include the following:

Decide on a skills section format

You have several options when deciding where you should list skills on your resume:

List your skills on a functional resume. This option is good for people changing careers or those with little or no professional experience.

List your skills in a separate skills section. This option is good for those who have extensive experience but want to clearly highlight specific skills or qualifications that set them apart.

Weave your skills into your professional experience section. No matter how you decide to list skills on your resume, you should include keywords from the job description when listing previous experience.

Let's take a closer look at each of these options as you decide which is best for your background.

List your skills on a functional resume

To include skills on a functional resume, create a separate skill section that lists your successes with key skills relevant to the position for which you're applying. Any professional experience you do have should go below your skills section.

Here's an example of how to list skills on a functional resume:

Process Streamlining
Created customer service email scripts used across the company to interact with customers. Single-handedly created customer service representative training manual, reducing the onboarding process from 8 to 6 weeks. Reduced average customer representative call time by 90 seconds with intuitive online training.

Complaint Resolution
Answered an average 50+ calls per day from unsatisfied customers related to delays in shipment, order mistakes and lost orders. Achieved 97% average customer satisfaction rating, surpassing team goal by 12%.

Service-Based Selling
Consistently exceeded application targets by 10% with innovative upselling techniques. Pioneered development of improved system for following up with unsatisfied customers, reducing customer churn by 6%.

List your skills in a separate skills section

If you want to support your professional experience with skills that are required by or relevant to the employer, you could include a separate skills section that highlights keywords from the job description. If you have extensive professional experience, your job history section should be highlighted as the first thing employers see. You can list additional skills in a separate section at or near the bottom of your resume.

Here is an example skills section for a payroll specialist:

*Relevant skills: Mastery of Quicken and Quickbooks, employee benefits administration, new hire onboarding, multistate payroll, employee relations.*

Weave your skills into your professional experience section

While many job seekers may list skills in a separate section of their resume, it's also important to weave them into descriptions under each of your previous positions. This is where you have an opportunity to strengthen your skills section with additional context and specific examples.

For example, if you include the skills "project management" and "time management," you could illustrate this by providing a real-life example, such as: "Successfully managed six projects across three separate teams during the first half of 2018, and delivered all completed items by the deadlines."

Example skills to put on a resume

While you can often easily determine hard skills to list based on details in the job description, selecting relevant soft skills is not always as clear. To help narrow down which soft skills to put on a resume, review the various duties of the position and determine which of your personal strengths will help you successfully complete those tasks.

Here are several examples of popular soft and hard skills employers may be seeking:

1. Active listening skills

Active listening is the ability to focus completely on a speaker, understand their message, comprehend the information and respond thoughtfully. Active listeners use verbal and nonverbal techniques to show and keep their attention on the speaker. Developing and using active listening skills can show your colleagues that you are engaged and have an interest in the project or task at hand.

Related listening skills include:

2. Communication skills

Communication skills are the abilities you use when giving and receiving different kinds of information. Some examples include communicating ideas, feelings or what's happening around you. Communication skills involve listening, speaking, observing and empathizing. Having strong communication skills is important in every industry at every career level.

Related communications skills include:

3. Computer skills

Computer skills involve the ability to learn and operate various technology. Hardware skills allow you to physically operate a computer and can be as simple as knowing how to turn devices on and off. Software skills help you to efficiently use computer programs and applications. There are some software skills that employers may consider as prerequisites to employment, like using spreadsheets or knowing a certain coding language.

Related computer skills include:

4. Customer service skills

Customer service skills are traits and practices that help you address customer needs to create a positive experience. In general, customer service skills rely heavily on problem-solving and communication. Customer service is often considered a "soft skill," including traits like active listening and reading both verbal and nonverbal cues.

Related customer service skills:

5. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are traits you rely on when you interact and communicate with others. They cover a variety of scenarios where cooperation is essential. Developing interpersonal skills is important to work efficiently with others, solve problems and lead projects or teams.

Related interpersonal skills include:

6. Leadership skills

Leadership skills are skills you use when organizing other people to reach a shared goal. Whether you're in a management position or leading a project, leadership skills require you to motivate others to complete a series of tasks, often according to a schedule.

Related leadership skills:

7. Management skills

Managerial skills are qualities that help you govern both tasks and people. A good manager is organized, empathetic and communicates clearly to support a team or project. Managers should also be adept in both soft skills and certain technical skills related to their industry.

Related management skills:

Image description

Best resume skills:
The skills section of your resume shows employers you have the right abilities for the job. Here are some of today's most common and sought-after resume skills:
active listening, communication, computer skills, customer service, interpersonal skills, leadership, management skills, problem-solving, time management and transferable skills

8. Problem-solving skills

Problem-solving skills are qualities that help you determine the source of a problem and quickly find an effective solution. This skill is highly valued in any role for every industry. Solving problems in your role might require certain industry or job-specific technical skills.

Related problem-solving skills:

9. Time management skills

Time management skills allow you to complete tasks and projects before deadlines while also maintaining work-life balance. Staying organized can help you allocate your workday to specific tasks by importance. Deeply understanding your individual, team and company goals can provide a starting point when deciding how to manage your time.

Related time management skills:

10. Transferable skills

Related transferable skills:

The best skills to put on a resume vary by job type, career level, education and other factors. For example, the skills most important for a commercial truck driver will differ from those of a marketing manager. Before you apply to any job, take time to review the skills that are most valuable to the employer and tailor your resume based on which of your personal skills fall within their requirements.

The goal of your resume skills list is to show the recruiter or hiring manager that you're the best candidate for the role and will bring defined value to their team. By paying attention to the type of candidate an employer is looking for and making connections to your own strengths, you can quickly stand among the competition.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Best Skills To Include on a Resume (With Examples)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The skills section of your resume shows employers you have the abilities required to succeed in the role. Often, employers pay special attention to the skills section of your resume to determine if you should move on to the next step of the hiring process.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Candidates with strong soft skills are in high demand for many different types of jobs. What are soft skills, and why are they so important?

Soft skills are the interpersonal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace, encompassing qualities such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork. They are how you work with and relate to others-in other words, people skills. These skills are indispensable, often determining whether you're hired for a job or even promoted.

Here are the top soft skills employers value in their workers, with examples of each skill and ways to make your soft skills stand out.

Key Takeaways

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.

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

To succeed at work, you must get along well with all the people with whom you interact, including managers, co-workers, clients, vendors, and customers. 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

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.

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 manage situations and people. The ability to step up to the plate in a difficult situation and help resolve problems is something employers look for in prospective employees.

Note

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

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.

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 appreciate diversity in a team. Another related skill is the ability to accept and apply feedback from others.

Employers look for job candidates with a strong work ethic. Such people come to work on time, complete tasks on time, 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.

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How should you talk about your skills in a job interview?

What is a skill set?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top Soft Skills Employers Value With Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
List of soft skills that employers look for in candidates for employment, examples of each type of skill, and how to show employers you have them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What do employers look for in new employees? According to business leaders, while the three "R's" (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are still fundamental to every employee's ability to do the job, employers view "soft" skills as even more important to work readiness. These skills include:

Professionalism or work ethic

Oral and written communication

Teamwork and collaboration skills

Critical thinking or problem-solving skills

Companies have identified the following competencies as key to the success of young workers in the 21st century workplace.

Networking

Simply put, networking involves talking with friends, family members, and acquaintances about your employment goals, interests, and desires. It also involves reaching out beyond people you already know in order to expand the opportunities that may be available to you. When it comes to finding a job, networking is essential. According to Cornell University's Career Center, 80 percent of available jobs are not advertised. Therefore, if you are not connecting with other people, you are likely to miss out on many job opportunities.

To start networking, make a list of everyone who may be able to help you job search. Next, talk to people on the list and tell them that you are looking for employment. Ask if they know of any openings and to introduce you if they do. But don't stop with the names on your list. Talk to cashiers, barbers, clergy, and anyone else you meet about their work and ask if they know of any jobs that match your interests. It is also essential to follow up with those with whom you have networked. Talking with a person once will only provide leads available at that point in time. But by establishing an ongoing relationship, you may learn of other opportunities as they arise.

Once you find a job, it is important to continue to network effectively. Through ongoing networking you can develop relationships with colleagues and increase your ability to move up in the organization.

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is also essential to success. When interviewing, you are likely to stand out in an employer's mind if you show excitement about the job. Prior to the interview, check out the company's Web site to learn about the business. Think of questions you might want answered, because asking questions is one way to show interest. Other strategies include arriving a few minutes early to the interview, dressing professionally, and staying engaged in the conversation. You should also bring a pad and pen so you can take notes during the interview; just make sure to ask if it is okay to take notes first. This shows the interviewer that you are actively engaged and paying close attention to what they are saying. It may also make it easier for you to think of additional questions to ask prior to accepting a job offer.

Once employed, continue to demonstrate enthusiasm by taking initiative and seeking new and more challenging work. In some work settings, this may mean performing tasks needing to be done before being asked. In a restaurant, for instance, in between meal rushes, a server might show initiative by wiping off dirty menus or filling salt and pepper shakers. In other work settings, you can show initiative by volunteering to take on needed work or pitching a new project idea to your supervisor. If he or she likes the idea, offer to do more research and follow up with him or her. This provides you with some ownership of the project and shows your commitment to the company.

Professionalism

Make sure your resume is "dressed to impress." Having an organized resume is essential to making a positive first impression. A good tip is to have a college professor or a career counselor read your resume and recommend edits before you submit it to a potential employer.

Once you have been called for an interview, it is important to research the company and find out more about your potential job responsibilities. This will not only allow you to ask better questions during your interview, but also ensure you are well- informed should the company make you an offer.

Business etiquette and work ethic go hand in hand for employers. Some tips when it comes to making a good impression once employed include:

Dressing properly for the work setting

Arriving on time and staying productive until you leave

Turning cell phone ringers off while at work and returning phone calls and text messages while on breaks or after work hours

Using computers, if you have access to them, only for work-related tasks

Speaking in a respectful manner with supervisors, peers, and customers or clients

Also remember that even when you are technically "off-duty" in the lunchroom or at a reception, you are representing the organization and are expected to act professionally. Don't contribute to office gossip or banter around too much with your co-workers. Although you are allowed to have fun and enjoy your job, you are still there to work.

Communication Skills

Communicating ideas in the workplace is different than in an academic setting. In a classroom, the instructor usually leads group discussions or assigns written homework, and students respond or ask questions when directed to do so. In the workplace, however, the format for interaction varies. Sometimes your supervisors may specifically ask you for your opinion or ask you to express that opinion in writing. More often than not, however, they assume that if they need to know something, you will bring it to their attention. The challenge of communicating in the workplace is learning how and when to share your ideas or concerns.

If you need to tell your supervisor about something that is not going well, it is important to remember that both timing and your attitude are extremely important. For example, if you are a cashier at a carry-out restaurant and the long lines during the lunch rush "stress you out," causing you to give customers incorrect change, it is best to wait to talk to your supervisor about the problem during a slower period. At an appropriate time, you may want to ask if it would be possible to have someone assist you during busy periods. And if you are able to explain that this would not only allow you to make fewer mistakes, but also allow the business to provide better service by making the line move more quickly, he or she will be more likely to take your ideas seriously. Another proactive strategy would be to talk to your supervisor or another senior employee about how you could do your job more efficiently.

Listening is also an important communication skill. Employers report that the average entry-level candidate struggles with knowing how to listen carefully. They may not immediately process essential instructions or be able to understand how their tasks relate to the overall goals of the organization. One way to improve your listening comprehension skills is to ask questions. Other tactics include restating what you thought you heard to confirm you understood correctly, and taking notes.

Teamwork

Successful businesses rely on team players. This skill is so important that an article in a Society for Human Resource Management magazine encourages employers to include teamwork as part of the performance appraisal process if collaboration is essential to the job. Understanding how to act as a member of a team may begin when you play sports or work on group projects in school. In the workplace, knowing how and when to lead and follow takes practice, as does knowing how to avoid unnecessary conflict. Working on a team also allows you to build closer relationships with your co-workers, which can make any job more fun and interesting. When working on a team, make sure that the workload is shared and that everyone is communicating. While some competition between team members is healthy and contributes to productivity, too much negative personal interaction can have the opposite effect.

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

Problem solving and critical thinking refers to the ability to use knowledge, facts, and data to effectively solve workplace problems. As a new employee, you may question why an organization follows certain steps to complete a task. It may seem to you that one of the steps could be eliminated saving time, effort, and money. But you may be hesitant to voice your opinion. Don't be; employers are usually appreciative when new employees are able to offer insight and fresh perspective into better and more efficient ways of doing things. It is important to remember, however, that as someone new to the organization, you may not always have the full picture, and thus there may be factors you are unaware of that dictate that things be done a particular way. Another important thing to remember is that when you are tasked with solving a problem, you don't always need to answer immediately. The ability to develop a well thought out solution within a reasonable time frame, however, is a skill employers value greatly.

Resources
The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities
National Youth Leadership Network
Social Skills: Finding Friends and Persuading People
Youth, Disclosure, and the Workplace: Why, When, What, and How
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/publications/fact-sheets/youth-disclosure-and-the-workplace-why-when-what-and-how http://www.addresources.org/?q=node/266 http://www.nyln.org http://www.ncwd-youth.info/publications/the-411-on-disability-disclosure-a-workbook-for-youth-with-disabilities/
This publication, designed for youth and the adults who work with them, helps young people make informed decisions about whether or not to disclose their disability and understand how that decision may impact their education, employment, and social outcomes.

The National Youth Leadership Network is a youth-led organization creating opportunities for youth with disabilities to gain leadership skills and network with each other.

This document, geared to young people, provides useful strategies for developing the soft skills needed in the workplace.

This fact sheet targeting young people with disabilities provides information about disclosure in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What do employers look for in new employees? According to business leaders, while the three "R's" (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are still fundamental to every employee's ability to do the job, employers view "soft" skills as even more important to work readiness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Abstract

Using a proprietary database of online job postings from 2010 to 2019, we find that job vacancies in the U.S. energy sector increasingly require high levels of "soft" skills (such as social, cognitive, people management, project management, and customer service skill), showing an "upskilling" pattern in the past decade. We further examine skill requirements across and within four major professional occupations in the U.S. energy sector and find substantial variations. Meanwhile, in the energy sector, although cognitive and social skills are the most frequently required skills, they do not positively contribute to firm productivity. Although the requirement for "hard" skills (such as products and marketing, engineering, and general computer skill) stays relatively flat, "hard" skills actually matter most in the energy sector, especially products and marketing and general computer skills are two most valuable skills, contributing the highest to energy firms. Our results indicate that energy firms should pay more attention to "hard" skills in human resource management, while not following the increasing trend of "soft" skills in hiring.

Introduction

Skill requirements in the labor market is an emerging research arena [1]. Prior literature has extensively discussed skill requirements across firms and industries [2], [3], [4], [5], yet a fine-grained analysis of skill requirements across different occupations in a specific sector stays underexplored [6]. Especially in the energy sector, with the trend of computerization and digitalization, the pattern and trend of skill requirements in energy firms is unexplored [7], [8]. In addition, which kind of skills matters most? To answer this question, a recent literature stream suggests dividing skills into "soft" skills (which related to interpersonal communication) and "hard" skills (which related to technical abilities), and examining different roles of these two skills in the labor market [9], [10]. However, prior literature mainly discusses the importance of "soft" skills and "hard" skills to individual employees [11], while the relatively importance of these two skills from employers' perspective is overlooked [12]. Thus, this paper focuses on following research question: in the energy sector, whether "soft" skills or "hard" skills matter most to firms?

To answer the above research question, using a near-universe of online job vacancy data collected between 2010 and 2019 by the employment analytics firm Burning Glass Technologies (hereafter BGT), we show that eight general skills (cognitive, social, people management, project management, customer service, products and marketing, engineering, and general computer) are increasingly demanded in the U.S. energy sector. Based on prior literature, we classify cognitive, social, people management, project management, and customer service skills as "soft" skills which deal with interpersonal relationships; we classify products and marketing, engineering, and general computer skills as "hard" skills which deal with concrete problems with specific knowledge [13], [14]. We further compare the pattern and the variation in skill requirements across and within four broad professional occupations in the U.S. energy sector.

Meanwhile, as for the impact of general skill requirements on firm-level outcomes, prior literature suggests that cognitive and social skills are positively correlated to firm performance [2]. Our findings do not support the prior literature. In fact, when examining which skill matters for energy firm productivity, we find that although cognitive and social skills are the two most frequently required skills, they do not contribute positively to firm productivity. On the contrary, when controlling for other variables, "soft" skills negatively relate to firm productivity. In contrast, "hard" skills, especially products and marketing, and engineering skills prove to be the most valuable skills to energy firms. In summary, this paper provides important references and guidelines of skill requirements and job hiring for energy firms.

The remainder of this paper is organized as below. Section 2 reviews the current literature. Then, the data source and methodology are reported in Section 3. Next, the landscape of skill requirements in the energy sector and the effect of skill requirements on firm performance are studied in Section 4. Future work important for the study of skill requirements in the energy sector is proposed in Section 5. Finally, Section 6 concludes the paper.

Section snippets

Skll requirements, soft skills, hard skills, and the "upskilling" trend in the energy sector

Previous studies on employer skill requirements mainly focus on the difference between "soft" skills and "hard" skills in the labor market [15], [16]. "Soft" skills refer to skills enable employees to fit in at a workplace, including skills related to individual personality, traits, flexibility, motivation, goals, and preferences [14]. "Hard" skills, on the contrary, refers to skills enable employees to compete in tasks, including skills related to scientific knowledge, professional abilities,

Job vacancy data and skills measurement

We study skill requirements in the U.S. energy sector from Burning Glass Technologies (BGT). BGT is an employment analytics and labor market information firm that scrapes job vacancy data from more than 40,000 online job boards and company websites. BGT aggregate the job vacancy information to job postings, parse and deduplicate them into a systematic, machine-readable form, thus generating a near universe database of U.S. online job postings. We obtained the posting-level data from 2010

The pattern of job skill requirements in the U.S. Energy sector

Fig. 1 presents the evolution pattern of the demand for "soft" skills and "hard" skills over the period 2010-2019. The proportion of vacancies requiring "soft" skills is higher than that of "hard" skills. On average, the requirement for "soft" skills is 15 percentage points higher than "hard" skills. The pattern stays consistent over the past decade. Another point worth noting is that the demand for "soft" skills is rapidly growing, with an increase of nearly 18 percentage points in 2019

Future work on the application of skill requirement measure in the energy sector

In the energy sector, all of the eight general skills we examine in this paper are increasingly demanded in the past decade, though "soft" skills and "hard" skills generating different effects to energy firms. In this section, we will further discuss future studies on skill requirements in the energy sector and put forward the contributions of our work.

Conclusions

In this paper, we use data from online job postings in the U.S. between 2010 and 2019 to study skill requirements in the energy sector. We use keywords and phrases from the actual text of job vacancies to form measures of eight distinct job skills which are commonly required in the energy sector, such as cognitive skills, social skills, people management, project management, customer service, products and marketing, engineering, and general computer skills. Based on prior literature, we

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Wenjing Lyu: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing. Jin Liu: Investigation, Supervision, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Project administration.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Burning Glass Technologies for providing job postings data. This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers: 71974012, 71774015, 71941026].

Geological, geophysical, and other technical and soft skills needed by geoscientists employed in the North American petroleum industry

The Hard Truth About Soft Skills

Martins J, Duarte M, Reis Cunha S, Almada Lobo B, Torres Marques A, Magalhães B. The role of hard and soft skills on...

A. Spitz-Oener
Technical change, job tasks, and rising educational demands: looking outside the wage structure

View full text

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Soft skills, hard skills: What matters most? Evidence from job postings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Using a proprietary database of online job postings from 2010 to 2019, we find that job vacancies in the U.S. energy sector increasingly require high ...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Job Ready Soft Skills | Career Advice | Hays

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out what soft skills matter in the workplace, and how you could stand out in the job market. 7 key soft skills in demand today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Is there someone (or hopefully, several someones) at your company who it seems like everyone wants to work with?

Maybe they always get pulled into brainstorms, or maybe your team's leaders consult with them. Or maybe it just seems like everyone on your team just really, really likes them.

It might be because they're the nicest person in the world, or it might be because they have a finely-honed set of soft skills.

What exactly are soft skills, and why are they so important to growing your career? Keep reading to find out.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are the combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and personality traits that make it easy to get along and work harmoniously with other people.

Soft skills can be taught, but they're not as straightforward as hard skills: those specific qualities and skills that can be clearly defined, measured, and taught for success in a job.

Hard skills can be quantified and advanced. You can learn advanced mathematics or writing skills, and you can get better at shipping code.

But when it comes to soft skills -- things like small talk, empathy, and flexibility -- it's not as straightforward.

That doesn't mean soft skills aren't worth investing in -- and practicing. You need hard skills to land a job, but you need soft skills to progress in your career. So we've rounded up a list of the soft skills most critical to building a successful career -- and how you can brush up on them.

7 Soft Skills You Need to Achieve Career Growth

1) Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is often referred to as the ability to recognize and manage your emotions and the emotions of others. It's made up of five key elements:

1. Self-awareness

2. Self-regulation

3. Motivation

4. Empathy

5. Social skill

You can read more about the specifics of the attributes of emotional intelligence in this blog post if you want to learn more, but in the context of the workplace, emotional intelligence boils to a few key abilities:

Can you recognize and regulate your emotions and reactions in the workplace?

Can you build rapport and positive relationships with other people?

Can you empathize with others?

Can you give -- and receive -- effective, constructive feedback?

It might not sound like the most important skill for job growth and success, but in some cases, it is. In an analysis of new employees who didn't meet expectations during the first 18 months on the job, 23% failed due to low emotional intelligence. (Take this quiz to rate your emotional intelligence and identify areas where you can improve.)

2) Team Player Attitude

The ability to play well with others is a soft skill you've been working on -- unknowingly -- since your first day of pre-school or daycare. You might not have known it when you were fighting over blocks or figuring out the rules of a made-up game, but you were actually preparing for a lifetime of workplace collaboration.

Whether you're an individual contributor or a people manager, you have to work with other people -- in meetings, in brainstorms, and on various cross-functional projects within your company. A positive, can-do attitude when it comes to working with others is essential to team harmony, which means you need to be able to run an effective and inclusive meeting, be open to new ideas, and work respectfully with others.

Read our guide to running better meetings for all personality types here, and brush up on these rapport-building questions to get to know and work well with any team member you encounter.

3) Growth Mindset

In any job, no matter what the role, you'll encounter roadblocks, disappointments, and other situations that might frustrate you. A soft skill that's critical to your ability to persevere is having a growth mindset -- a term psychologist Carol Dweck coined to refer to a frame of thinking that reflects viewing your abilities, talents, and intelligence as skills you can grow and improve upon.

Someone with a growth mindset might look at a failure to meet a quarterly goal as an opportunity to identify their strengths and weaknesses to tackle the next quarter's goal. A person with a fixed mindset, however, might say to themselves, "I'm not good at blogging," and let that negative outlook -- without any belief in the capability of improvement -- impact their next quarter's success, too.

Watch Dweck's TED Talk to learn more about the growth mindset here -- and try to find places in your daily correspondence or reflections where you can reframe your outlook by viewing a challenge or setback as a way you can grow.

4) Openness to Feedback

This is part of emotional intelligence, but especially when it comes to the workplace, being open and able to receive development feedback is critical to success at a job -- especially a new job.

Think about it: Constructive feedback helps you do the best job you can, and if you take it personally or react defensively, you aren't able to hear the feedback and adapt it to your current strategy.

The key to giving and receiving feedback is to come into the conversation from a place of kindness: You aren't receiving constructive feedback because that person hates you personally, it's because they want you to be the best you can be. You should be chomping at the bit to receive feedback that can help you more effectively hit your goals.

If you don't feel comfortable with feedback yet, try immersion therapy -- make feedback a part of your daily to-do list. Ask for feedback from more people you work with to get immediate help honing your skill set -- and to help make it easier to take.

5) Adaptability

No matter what your role, and no matter what your industry, the ability to adapt to change -- and a positive attitude about change -- go a long way toward growing a successful career.

Whether it's a seat shuffle or a huge company pivot, nobody likes a complainer. It's important not only to accept change as a fact of life in the constantly-evolving business world, but as an opportunity to try out new strategies for thriving in environments of change (remember the growth mindset?).

If you don't feel comfortable with frequent changes, either on your team or at your company, write down your feelings and reactions, instead of immediately voicing them. By laying out how you feel and why you feel a certain way, you'll be able to distinguish legitimate concerns from complaints that might not need to be discussed with your team.

6) Active Listening

You probably can tell the difference between when someone is hearing words you're saying and when they're actively listening to what you're saying. If someone is typing while you're presenting at a meeting, or they're giving you that slack-jawed look, they probably aren't really hearing what you're saying.

Active listeners, meanwhile, pay close attention to meeting presenters, offer up clarifying questions or responses, and refer back to notes in future discussions. They don't need things repeated to them because they heard them the first time -- making active listeners not only respectful colleagues, but more effective workers, too.

If you think you could stand to improve your active listening skills, challenge yourself not to look at your various devices during meetings -- instead to focus completely on speakers, and take notes by hand if needed (which is proven to help with memory retention).

7) Work Ethic

You can't succeed in a role without being willing to put in the time, effort, and elbow grease to hit your goals, and company leaders and hiring managers are looking for people who will put in the extra legwork to succeed without being asked.

If you want to get a new job or get promoted, it's essential that you hone your work ethic -- so quit bellyaching and put in the extra time you need to succeed. Or, if excelling means learning new skills or tools, dedicate time to learning those outside of work hours so you can make your time in the office as effectively as possible.

What weaves all of these soft skills together is a positive attitude. It might sound cheesy, but believing that there's a positive outcome in any and all challenging situations will help you navigate the day-to-day of your job while making other people really want to work with you. These soft skills are harder to teach, but the payoff might be even bigger, so make sure you're investing time and effort into auditing and improving your soft skill set.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Soft Skills You Need to Achieve Career Growth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Is there someone (or hopefully, several someones) at your company who it seems like everyone wants to work with? Maybe they always get pulled into brainstorms, or maybe your team's leaders consult with them. Or maybe it just seems like everyone on your team just really, really likes them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here's a look at the essential soft skills that companies value the most.

1. Communication

Effective communication is essential to build strong relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders. Not only does this involve the ability to convey messages in a clear and compelling way, but also the ability to understand the needs of others and respond to feedback. Employers want people who can build professional relationships with colleagues, which is especially important when working with teams.

Communication is often evaluated in the workplace through informal feedback, such as verbal or written comments from colleagues and supervisors. An alternative method is a formal evaluation or assessment. The ability to communicate effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions.

Here are some examples of communication skills:

Active listening

Verbal communication

Nonverbal communication

Written communication

Presentation skills

2. Leadership

A good leader has the ability to inspire their team to achieve greatness. They are able to set a clear vision, communicate it effectively and create a culture of accountability and excellence. More importantly, they're able to inspire and influence team members to achieve shared goals and objectives.

The ability to lead effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions. Because most employees work in teams, leadership is widely recognized as a critical attribute for success in the modern workplace.

Here are some examples of leadership skills:

3. Teamwork

Teamwork involves the ability to work with others toward a shared goal. It requires communication, collaboration and a shared commitment to work in a group. Individuals who are able to work collaboratively with others are more likely to achieve their professional goals, and to contribute to the success of their organizations.

In a professional setting, good teamwork can help to foster creativity and innovation because it encourages members to share ideas, brainstorm new solutions and collaborate on new initiatives. Working as part of a collaborative team can also enhance job satisfaction and contribute to a positive work environment.

Here are some examples of teamwork skills:

4. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to think outside the box and come up with ideas that challenge assumptions. Needless to say, it requires a mindset of curiosity, risk-taking and a willingness to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty.

On another front, creativity is essential for effective problem-solving, meaning it allows individuals to tackle issues from new and different angles. Creative individuals also give organizations a competitive edge by enabling them to develop new products and systems that set them apart from their competition.

Here are some examples of creative skills:

5. Time management

Time management involves the ability to set priorities, organize tasks and allot time across different activities. It requires discipline and a willingness to avoid distractions and low-priority tasks.

Naturally, good time management skills can help individuals avoid the stress and anxiety that can arise from missed deadlines. But more importantly, those who can manage their time effectively are more likely to be seen as reliable and efficient, which allows them to stand out in the workplace.

Here are some examples of time management skills:

6. Adaptability

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, adaptability is a key soft skill that enables individuals to stay ahead of the curve. An employee with this skill can adjust to changing circumstances, for example, and learn new skills and technologies to remain relevant in the workplace.

Because it's impossible to avoid unexpected challenges, having adaptable employees allows organizations to bounce back from setbacks much faster. Plus, they can also read situations quickly and adjust their approach to adapt based on the situation.

Here are some examples of adaptability skills:

7. Problem-solving

Problem-solving involves the ability to come up with alternative solutions. This skill is crucial to identifying and addressing complex challenges and opportunities in a variety of contexts.

Problem-solving also makes it easier to make more informed decisions because employees are able to analyze situations and identify the best course of action. As a result, teams are able to get more done in less time.

Here are some examples of problem-solving skills:

8. Work ethic

Work ethic demonstrates an individual's commitment to their job. Having a strong work ethic makes you seem more reliable and dependable, which improves your credibility in the workplace.

There are a lot of ways to demonstrate a strong work ethic. Some examples include arriving on time for meetings, meeting deadlines consistently and being accountable for your actions. If you encounter any challenges in the workplace, you should also maintain a positive demeanor and adapt to changing situations.

Here are some examples of work ethic skills:

9. Critical thinking

Critical thinking enables individuals to approach problems and challenges with a strategic and analytical mindset. When making informed decisions, this skill allows you to weigh available options and consider potential outcomes.

A critical thinker can evaluate the strength of arguments and identify flaws in reasoning. They consider multiple perspectives, which makes them more likely to pinpoint the short-term and long-term consequences of their decisions. Additionally, they can also identify the root cause of a problem and generate multiple solutions.

Here are some examples of critical thinking skills:

10. Conflict management

Not every employee can get along with colleagues every time. As a team tackles obstacles, conflict and opposing ideas could arise every now and then.

Conflict management is the process of addressing disputes or disagreements in a constructive and effective manner. Often, this requires good communication skills, active listening, empathy, negotiation skills and a willingness to collaborate and find common ground.

When managing conflict, it is important to identify common goals and interests for all parties involved. This can help to establish a sense of unity and collaboration, and even lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Being open to different ideas and perspectives can also make individuals feel motivated to work towards resolution.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

11. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions and those of others. In today's collaborative work environments, this skill enables employees to navigate complex social dynamics and work effectively within teams. It also allows them to provide constructive feedback in a way that is sensitive to the emotions of others, leading to more successful outcomes and stronger relationships.

Effective leaders often have the ability to motivate others and navigate challenging situations with grace and empathy.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

Bottom Line

In the modern workplace, employers seek candidates who possess technical expertise and soft skills that enable them to thrive in a collaborative work environment. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity, adaptability, problem-solving, work ethic, critical thinking and conflict management can be developed and honed over time. While it is important for individuals to continue to build their technical expertise, developing soft skills can ultimately set you apart in the workplace and lead to long-term success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
11 Essential Soft Skills In 2023 (With Examples)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In today's fast-paced world, success in the workplace requires more than just technical expertise and knowledge. As the nature of work continues to evolve, it is important for individuals to possess attributes and abilities that allow them to collaborate with teams and colleagues-otherwise known as

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Recruiting Resources: How to Recruit and Hire Better

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills: What are they and how do you evaluate them in job candidates? Read our definition along with tips and 15 soft skills examples.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work. They include how you interact with colleagues, solve problems, and manage your work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here's a look at the essential soft skills that companies value the most.

1. Communication

Effective communication is essential to build strong relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders. Not only does this involve the ability to convey messages in a clear and compelling way, but also the ability to understand the needs of others and respond to feedback. Employers want people who can build professional relationships with colleagues, which is especially important when working with teams.

Communication is often evaluated in the workplace through informal feedback, such as verbal or written comments from colleagues and supervisors. An alternative method is a formal evaluation or assessment. The ability to communicate effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions.

Here are some examples of communication skills:

Active listening

Verbal communication

Nonverbal communication

Written communication

Presentation skills

2. Leadership

A good leader has the ability to inspire their team to achieve greatness. They are able to set a clear vision, communicate it effectively and create a culture of accountability and excellence. More importantly, they're able to inspire and influence team members to achieve shared goals and objectives.

The ability to lead effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions. Because most employees work in teams, leadership is widely recognized as a critical attribute for success in the modern workplace.

Here are some examples of leadership skills:

3. Teamwork

Teamwork involves the ability to work with others toward a shared goal. It requires communication, collaboration and a shared commitment to work in a group. Individuals who are able to work collaboratively with others are more likely to achieve their professional goals, and to contribute to the success of their organizations.

In a professional setting, good teamwork can help to foster creativity and innovation because it encourages members to share ideas, brainstorm new solutions and collaborate on new initiatives. Working as part of a collaborative team can also enhance job satisfaction and contribute to a positive work environment.

Here are some examples of teamwork skills:

4. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to think outside the box and come up with ideas that challenge assumptions. Needless to say, it requires a mindset of curiosity, risk-taking and a willingness to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty.

On another front, creativity is essential for effective problem-solving, meaning it allows individuals to tackle issues from new and different angles. Creative individuals also give organizations a competitive edge by enabling them to develop new products and systems that set them apart from their competition.

Here are some examples of creative skills:

5. Time management

Time management involves the ability to set priorities, organize tasks and allot time across different activities. It requires discipline and a willingness to avoid distractions and low-priority tasks.

Naturally, good time management skills can help individuals avoid the stress and anxiety that can arise from missed deadlines. But more importantly, those who can manage their time effectively are more likely to be seen as reliable and efficient, which allows them to stand out in the workplace.

Here are some examples of time management skills:

6. Adaptability

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, adaptability is a key soft skill that enables individuals to stay ahead of the curve. An employee with this skill can adjust to changing circumstances, for example, and learn new skills and technologies to remain relevant in the workplace.

Because it's impossible to avoid unexpected challenges, having adaptable employees allows organizations to bounce back from setbacks much faster. Plus, they can also read situations quickly and adjust their approach to adapt based on the situation.

Here are some examples of adaptability skills:

7. Problem-solving

Problem-solving involves the ability to come up with alternative solutions. This skill is crucial to identifying and addressing complex challenges and opportunities in a variety of contexts.

Problem-solving also makes it easier to make more informed decisions because employees are able to analyze situations and identify the best course of action. As a result, teams are able to get more done in less time.

Here are some examples of problem-solving skills:

8. Work ethic

Work ethic demonstrates an individual's commitment to their job. Having a strong work ethic makes you seem more reliable and dependable, which improves your credibility in the workplace.

There are a lot of ways to demonstrate a strong work ethic. Some examples include arriving on time for meetings, meeting deadlines consistently and being accountable for your actions. If you encounter any challenges in the workplace, you should also maintain a positive demeanor and adapt to changing situations.

Here are some examples of work ethic skills:

9. Critical thinking

Critical thinking enables individuals to approach problems and challenges with a strategic and analytical mindset. When making informed decisions, this skill allows you to weigh available options and consider potential outcomes.

A critical thinker can evaluate the strength of arguments and identify flaws in reasoning. They consider multiple perspectives, which makes them more likely to pinpoint the short-term and long-term consequences of their decisions. Additionally, they can also identify the root cause of a problem and generate multiple solutions.

Here are some examples of critical thinking skills:

10. Conflict management

Not every employee can get along with colleagues every time. As a team tackles obstacles, conflict and opposing ideas could arise every now and then.

Conflict management is the process of addressing disputes or disagreements in a constructive and effective manner. Often, this requires good communication skills, active listening, empathy, negotiation skills and a willingness to collaborate and find common ground.

When managing conflict, it is important to identify common goals and interests for all parties involved. This can help to establish a sense of unity and collaboration, and even lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Being open to different ideas and perspectives can also make individuals feel motivated to work towards resolution.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

11. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions and those of others. In today's collaborative work environments, this skill enables employees to navigate complex social dynamics and work effectively within teams. It also allows them to provide constructive feedback in a way that is sensitive to the emotions of others, leading to more successful outcomes and stronger relationships.

Effective leaders often have the ability to motivate others and navigate challenging situations with grace and empathy.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

Bottom Line

In the modern workplace, employers seek candidates who possess technical expertise and soft skills that enable them to thrive in a collaborative work environment. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity, adaptability, problem-solving, work ethic, critical thinking and conflict management can be developed and honed over time. While it is important for individuals to continue to build their technical expertise, developing soft skills can ultimately set you apart in the workplace and lead to long-term success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
11 Essential Soft Skills In 2023 (With Examples)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In today's fast-paced world, success in the workplace requires more than just technical expertise and knowledge. As the nature of work continues to evolve, it is important for individuals to possess attributes and abilities that allow them to collaborate with teams and colleagues-otherwise known as

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you're new to the workforce, you've probably read articles about the importance of building "soft skills"-empathy, resilience, compassion, adaptability, and others. The advice isn't wrong. Research shows soft skills are foundational to great leadership and set high performers apart from their peers. They're also increasingly sought by employers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Power of Soft Skills: Our Favorite Reads

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The the skills we call "soft" are the ones we need the most.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It used to be that hard skills were valued more than soft skills in the workplace. But that has changed significantly over the last several years. According to Rohan Rajiv, Director of Product Management at LinkedIn, "Foundational soft skills have become even more important given the rise of remote and autonomous work, and are growing in importance across industries, levels and work environments. In fact, these soft skills were featured in 78% of jobs posted globally over the last three months." But it's not just about recruiting employees with the right transferable skills. Companies are also focusing on upskilling workers to address the social and emotional skills that are in high demand. As reported in a McKinsey survey, the proportion of companies addressing empathy and interpersonal skills doubled in 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, skills like leadership and management became a much bigger priority for most companies, jumping ten percentage points year over year, from 40% to 50%.

Soft skills generally refer to categories like leadership, communication and problem-solving. On the other hand, hard skills are the technical capabilities that can be quantified and measured. Typically, workers can acquire this knowledge through formal coursework, on-the-job training and real-world experiences. Based on recent LinkedIn data, "Hard skills can help you get a recruiter's attention, but soft skills can help you land the job." In fact, 45% of all LinkedIn Premium jobs posted within the past three months mention the importance of communication skills. And more than 61% of professionals say soft skills in the workplace are just as important as hard skills.

Clearly, soft skills are more in demand than ever. Let's take a closer look at why and how you can leverage them to future-proof your career.

Soft skills provide career longevity

Technical capabilities can only take you so far in your career. To really soar, you need skills that are harder to measure but critical to success. In LinkedIn's 2019 Global Talent Trends report, 89% of recruiters say that when a hire doesn't work out, it usually comes down to a lack of soft skills. While most people are hired for their technical abilities, their soft skills give them "career durability," says Alexandra Levit, author of Humanity Works: Merging Technologies and People for the Workforce of the Future. Levit defines that term as the ability to acquire the skills, knowledge and mindset needed to be an engaged and productive team member. "For someone to be successful ten years down the road, they need to be resilient and be able to reinvent themselves in different learning environments," she adds.

Soft skills are highly transferable

Technical skills constantly change, but soft skills remain with you throughout your career. That's because they are relevant, transferable and keep an individual highly employable. In addition, soft skills are desirable because if you already have them, your employer doesn't have to train you on them. As a result, you can more easily hit the ground running and make valuable contributions. Rajiv adds, "While companies often offer training in required hard skills, soft skills provide the foundation on which to keep building other skills, which is why they're so in demand now." Because of their transferability, soft skills also make it easier to change careers, no matter what industry or company you want to pivot to.

Soft skills are essential for remote work

With companies shifting to hybrid or remote work models, soft skills have become just as important as technical knowledge. For example, effectively communicating and collaborating have become a top priority because those skills are vital to succeed in a virtual world. Also, with remote positions in high demand, the talent pool is increasingly crowded. Many job applicants will have similar qualifications and technical skills. By highlighting your soft skills, you'll have a competitive edge so you can land the job you really want.

Since the pandemic, soft skills are no longer optional. Instead, they are essential to get hired and succeed in today's workplace. By keeping them sharp, you'll be able to stand out, remain competitive, and ultimately future-proof your career.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Soft Skills Are More In Demand Than Ever

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are more in demand than ever. Here's a look at why and how you can leverage them to future-proof your career.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Technology is changing our world to such an extent that the majority of children in school today will do jobs that don't yet exist. And even for those of us already in the workforce, the jobs that we do will undoubtedly change - many will evolve, many will become obsolete, and many new jobs will emerge.

The 20 Most Important Skills Everyone Needs To Succeed In A Digital World
Adobe Stock

So, when we think about the essential skills for workplace success, we need to consider not just the jobs that exist today, but the sorts of jobs that may exist in the future. In a world in which more and more jobs (and parts of jobs) are given over to machines.

That said, you might be surprised by some of these essential skills for success. In this brave new digital world, essential skills will lean much more towards softer skills than you might think. Certainly, we will all need to be comfortable working with digital tools - but the overwhelming majority of in-demand skills will be soft skills. The things that machines can't do, basically.

Based on my book Future Skills: The 20 Skills and Competencies Everyone Needs to Succeed in a Digital World, here are the 20 skills that I believe will be essential for success in a digital world.
1. Digital literacy
This encompasses the digital skills needed to learn, work, and navigate everyday life in our digital world. So, we're talking about things like using devices, software, and apps with confidence; communicating and collaborating via digital tools; handling data in an appropriate and safe way; keeping abreast of new technologies; and staying safe online.
2. Data literacy
No doubt about it, data is now a prized business asset, which means organizations of all kinds will want to employ data-literate individuals. In an average business context, data literacy means being able to access appropriate data; work with data confidently (creating/gathering data, keeping it up to date, etc.); extract meaning from data; and communicate those data-based insights to others. It's also important to question the integrity and validity of any data you're working with, rather than blindly following data.
3. Technical skills
This spans the huge variety of "hard" skills that are necessary for many jobs. If you're an accountant, for example, your professional accountancy skills are technical skills. The same goes for a plumber, nurse, truck driver, lawyer, teacher, hair stylist, project manager, carpenter, software developer, and so on. Whatever the technical skills required in your field, invest in keeping those skills up to date.
4. Digital threat awareness
Essentially, this means being aware of the dangers of being online or using digital devices - think hacking, phishing, privacy violations, cyberbullying, digital addiction, etc. - and having the tools to keep yourself (and your organization) safe.
5. Critical thinking
In this era of fake news, social media bubbles, and information overload, critical thinking is right up there as one of the most vital soft skills to cultivate for success. To think critically is to think objectively, i.e., to analyze issues or situations based on evidence (rather than personal opinions, biases, etc.). Only then can you build a thorough understanding of what's really going on and, in turn, make better decisions. This brings me to...
6. Judgment and complex decision making
The world is now so fast-paced, requiring us to think and act faster than ever, and we have more information than ever before, making us prone to information overload. All of which complicates our ability to make good decisions. That's why we must invest in our decision-making skills. For me, this also includes recognizing the impact that personal preferences, values, and beliefs have on judgment.
7. Emotional intelligence and empathy
So long as there are humans in the workplace and human-to-human relationships, we will always need emotional intelligence and empathy. Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of, express, and control our emotions. An emotionally intelligent person is aware that their emotions influence their behavior and impact those around them and is able to manage those emotions accordingly. Empathy, or the ability to see the world from someone else's perspective, is a key component of emotional intelligence.
8. Creativity
Creativity - the act of turning imaginative ideas into reality - absolutely belongs in the workplace, especially as we give more and more routine tasks over to machines. Creativity is what enables creative thinking (i.e., coming up with new ideas, imagining beyond the status quo), and problem-solving (implementing ideas to fix issues or make things better).
9. Collaboration and working in teams
This is one of those skills that seems obvious for workplace success, so why include it? Because the nature of collaboration and teamwork will change as teams evolve to include hybrid workers, fully remote workers, contractors, and potentially other employees from within the business who "float" between projects and teams. With such distributed teams, we will need collaborative skills more than ever.
10. Interpersonal communication
Interpersonal communication in all its forms - oral, written, non-verbal, and, importantly, listening - remains a vital skill for workplace success. It's important to recognize that we don't all communicate in the same way, and if you can identify your own communication style(s), and the styles of others, you'll be better placed to tailor your communication style to match different audiences.
11. Working in gigs
I'd advise everyone to prepare for a future in which more people work as "free agents." Even if you happen to remain in traditional employment, the freelancer's ability to be flexible and take responsibility for their own professional development is something we can all learn from. In other words, the "gig economy," as it's so often called, is a trend that's relevant to us all.
12. Adaptability and flexibility
In the workplaces of the future, change is going to be even more of a driving factor than it is today. We'll have to contend with new technologies, rising automation, the rapidly evolving pace of work, and, most likely, regular and vast business disruption. This means we must all develop the mental resilience to thrive amidst constant change. Adaptability - or the ability to adjust to new conditions - is key to this. Adaptable people are open-minded, curious, willing to change and learn new things, and focused on opportunities, not obstacles.
13. Cultural intelligence and diversity consciousness
Part of creating a fairer world, and fairer organizations, is being respectful of our many differences - such as race, gender, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, (dis)ability, and so on - as opposed to glossing over them. This, in a nutshell, is diversity consciousness: a basic awareness of diversity and recognition that diversity is a good thing. Meanwhile, cultural intelligence (also known as cultural quotient, or CQ) refers to our ability to relate to others from different backgrounds.
14. Ethical awareness
Digital transformation has given rise to a whole new set of ethical challenges to overcome - think of the dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence, for example, or the use of people's personal data. Then there's the huge potential fallout from ethical missteps in today's digital world, where scandals can spread across the internet in moments. It's no wonder businesses are rapidly cottoning onto ethics as a critical issue, which means they'll increasingly want to hire people who can help them navigate ethical challenges.
15. Leadership skills
Good leadership is about making sure other people can thrive. But if you think this applies only to those at the top of the ladder, think again. The combination of factors that will shape 21 st-century work - distributed teams, increasing diversity, humans transitioning to more creative tasks, the gig economy, fluid organizational structures, and so on - means that leadership skills will be important not only for those in traditional leadership roles but increasingly for those individuals throughout the company who are expected to lead, whether they're leading a project or an entire department.
16. Brand of "you" and networking
Building and maintaining my personal brand is an important part of my job. But it's becoming important in so many professions, way beyond the realms of influencers, entrepreneurs, and gurus. In this digital age, your reputation - everyone's reputation, really - exists in the online world as much as in the offline world. You can take advantage of this to establish your expertise, grow your network, make new connections, enhance your career, and, if you're self-employed, win new business.
17. Time management
Whether you work from home, work full-time in an office, run your own business, or work for an organization, the ability to manage your time effectively is essential for your workplace performance and, frankly, your mental health. Importantly, time management is about working smarter rather than working harder or longer. Someone who is great at managing their time will know when they're at their most productive and use that time wisely, reserving the less-productive hours for other tasks (or non-work passions). In this way, time management is all about creating a better work-life balance.
18. Curiosity and continuous learning
If I were to pick just one skill that I think everyone must cultivate, it'd be curiosity and continual learning. Whatever your age, whatever your industry, if you can spark your desire to learn, you'll be giving yourself the best chance of a successful, fulfilling life. Especially in a work context, curiosity and continual learning are fundamental to being able (and willing) to embrace change. It ensures your skills stay sharp, that you can keep up with the major transformations taking place, and that you stay relevant.
19. Embracing and celebrating change
I've already mentioned adaptability - the mental resilience to thrive amidst change - but individuals and organizations will also need the practical skills to embrace change. For me, the practical side of embracing change involves two different processes: learning to manage change successfully (i.e., driving and implementing change) and learning to navigate change from a more personal perspective (i.e., when you're on the receiving end of change).
20. Looking after yourself
With so much going on in the world and with the rapid pace of change, it can all seem a bit overwhelming, which is why you need to invest time and energy in taking good care of yourself: looking after your mental and physical health, exercising, lowering stress, eating nourishing foods, maintaining a healthy sleep routine, and spending quality time with the people that matter. Essentially, then, we're talking about creating a more balanced life, in which you separate your work and non-work life and, crucially, feel fulfilled in both areas.

To stay on top of future trends and future skills, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter and have a look at my new book, Future Skills: The 20 Skills & Competencies Everyone Needs To Succeed In A Digital World. Written for anyone who wants to surf the wave of digital transformation - rather than be drowned by it - the book explores why these vital future skills matter, and how to develop them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The 20 Most Important Skills Everyone Needs To Succeed In A Digital World

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Technology and digitization are changing our world faster than ever before. Innovations such as AI, machine learning, blockchain, and the metaverse are turning entire industries and career tracks upside down. Here, we look at what that will mean for future skills.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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. 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

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."

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.

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.

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.

What Is Soft Skills Training?

Soft skills training is training to help develop or improve interpersonal skills. It consists of lessons to improve communication, increase active listening, resolve conflicts, and more.

The Bottom Line

While hard skills are highly valued in today's economy, many employers recognize the importance of soft skills as well. For that reason, workers with both hard and soft skills may find it easier to get hired and rise through the ranks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Are Soft Skills? Definition, Importance, and Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize relationships with other people and complement hard skills in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What do employers look for in new employees? According to business leaders, while the three “R’s” (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are still fundamental to every employee’s ability to do the job, employers view “soft” skills as even more important to work readiness. These skills include:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You're searching through a job board, scanning postings for positions that might be right for you, and in the requirements section you see: "strong communication skills" or "team player" or "skilled multitasker." Do your eyes just jump over these? Or do you note them the same way you would qualifications such as "must have three years of experience as a Salesforce administrator" or "must be proficient in JavaScript?"

You should be paying attention, because those notes tell you which soft skills are crucial to the role you're applying for. And they're often just as important as hard skills when it comes to your job search-and overall career success.

"Soft skills are intangible attributes related to how you work," says Muse career coach Jennifer Smith, founder of Flourish Careers. Soft skills are the traits and qualities you possess that dictate how you'll engage with others-also known as interpersonal skills -and how you'll perform in the workplace. For example, one big category of soft skills is communication skills, which help you to interact with your coworkers, clients, and anyone else you come across in your job. Strong communication skills will mean fewer misunderstandings, clearer indications of progress toward goals, and a more cohesive work environment, among other benefits.

While hard skills are often based on specific knowledge, "soft skills focus more on your actual behaviors or habits in work situations," says Muse career coach Al Dea. Are you always coming up with outside-the-box solutions and proposals? Can you give a presentation that makes everyone in the room sit up and pay attention? Do you always step in to help when someone on your team needs it? These are demonstrations of your soft skills-creativity, public speaking, and teamwork, respectively.

Soft skills are also more subjective than hard skills. Saying that you know how to prepare someone's taxes or upload content using WordPress is fairly straightforward: Did the taxes get filed correctly? Is the content uploaded? Then you have those skills. But saying that you're a good leader isn't as clear-cut. What is a good leader? That depends entirely on who's answering the question and can be difficult to explain, show the results of, or learn if you're not inherently skilled at it.

Why Are Soft Skills Important?

Think about your favorite and most admired coworkers, managers, and leaders. Why did you choose these people? Was it because they were great at doing data analysis? Maybe, but it's unlikely that mastery of a hard skill is the only reason. It's more likely you enjoyed interacting with this person and appreciated how they did their jobs.

Was that one colleague always so excited to dive into a new project that they motivated others on the team? Did they always speak up at meetings to point out when someone else was being spoken over? Was that favorite boss always understanding of people's lives outside of work? "The way you get work done and interact with others is a critical component within the workplace," Smith says, so soft skills are crucial to your success and reputation, no matter what your role or seniority level.

Now think about a company you were part of or a team you were on that really got things done in a way that felt rewarding. Why was that? Sure, the individuals on the team probably had the hard skills to complete their work tasks, but that's just the "what." The "how" comes from soft skills. Maybe innovation and creativity flourished. Maybe communication was very open and direct without ever being harsh. Maybe the environment was very collaborative and individuals were never blamed for failures. Maybe the team had a great rapport. Soft skills make these things possible.

Soft skills are also more transferable and timeless than hard skills. "Many soft skills will continue to be needed for the foreseeable future even as the industry and market evolve," Dea says. A lot of common tech tools, like those we use for social media or Search Engine Optimization, didn't even exist until recently-and neither did the hard skills that go with them, Dea says. And technologies will continue to evolve, meaning that the hard skills you need now might not be as important in five or 10 years. Adobe Flash-based content used to be everywhere on the internet, for instance, but now it's a rarity-and a sign of an outdated site-so knowing how to create it isn't nearly as attractive a skill as it once was. But working hard and being dependable are unlikely to ever go out of style.

How Can You Improve Your Soft Skills?

Because they're not based on specific knowledge like hard skills, soft skills are often considered more difficult to learn or strengthen. And there's a bit of truth to that, but that doesn't mean you can't develop your soft skills.

The first thing to do is establish where your soft skills stand now. Our experts suggest the following methods:

Look at past feedback from performance reviews and other sources and/or ask for current feedback: Are there any common themes, either positive or negative?

Take some time to look at your past and current work responsibilities and try to identify which soft skills have helped you succeed in your job and which ones would have helped that you could develop.

Take a skills assessment or quiz (like this, this, and this).

Identify one or two areas you want to focus on first. Then, just like anything else, soft skills can be improved through practice. Smith recommends putting yourself in situations where you'll have to stretch your soft skills, but start small. For example, do you struggle with public speaking? Maybe you can give a short presentation to your immediate team at an upcoming meeting. Are your leadership skills lacking? Volunteer to take point on a simple project. And whenever possible during your practice, ask for feedback.

You might also consider taking a class. While they're less common than classes on how to use a flashy new program, you can still find courses online that will help you with your interpersonal and other skills.

And don't forget that you can turn to people in your network, too. "Find a mentor who is good at what you're trying to improve and ask them to coach you," Smith suggests. Or, if you have a coworker who's great at the soft skill you're trying to work on, you might observe and evaluate what they do and think about how you can apply these strategies yourself, Dea says.

How Can You Highlight Your Soft Skills in a Job Search?

When you're looking for a job, employers want to know not only what you can do, but how you'll do it and what you'll be like as a coworker. How can you tell which soft skills matter most for a particular job? "Review the job description!" Smith says. Companies aren't asking for a self-starter with great attention to detail for no reason. You can also "take a look at LinkedIn profiles for people who work at the company and see what skills they have," Smith says. Or you can talk to people who already work in a position or at a company you're interested in and ask them which soft skills are most vital to success. You can highlight them:

On Your Resume

While many job seekers think of their resume as the prime space to show off their hard skills, you should also make sure your soft skills shine. You might include your most important soft skills in a resume summary. You might even list the soft skills mentioned in or directly related to the job description in your skills section, Smith says, though Dea suggests only going this route if you have extra space.

But remember that anyone can say that they have strong leadership skills or problem-solving abilities. You have to show prospective employers how you've used your soft skills and what you've achieved. This means working your soft skills into your bullet points. You might devote bullet points to only highlighting particular soft skills. For example, if you wanted to talk about your leadership skills, Smith suggests something like:

Assumed leadership role for sales team with the lowest worker satisfaction survey results in the company. Motivated and engaged employees by encouraging feedback, holding a variety of team-building events, and celebrating top performers at weekly meetings, increasing positive sentiment by 34% in one year.

Or you can combine your soft and hard skills into one bullet point. For example:

Collaborated with a team of 3 to conduct market research through one-on-one meetings with customers about their needs and concerns. Wrote clear and concise questions used by entire team and assigned tasks and tracked progress in Asana. Presented findings visualized with Tableau and made recommendations to senior staff.

For each of your resume bullets (which should be quantified and achievement-oriented) think, "Which of my soft skills helped me to accomplish this?" You might also choose action verbs (collaborated, led, presented, motivated) that speak to the appropriate soft skills, as in the examples above.

In Your Cover Letter

Cover letters are a great place to expand on your soft skills. Tell a story that explicitly mentions your experience with the soft skills in the job description to highlight your fit for the role, Smith says. So if a job description calls for someone with "excellent organizational skills" and you wanted to emphasize yours, you could say:
"When I started my current job as office manager for BubbleTech, supplies were stashed wherever there was room-I found Post-its in the kitchen and snacks in a cabinet over the printer! So I put my organizational skills to work, inventorying and rearranging all the supplies. I also sent around a Google Sheet that told everyone where they could find each item. In addition to checking the inventory weekly, I made sure my colleagues could note on that same Google Sheet when something was running low and I'd know to order more. As a result, BubbleTech stopped wasting money on extra supplies and never again found themselves completely out of any item when it was needed."
In a Job Interview

You can and should mention examples of how you've used your soft skills in your answers to interview questions. Think about which of your soft skills you want to emphasize before your interview, and come prepared with stories that show those skills in action. You can structure your answers using the STAR method to ensure that you include not only how you used your skills, but also what results they had.

Your behavior before, during, and after an interview will also show employers some of your soft skills firsthand, Smith says. For example, every email you send and each phone call, video meeting, and in-person interaction you have with someone at a company you're interviewing with says something about your communication skills, Dea says. Arriving on time for an interview is a given, but speaks to your dependability and time management skills. Being prepared with strong, inquisitive questions about the role will show the hiring manager how curious and proactive you are, and asking your interviewer questions about themselves and responding earnestly to their answers will show your empathy and active listening skills.

What Are Some Examples of Soft Skills?

Here are some of the most important types of soft skills and some of the individual skills that fall under each category. This list isn't exhaustive, but you can use it to start thinking about which soft skills you have and which you'd like to develop further.

Communication Skills

"Every job involves some types of communication," Dea says. Having the ability to communicate effectively is vital for any role and can affect a number of experiences in the workplace-from how well you convey your expectations and how well you understand others' expectations to whether or not you land that big account.

Active Listening

Giving Clear Feedback

Negotiation

Nonverbal Communication/Reading Body Language

Persuasion

Presenting

Public Speaking

Verbal Communication

Written Communication

Leadership Skills

Don't skip this section just because you aren't a manager or senior-level employee. "You don't need to be a leader to demonstrate leadership!" Dea says. Employees at any level can still demonstrate their leadership skills on projects and within their teams.

Conflict Management/Resolution

Decision-Making

Delegation

Empathy

Flexibility

Giving and Accepting Feedback

Influencing

Management

Motivating Others

Project Management

Relationship Building

Talent Management

Problem-Solving Skills

A big part of any job is solving problems, and not every problem has a clear-cut answer, Dea says. The ability to figure out how to approach new or particularly difficult problems is a key soft skill.

Analytical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Decision-Making

Open-Mindedness

Innovativeness

Proactivity

Research

Resourcefulness

Risk Management

Troubleshooting

Collaboration and Teamwork Skills

You need to know how to work with others toward a shared goal or objective. This can be as small as making sure a presentation gets done for a team meeting or as big as helping your company hit its goals for the quarter or year. These skills speak to your ability to effectively work as part of a team.

Collaboration

Dependability

Emotional Intelligence

Empathy

Disability Awareness

Diversity Awareness

Intercultural Competence

Motivating Others

Patience

Respect for Differences

Self-Awareness

Tact

Trust and Trustworthiness

Work Ethic/Work Style

These soft skills relate to your particular approach to work. You'll see that some of these traits and abilities are opposites of each other. That's because there's no one correct work style, and some work habits and personal qualities are better suited to different companies and work environments.

Ability to Work Well Under Pressure

Adaptability

Agility

Attention to Detail

Awareness of the Big Picture

Conscientiousness

Creative Thinking

Curiosity

Enthusiasm

Fast Learner

Hard Worker

Independence

Integrity

Management of Multiple Deadlines/Projects

Meeting Tight Deadlines

Multitasking

Optimism

Organization

Team Player

Perseverance

Proactivity

Process-Oriented

Reliability

Results-Oriented

Self-Motivation

Time Management

Regina Borsellino was born and raised in New York before moving to the Washington DC area to get a BA in English Lit from the University of Maryland and an MFA in Fiction from American University. She's excited to be back to a city that's only humid eight months of the year. Before joining The Muse, Regina worked scooping ice cream, attending parking lots, breaking into cars (legally!), opening mail, and editing for InvestorPlace.com.

More from Regina Borsellino

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
All Your Questions About Soft Skills, Answered

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You're searching through a job board, scanning postings for positions that might be right for you, and in the requirements section you see: "strong communication skills" or "team player" or "skilled multitasker." Do your eyes just jump over these?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Candidates with strong soft skills are in high demand for many different types of jobs. What are soft skills, and why are they so important?

Soft skills are the interpersonal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace, encompassing qualities such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork. They are how you work with and relate to others-in other words, people skills. These skills are indispensable, often determining whether you're hired for a job or even promoted.

Here are the top soft skills employers value in their workers, with examples of each skill and ways to make your soft skills stand out.

Key Takeaways

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.

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

To succeed at work, you must get along well with all the people with whom you interact, including managers, co-workers, clients, vendors, and customers. 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

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.

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 manage situations and people. The ability to step up to the plate in a difficult situation and help resolve problems is something employers look for in prospective employees.

Note

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

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.

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 appreciate diversity in a team. Another related skill is the ability to accept and apply feedback from others.

Employers look for job candidates with a strong work ethic. Such people come to work on time, complete tasks on time, 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.

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How should you talk about your skills in a job interview?

What is a skill set?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top Soft Skills Employers Value With Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
List of soft skills that employers look for in candidates for employment, examples of each type of skill, and how to show employers you have them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You may find yourself wondering what soft skills a legal professional needs. After all, the legal field is very competitive and full of passionate individuals who want to make it.

Finding work or getting promoted in a top law office can be a hassle, and you need to guarantee you stand out.

While knowledge and understanding of the law are critical for a legal support professional, showing off your soft skills is a way to really shine.

It is common for firms to hire someone less experienced, yet hungry and willing to grow.

The job is fast-paced and typically has tight deadlines and involves some strong personalities.

How can you leverage your strengths in a high-pressure environment like this? By demonstrating your qualifications!

What are soft skills?

Also known as "transferable" skills, soft skills show who a person is and what they can do well rather than what they know.

These are character traits that, in combination with experience, shape one's career. Soft skills are also called transferrable since they can be used at any job. They're still helpful even when changing careers.

Soft skills play a significant role in the legal profession, complementing the technical knowledge and expertise that lawyers possess. These personal attributes and abilities are essential for effective communication, collaboration, and interaction with others in the legal field.

While legal competence is crucial, soft skills enhance a lawyer's overall effectiveness and contribute to successful client relationships.

These skills include strong communication abilities, negotiation skills, emotional intelligence, problem-solving capabilities, time management, collaboration, client service, adaptability, integrity, and professionalism, as well as persuasion and advocacy.

Understanding and developing these soft skills can greatly enhance a lawyer's professional competence and enable them to thrive in the dynamic and demanding legal environment.

Specific experience, higher education or certifications (i.e. NALA or NFPA for paralegals), and hard skills are necessary.

However, your soft skills will set you apart from others who just meet those minimum requirements.

Types of soft skills

While some people have natural aptitudes for things like people skills and organization, all soft skills can be learned and practiced.

Even if you have natural talent, it's still a good idea to work on those skills to reach your potential.

To learn soft skills, assess your current abilities, set goals for improvement, seek feedback, engage in continuous learning through workshops or courses, and practice regularly to enhance your communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and other soft skills.

Here are some of the most important legal soft skills to focus on.

Verbal communication

Communication is a fundamental soft skill a legal profession needs and indeed is key in most professions - it is especially crucial in the legal world. Legal support professionals perform better when they know how to communicate.

The skill of communication has some nuance. There's a big difference between one-on-one communication and the ability to get your point across and understand feedback from a crowd.

While speaking in public can be frightening to some, public speaking skills are like a superpower for your legal career.

Think about how much of an advantage you'll have when you can confidently and clearly address groups of attorneys, clients, or coworkers.

"Translating" from the language of law into terms that can be easily understood by non-legal parties is another skill that can take you far up in your career.

Clients are often intimidated by legalese, and you'll be a hero if you can explain those complex ideas in simple terms.

Working with strong personalities, whether it's the opponent's team or your own, is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your verbal communication skills, too.

Writing skills

From everyday emails to professional documents, you will most likely have a lot of writing to do on a daily basis.

Your written communication is the only way some of your professional contacts can get to know you.

Especially in a world of virtual law firms and remote courts, written messaging is one of the primary ways you connect.

If you can write clearly and cleanly, you'll look more professional and intelligent.

Clean grammar, a strong vocabulary, and the ability to put abstract thoughts into words will help you stand out and succeed.

Understanding legal terminology, of course, is a must. If you're not confident that you understand the definition and connotations of a word, either use a different phrase or look it up.

One of the best ways to improve your writing ability is to read a lot. Subscribe to legal publications (like this blog) and set aside a little bit of time each day to read.

Organization and attention to detail

Organizational skills are a legal support superpower. You juggle a lot of different tasks and priorities, so the ability to stay organized means less wasted time and better work results.

Good organization keeps you from missing important deadlines. It also allows you to be more attentive when working with confidential documents.

Attention to detail is valuable for a lot of the same reasons. In legal support, you're expected to be meticulous and thorough.

Little mistakes like missing dates, incorrectly spelled names, or typos in case numbers can cause big problems.

When you get more organized, you free up your mental resources so that it's easier to pay attention to details.

Think of it this way - when you stop wasting energy trying to manage the big picture, you have more energy to handle all the little pieces.

The key to being more organized is to use systems. You never have to look for your car keys if you always leave them in the same place, and you never forget an eFiling step if you always use the same checklist.

Over time, you'll find it easier to create your own processes each time you tackle a new task.

Time management

Managing time is a bit of a misnomer. You can't change the amount of time you have in a workday, but you can manage your priorities so that the right things get done within the time you have.

When you have great time management skills, you understand how much you can realistically get done in a day and you work on the most important things first.

Distractions - even work-related interruptions - can derail all of your time management efforts. New to-do items get added to your plate all day long, and if you switch gears every time something pops up, you'll end the day with an even longer task list than you started with.

On the other hand, if you manage priorities well and stay focused on your top tasks, you'll be at the top of your legal support game.

As a legal professional, you'll probably always have more work than you have time to finish. Develop your time management skills so that you always have an advantage over other candidates who struggle to get things done.

Research skills

While this may qualify as a hard skill in some legal support positions, it's still worth mentioning as a soft skill, too.

In the age of search engines, the ability to find information and evaluate sources is more important than ever.

That discernment is even more important than the ability to find information in the first place. With the abundance of data on the internet, the challenge today is determining the quality of the information you find.

A legal support team member who knows how to work with information is an incredible asset for any firm.

Someone who can operate Google, documents, books, and other sources for needed information is a gem. Someone who knows how to filter information, that is.

Ability to work in a team

Law professionals are rarely the type to work alone - there's nearly always a team involved. Knowing how to connect with others will only strengthen that team.

Explaining something complex to a colleague or listening to a long-winded diatribe from your boss requires lots of patience, especially when you're feeling the pressure of looming deadlines. Collaboration is still key, and a wise legal support professional can be the glue that holds the firm together.

Part of working on a team is knowing when to ask for or offer help.

If you've got way too much on your plate, let your teammates know. It's far better to admit that you're falling behind instead of letting the work pile up and forcing people to wait on you.

At the same time, keep an eye out for your teammates. They're going to need extra support sometimes, and that's your chance to make a difference.

Technical Skills

Never underestimate how important being familiar with technology is these days; it's an extremely important soft skill a legal professional needs to succeed in a modern, digitized world - especially when law firms often find themselves having to play catch-up with technology implementation.

The more law firms start to adopt legal technology, the more there is to learn. But the more we learn, the better our work becomes.

Creating presentations, helping with legal software, and running video conferences - these are just some of the day-to-day things you might come across as a legal support professional. You should know how to do all of them.

More importantly, though, the most valuable technological skill you can have is the willingness and flexibility to learn how to use new tools.

There will always be a new system, a new process, or a new regulation. By being open to innovation, you'll always be at the top of your game and at the top of the list for promotions or new positions.

Interpersonal Skills

To sum up, it's beneficial to know how to deal with people while doing everything mentioned above.

In the legal industry, you may come across stressed-out people, people going through personal issues, and an array of difficult clients, attorneys, judges, and vendors. Your goal is to be ready to handle anything coming your way in a calm, understanding manner.

Being empathetic not only boosts your career but also helps you grow as a person.

Interpersonal skills (AKA people skills) are often the first that come to mind when you bring up soft skills. There's a good reason for that. Your people skills are at the core of your ability to get things done at work and in life.

There are a lot of individual skills that go into your interpersonal toolkit. Things like patience, tact, empathy, and even your sense of humor all contribute to your skill with people.

When you're ready to work on your people skills, turn to someone you know well and trust completely. Ask them what you need to work on the most, and be sure that you're open to honest feedback. This is one area where the truth can sting a little bit.

Speaking of working on your skills, let's finish up with some strategies to upskill all of your soft skills.

How you can improve your soft skills

We've gone through some of the most important soft skills a legal professional needs. In any profession, both soft and hard skills are extremely important.

We spend most of our time at work, and we want to surround ourselves with people who match our energy.

That said, you should seek to improve in a healthy way constantly. Be intentional, but don't let your pursuit of a new skill get in the way of your regular work. Find ways to practice and learn on the job, and look for learning opportunities that fit in with your schedule.

If you're in a position to help your firm set policies, try to create a work environment that encourages this type of growth.

Legal support professionals are often offered training when starting their job. Even if they have completed paralegal studies, each firm is unique and has its own ways of doing things, and training is always necessary. Consider offering additional training on skills like research and communication.

Be prepared to grow at your place of work as well as during your personal time. Attending additional classes, conferences, and reading relevant books and blogs can all lead to bettering your already existing skills and building new ones.

If approached properly, your natural abilities will be highlighted and your weaknesses addressed. Define which areas of your skillset you think need a boost, and start working on them! You have everything to gain.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 soft skills a legal professional needs to have to succeed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As a legal support professional, your soft skills help you stand out in all the right ways. Here are the top legal support soft skills to learn.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here's a look at the essential soft skills that companies value the most.

1. Communication

Effective communication is essential to build strong relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders. Not only does this involve the ability to convey messages in a clear and compelling way, but also the ability to understand the needs of others and respond to feedback. Employers want people who can build professional relationships with colleagues, which is especially important when working with teams.

Communication is often evaluated in the workplace through informal feedback, such as verbal or written comments from colleagues and supervisors. An alternative method is a formal evaluation or assessment. The ability to communicate effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions.

Here are some examples of communication skills:

Active listening

Verbal communication

Nonverbal communication

Written communication

Presentation skills

2. Leadership

A good leader has the ability to inspire their team to achieve greatness. They are able to set a clear vision, communicate it effectively and create a culture of accountability and excellence. More importantly, they're able to inspire and influence team members to achieve shared goals and objectives.

The ability to lead effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions. Because most employees work in teams, leadership is widely recognized as a critical attribute for success in the modern workplace.

Here are some examples of leadership skills:

3. Teamwork

Teamwork involves the ability to work with others toward a shared goal. It requires communication, collaboration and a shared commitment to work in a group. Individuals who are able to work collaboratively with others are more likely to achieve their professional goals, and to contribute to the success of their organizations.

In a professional setting, good teamwork can help to foster creativity and innovation because it encourages members to share ideas, brainstorm new solutions and collaborate on new initiatives. Working as part of a collaborative team can also enhance job satisfaction and contribute to a positive work environment.

Here are some examples of teamwork skills:

4. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to think outside the box and come up with ideas that challenge assumptions. Needless to say, it requires a mindset of curiosity, risk-taking and a willingness to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty.

On another front, creativity is essential for effective problem-solving, meaning it allows individuals to tackle issues from new and different angles. Creative individuals also give organizations a competitive edge by enabling them to develop new products and systems that set them apart from their competition.

Here are some examples of creative skills:

5. Time management

Time management involves the ability to set priorities, organize tasks and allot time across different activities. It requires discipline and a willingness to avoid distractions and low-priority tasks.

Naturally, good time management skills can help individuals avoid the stress and anxiety that can arise from missed deadlines. But more importantly, those who can manage their time effectively are more likely to be seen as reliable and efficient, which allows them to stand out in the workplace.

Here are some examples of time management skills:

6. Adaptability

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, adaptability is a key soft skill that enables individuals to stay ahead of the curve. An employee with this skill can adjust to changing circumstances, for example, and learn new skills and technologies to remain relevant in the workplace.

Because it's impossible to avoid unexpected challenges, having adaptable employees allows organizations to bounce back from setbacks much faster. Plus, they can also read situations quickly and adjust their approach to adapt based on the situation.

Here are some examples of adaptability skills:

7. Problem-solving

Problem-solving involves the ability to come up with alternative solutions. This skill is crucial to identifying and addressing complex challenges and opportunities in a variety of contexts.

Problem-solving also makes it easier to make more informed decisions because employees are able to analyze situations and identify the best course of action. As a result, teams are able to get more done in less time.

Here are some examples of problem-solving skills:

8. Work ethic

Work ethic demonstrates an individual's commitment to their job. Having a strong work ethic makes you seem more reliable and dependable, which improves your credibility in the workplace.

There are a lot of ways to demonstrate a strong work ethic. Some examples include arriving on time for meetings, meeting deadlines consistently and being accountable for your actions. If you encounter any challenges in the workplace, you should also maintain a positive demeanor and adapt to changing situations.

Here are some examples of work ethic skills:

9. Critical thinking

Critical thinking enables individuals to approach problems and challenges with a strategic and analytical mindset. When making informed decisions, this skill allows you to weigh available options and consider potential outcomes.

A critical thinker can evaluate the strength of arguments and identify flaws in reasoning. They consider multiple perspectives, which makes them more likely to pinpoint the short-term and long-term consequences of their decisions. Additionally, they can also identify the root cause of a problem and generate multiple solutions.

Here are some examples of critical thinking skills:

10. Conflict management

Not every employee can get along with colleagues every time. As a team tackles obstacles, conflict and opposing ideas could arise every now and then.

Conflict management is the process of addressing disputes or disagreements in a constructive and effective manner. Often, this requires good communication skills, active listening, empathy, negotiation skills and a willingness to collaborate and find common ground.

When managing conflict, it is important to identify common goals and interests for all parties involved. This can help to establish a sense of unity and collaboration, and even lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Being open to different ideas and perspectives can also make individuals feel motivated to work towards resolution.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

11. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions and those of others. In today's collaborative work environments, this skill enables employees to navigate complex social dynamics and work effectively within teams. It also allows them to provide constructive feedback in a way that is sensitive to the emotions of others, leading to more successful outcomes and stronger relationships.

Effective leaders often have the ability to motivate others and navigate challenging situations with grace and empathy.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

Bottom Line

In the modern workplace, employers seek candidates who possess technical expertise and soft skills that enable them to thrive in a collaborative work environment. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity, adaptability, problem-solving, work ethic, critical thinking and conflict management can be developed and honed over time. While it is important for individuals to continue to build their technical expertise, developing soft skills can ultimately set you apart in the workplace and lead to long-term success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
11 Essential Soft Skills In 2023 (With Examples)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In today's fast-paced world, success in the workplace requires more than just technical expertise and knowledge. As the nature of work continues to evolve, it is important for individuals to possess attributes and abilities that allow them to collaborate with teams and colleagues-otherwise known as

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What do employers look for in new employees? According to business leaders, while the three “R’s” (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are still fundamental to every employee’s ability to do the job, employers view “soft” skills as even more important to work readiness. These skills include:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By

A soft skill is a personal attribute that supports situational awareness and enhances an individual's ability to get a job done. The term soft skills is often used as a synonym for people skills or emotional intelligence. Unlike hard skills, which describe a person's technical ability to perform a specifically-defined task, soft skills are broadly applicable across job titles and industries. It's often said that while hard skills might get someone an interview, soft skills will help that person get (and keep) the job.

Business executives and leaders are making soft skills more of a priority when hiring, as they are often essential for workers to succeed in modern organizations. In 2018, LinkedIn listed leadership, communication, collaboration and time management as the top four most in-demand soft skills. Technology company iCIMS Inc., which develops recruiting and other employee management-related software, analyzed its proprietary data and found that problem-solving, adaptability and time management were the top three soft skills that recruiters sought in candidates. Other important soft skills include adaptability and the ability to be diplomatic and respectful, even during disagreements.

Soft skills that are in demand

When an employee with a high level of emotional intelligence has good communication skills and interpersonal skills, they are more likely to be able to clearly articulate goals and lead a team in a positive manner. This is especially important for multimember, multidisciplinary teams that are geographically and/or cultural dispersed.

For businesses that have a customer service/relations component, strong soft skills are a way to ensure a positive relationship between customer and company without providing extensive training. Here are several other examples of soft skills that company leaders value:

creativity

appropriate use of humor

confidence

honesty and integrity

friendliness

ability to manage time effectively

good manners

enthusiasm

positive attitude

good listening skills

attention to detail

ability to grasp the big picture

self-motivation

common sense

ability to make good decisions

empathy for others

communication skills

willingness to see a difficult job through to the end

willingness to change direction when something isn't working

ability to negotiate

ability to deal with conflict gracefully

Why are soft skills important?

Business projects often require employees to work as a team, making employees' abilities to have positive interactions with others just as valuable as the technical tasks they're asked to accomplish. As a result, business leaders are seeking workers who possess team work, collaboration, communication, problem-solving skills, and other emotional and cognitive capabilities to work in multimember, multidisciplinary teams that are geographically and/or cultural dispersed.

Soft skills training

Businesses and individuals can help close the soft skills gap through training. Individuals should start by asking family and trusted colleagues for feedback, which can help individual employees to identify the soft skills which require improvement.

Individuals can also improve their soft skills through mentoring and classes, as well as by simply observing and emulating how others successfully interact with peers and handle difficult interpersonal situations.

Working with a professional coach and reading self-help books and articles can assist in this process, as well as self-assessment tools like the Myers-Briggs personality profile test.

Continue Reading About soft skills

Dig Deeper on IT applications, infrastructure and operations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is soft skills? - Definition from WhatIs.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This definition explains the term soft skills -- the personality traits, noncognitive skills and competencies -- that inform to how an individual relates to others. Read this definition for examples of soft skills and how to close the soft skills gap.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Job Ready Soft Skills | Career Advice | Hays

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out what soft skills matter in the workplace, and how you could stand out in the job market. 7 key soft skills in demand today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Candidates with strong soft skills are in high demand for many different types of jobs. What are soft skills, and why are they so important?

Soft skills are the interpersonal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace, encompassing qualities such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork. They are how you work with and relate to others-in other words, people skills. These skills are indispensable, often determining whether you're hired for a job or even promoted.

Here are the top soft skills employers value in their workers, with examples of each skill and ways to make your soft skills stand out.

Key Takeaways

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.

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

To succeed at work, you must get along well with all the people with whom you interact, including managers, co-workers, clients, vendors, and customers. 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

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.

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 manage situations and people. The ability to step up to the plate in a difficult situation and help resolve problems is something employers look for in prospective employees.

Note

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

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.

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 appreciate diversity in a team. Another related skill is the ability to accept and apply feedback from others.

Employers look for job candidates with a strong work ethic. Such people come to work on time, complete tasks on time, 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.

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How should you talk about your skills in a job interview?

What is a skill set?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top Soft Skills Employers Value With Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
List of soft skills that employers look for in candidates for employment, examples of each type of skill, and how to show employers you have them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are among the most coveted skills sought by hiring managers. These are easily transferrable skills and are not necessarily associated to a specific job. Soft skills revolve around personal relationships, character, and attitude. By nurturing these interpersonal attributes, you will build stronger relationships and increase your work performance.

Please review the behavioral attributes for each soft skill below, then access the learning module in LinkedIn Learning to begin developing your skills.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are among the most coveted skills sought by hiring managers. These are easily transferrable skills and are not necessarily associated to a specific job. Soft skills revolve around personal relationships, character, and attitude. By nurturing these interpersonal attributes, you will build stronger relationships and increase your work performance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in today's job market. They refer to the personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Employers are looking for candidates who possess these skills in addition to their technical expertise. In this article, we will guide beginners on how to showcase their soft skills on their resume.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills refer to a set of personal attributes, behaviors, and social attitudes that enable individuals to interact effectively with others in a workplace or social environment. These skills are essential for building healthy relationships, communicating effectively, solving problems, and collaborating with others. Soft skills are intangible and subjective qualities that cannot be measured or quantified like hard skills. They include

communication

teamwork

problem-solving

critical thinking

adaptability

time management

leadership

creativity

emotional intelligence

(More examples below)

Developing soft skills is crucial in today's job market, where employers value employees who can demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills that can help organizations thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment. Moreover, soft skills are not just limited to the workplace. They also play a significant role in our personal lives, helping us build meaningful relationships, manage conflicts, and navigate social situations effectively.

Soft skills are often developed through life experiences, practice, and self-reflection, and can be honed through various methods such as attending workshops, reading books, or seeking feedback from others. In summary, soft skills are a vital component of personal and professional success and are essential for individuals looking to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in the world.

How to share soft skills

1. Identify the soft skills required for the job

The first step is to research the job requirements and identify the soft skills that are essential for the role. This information can be found in the job description or by speaking to people in the industry. Once you have a list of required soft skills, you can focus on highlighting them in your resume.

2. Incorporate soft skills into your resume objective or summary

Your resume objective or summary is the first thing that recruiters will read. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. You can incorporate them by using phrases such as "I am a highly motivated individual with excellent communication and teamwork skills."

3. Provide examples of your soft skills in the experience section

In the experience section of your resume, provide specific examples of how you have used your soft skills in previous roles. For example, if you are applying for a customer service role, you could highlight how you have resolved customer complaints by utilizing your problem-solving skills. Use action verbs such as "managed," "coordinated," "facilitated," or "led" to describe your soft skills in action.

4. Highlight soft skills in the skills section

The skills section of your resume is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. List them under a separate heading and use bullet points to describe each one. For example, under the heading "Teamwork," you could list bullet points such as "collaborated with team members to achieve project goals" or "supported team members in achieving their individual goals."

5. Provide additional evidence of your soft skills

Finally, provide additional evidence of your soft skills in your resume by including any relevant certifications or awards. For example, if you have completed a leadership course or received an award for outstanding teamwork, be sure to include it in your resume.

Examples of Soft Skills

1. Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful professional relationship. Being able to articulate your thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely in written or verbal form is crucial for maintaining productive working relationships. This soft skill also encompasses active listening, understanding and interpreting non-verbal cues, and adapting communication style to suit different audiences.

2. Teamwork

Teamwork is about working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal. It involves sharing ideas and resources, taking on different roles and responsibilities, and being willing to support and assist team members as needed. A strong team player also understands the importance of building trust and rapport with colleagues, communicating effectively, and being receptive to feedback.

3. Problem-solving

The ability to identify, analyze and solve problems is an essential soft skill in any workplace. A skilled problem-solver has a logical and systematic approach to identifying the root cause of issues, as well as the creativity to generate and implement effective solutions. This skill requires a combination of critical thinking, research, data analysis, and innovation.

4. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. It requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization and organization. This soft skill also involves the ability to stay focused and avoid distractions, delegate tasks when appropriate, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

5. Leadership

Leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve a common objective. A skilled leader can provide direction and guidance, manage resources and people effectively, and make difficult decisions when necessary. This soft skill also encompasses effective communication, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and the ability to foster a positive and inclusive team culture.

6. Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to change and new situations with ease. A highly adaptable person can work effectively in diverse environments, be flexible with changing priorities, and learn new skills and systems quickly. This soft skill also involves being open-minded, creative and innovative, and able to think on one's feet.

7. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and approach problems from different angles. This soft skill requires imagination, curiosity, and the ability to see connections between seemingly disparate ideas. Creativity is essential for innovation, process improvement, and finding new solutions to complex problems.

8. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and relate to others' emotions and experiences. This soft skill involves active listening, showing compassion, and being able to put oneself in others' shoes. Empathy is crucial for building strong relationships, resolving conflicts, and creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

9. Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is the ability to manage and resolve conflicts effectively. A skilled conflict resolver can identify the underlying causes of conflict, communicate clearly and empathetically, and negotiate win-win solutions. This soft skill also involves active listening, problem-solving, and the ability to remain calm and objective under pressure.

10. Active listening

Active listening is the ability to focus on and understand the speaker's message fully. This soft skill involves paying attention to non-verbal cues, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback to the speaker. Active listening is essential for effective communication, building trust and rapport, and resolving conflicts.

11. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively and make informed decisions. This soft skill involves evaluating evidence, identifying assumptions, and recognizing biases. A skilled critical thinker can synthesize complex information, consider multiple perspectives, and make logical and evidence-based conclusions.

12. Cultural competence

Cultural competence is the ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This soft skill involves understanding and respecting cultural differences, being aware of one's own biases, and adapting communication and behavior to suit different cultural contexts. A culturally competent person can build strong relationships with people from all walks of life.

13. Customer service

Customer service is the ability to provide exceptional service to customers and clients. This soft skill involves actively listening to customers' needs, providing accurate and timely information, and resolving issues in a timely and professional manner. A skilled customer service provider can build strong customer relationships, foster loyalty, and enhance the company's reputation.

14. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make effective decisions based on available information. This soft skill involves weighing different options, considering potential outcomes, and evaluating risks and benefits. A skilled decision-maker can make timely and effective decisions, communicate their reasoning clearly, and be accountable for their choices.

15. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage one's own emotions and the emotions of others. This soft skill involves being aware of one's own emotional state, being empathetic towards others, and responding appropriately to emotional cues. A person with high emotional intelligence can build strong relationships, resolve conflicts effectively, and lead with empathy.

16. Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This soft skill involves being open-minded, responsive to feedback, and able to adjust to new situations with ease. A flexible person can work effectively in fast-paced environments, handle unexpected challenges, and maintain a positive attitude.

17. Goal-setting

Goal-setting is the ability to set achievable goals and work towards achieving them. This soft skill involves being proactive, organized, and focused on results. A person who sets effective goals can prioritize tasks, track progress, and maintain motivation in the face of challenges.

18. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with others. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution. A person with strong interpersonal skills can build rapport, establish trust, and collaborate effectively with others.

19. Negotiation

Negotiation is the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts effectively. This soft skill involves identifying common ground, being persuasive, and finding win-win solutions. A skilled negotiator can build relationships, resolve conflicts, and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

20. Patience

Patience is the ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations. This soft skill involves self-control, emotional regulation, and the ability to take a long-term view. A patient person can stay focused on goals, maintain relationships, and handle difficult situations with grace and resilience.

21. Persuasion

Persuasion is the ability to convince others of one's ideas and opinions. This soft skill involves effective communication, building trust, and being able to present a compelling argument. A skilled persuader can influence decisions, build consensus, and negotiate win-win outcomes.

22. Positive attitude

A positive attitude is the ability to maintain a positive and optimistic outlook. This soft skill involves being resilient, adaptable, and solution-oriented. A person with a positive attitude can motivate others, foster collaboration, and build strong relationships even in difficult circumstances.

23. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to present ideas and information clearly and persuasively. This soft skill involves effective communication, organization, and the ability to engage an audience. A skilled presenter can influence decisions, build credibility, and create a lasting impression.

24. Problem analysis

Problem analysis is the ability to identify and analyze problems to find effective solutions. This soft skill involves critical thinking, data analysis, and the ability to think creatively. A skilled problem analyst can identify root causes, develop effective strategies, and implement sustainable solutions.

25. Self-motivation

Self-motivation is the ability to motivate oneself to achieve goals and overcome obstacles. This soft skill involves being proactive, focused, and disciplined. A person with high self-motivation can stay on track, take initiative, and achieve success in the face of challenges.

26. Stress management

Stress management is the ability to manage stress effectively and remain calm under pressure. This soft skill involves self-awareness, emotional regulation, and coping strategies. A person with strong stress management skills can maintain productivity, build resilience, and manage relationships effectively even in high-pressure situations.

27. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. This soft skill requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization, and organization. A skilled time manager can maintain focus, avoid distractions, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

28. Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness is the ability to maintain the trust and confidence of others. This soft skill involves being honest, reliable, and accountable. A person with high trustworthiness can build strong relationships, foster teamwork, and promote a culture of trust and respect.

29. Verbal communication

Verbal communication is the ability to articulate ideas and information clearly and effectively. This soft skill involves effective listening, tone, and the ability to adapt communication style to different audiences. A person with strong verbal communication skills can build rapport, resolve conflicts, and motivate others effectively.

30. Writing

Writing is the ability to write clearly and effectively to convey ideas and information. This soft skill involves grammar, syntax, and effective communication. A skilled writer can communicate complex ideas clearly, persuade readers, and create compelling content that engages and inspires.

31. Attention to detail

Attention to detail is the ability to notice small details and ensure accuracy and quality in work. This soft skill involves being meticulous, thorough, and focused on delivering high-quality results. A person with strong attention to detail can minimize errors, enhance productivity, and maintain customer satisfaction.

32. Coaching and mentoring

Coaching and mentoring is the ability to guide, teach and mentor others to achieve their goals. This soft skill involves providing feedback, modeling behavior, and supporting others in their professional development. A skilled coach and mentor can build relationships, inspire growth, and promote a positive team culture.

33. Conflict management

Conflict management is the ability to manage conflicts effectively and reach win-win solutions. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, and negotiation. A person with strong conflict management skills can resolve disputes, build consensus, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

34. Cultural awareness

Cultural awareness is the ability to understand and respect cultural differences in the workplace. This soft skill involves recognizing and appreciating diverse perspectives, beliefs, and values. A culturally aware person can work effectively in a global environment, build relationships across cultures, and promote inclusion and diversity.

35. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make informed and timely decisions. This soft skill involves analyzing data, evaluating options, and considering the impact of decisions on stakeholders. A skilled decision-maker can make sound decisions, take calculated risks, and achieve business objectives effectively.

36. Dependability

Dependability is the ability to be reliable and trustworthy in completing tasks and meeting deadlines. This soft skill involves being accountable, punctual, and responsive. A dependable person can maintain high standards, meet expectations, and build trust and respect among colleagues.

37. Diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion is the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and foster an inclusive workplace culture. This soft skill involves being open-minded, respectful, and supportive of differences. A person with strong diversity and inclusion skills can build a sense of belonging, promote creativity, and enhance business outcomes.

38. Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the ability to approach work with passion and energy. This soft skill involves being optimistic, engaged, and committed to achieving results. A person with strong enthusiasm can inspire others, promote positive attitudes, and drive success in a team environment.

39. Financial management

Financial management is the ability to manage financial resources effectively. This soft skill involves understanding financial principles, analyzing data, and making sound decisions. A person with strong financial management skills can optimize resources, minimize risk, and achieve business objectives.

40. Humility

Humility is the ability to admit mistakes and learn from feedback. This soft skill involves being open-minded, reflective, and willing to grow. A person with strong humility can build credibility, promote a culture of learning, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

41. Initiative

Initiative is the ability to take proactive steps to solve problems and improve processes. This soft skill involves being self-motivated, creative, and willing to take calculated risks. A person with strong initiative can drive innovation, enhance productivity, and achieve business goals.

42. Innovation

Innovation is the ability to create new ideas, products, or processes. This soft skill involves being creative, adaptable, and willing to take risks. A person with strong innovation skills can drive growth, solve complex problems, and enhance customer satisfaction.

43. Intercultural communication

Intercultural communication is the ability to communicate effectively across different cultures and languages. This soft skill involves being aware of cultural differences, using appropriate language and tone, and adapting to cultural norms. A person with strong intercultural communication skills can build strong relationships, promote understanding, and enhance global business outcomes.

44. Interpersonal communication

Interpersonal communication is the ability to communicate effectively and build strong relationships with others. This soft skill involves active listening, empathy, and effective use of non-verbal cues. A person with strong interpersonal communication skills can build trust, resolve conflicts, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

45. Learning agility

Learning agility is the ability to adapt to new situations and learn quickly. This soft skill involves being open-minded, curious, and willing to experiment. A person with strong learning agility can acquire new skills and knowledge, adapt to changing circumstances, and enhance personal and professional growth.

46. Organizational skills

Organizational skills are the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively. This soft skill involves being organized, efficient, and able to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. A person with strong organizational skills can meet deadlines, maximize productivity, and achieve business goals.

47. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to deliver compelling and engaging presentations. This soft skill involves being articulate, persuasive, and confident in delivering presentations to different audiences. A person with strong presentation skills can influence decisions, build credibility, and enhance business outcomes.

48. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and bounce back from setbacks. This soft skill involves being adaptable, positive, and able to maintain perspective in difficult situations. A person with strong resilience can maintain productivity, overcome obstacles, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

49. Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking is the ability to think ahead and plan for the future. This soft skill involves being able to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and develop effective strategies to achieve business objectives. A person with strong strategic thinking skills can maximize opportunities, minimize risk, and enhance business outcomes.

50. Work ethic

Work ethic is the ability to work hard, be persistent, and demonstrate a strong commitment to work. This soft skill involves being reliable, responsible, and willing to go the extra mile to achieve results. A person with strong work ethic can maintain high standards, build trust with colleagues, and achieve success in their career.

In conclusion, showcasing your soft skills on your resume is essential in today's job market. By identifying the soft skills required for the job, incorporating them into your resume objective or summary, providing examples in the experience section, highlighting them in the skills section, and providing additional evidence, you can set yourself apart from other candidates and increase your chances of landing the job.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Soft skills 101: definition + 50 examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn all about soft skills in this comprehensive guide. Discover how developing these interpersonal attributes can enhance your professional success.

# data[].attributes.body
Most important soft skills to have

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What do employers look for in new employees? According to business leaders, while the three “R’s” (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are still fundamental to every employee’s ability to do the job, employers view “soft” skills as even more important to work readiness. These skills include:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in today's job market. They refer to the personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Employers are looking for candidates who possess these skills in addition to their technical expertise. In this article, we will guide beginners on how to showcase their soft skills on their resume.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills refer to a set of personal attributes, behaviors, and social attitudes that enable individuals to interact effectively with others in a workplace or social environment. These skills are essential for building healthy relationships, communicating effectively, solving problems, and collaborating with others. Soft skills are intangible and subjective qualities that cannot be measured or quantified like hard skills. They include

communication

teamwork

problem-solving

critical thinking

adaptability

time management

leadership

creativity

emotional intelligence

(More examples below)

Developing soft skills is crucial in today's job market, where employers value employees who can demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills that can help organizations thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment. Moreover, soft skills are not just limited to the workplace. They also play a significant role in our personal lives, helping us build meaningful relationships, manage conflicts, and navigate social situations effectively.

Soft skills are often developed through life experiences, practice, and self-reflection, and can be honed through various methods such as attending workshops, reading books, or seeking feedback from others. In summary, soft skills are a vital component of personal and professional success and are essential for individuals looking to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in the world.

How to share soft skills

1. Identify the soft skills required for the job

The first step is to research the job requirements and identify the soft skills that are essential for the role. This information can be found in the job description or by speaking to people in the industry. Once you have a list of required soft skills, you can focus on highlighting them in your resume.

2. Incorporate soft skills into your resume objective or summary

Your resume objective or summary is the first thing that recruiters will read. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. You can incorporate them by using phrases such as "I am a highly motivated individual with excellent communication and teamwork skills."

3. Provide examples of your soft skills in the experience section

In the experience section of your resume, provide specific examples of how you have used your soft skills in previous roles. For example, if you are applying for a customer service role, you could highlight how you have resolved customer complaints by utilizing your problem-solving skills. Use action verbs such as "managed," "coordinated," "facilitated," or "led" to describe your soft skills in action.

4. Highlight soft skills in the skills section

The skills section of your resume is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. List them under a separate heading and use bullet points to describe each one. For example, under the heading "Teamwork," you could list bullet points such as "collaborated with team members to achieve project goals" or "supported team members in achieving their individual goals."

5. Provide additional evidence of your soft skills

Finally, provide additional evidence of your soft skills in your resume by including any relevant certifications or awards. For example, if you have completed a leadership course or received an award for outstanding teamwork, be sure to include it in your resume.

Examples of Soft Skills

1. Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful professional relationship. Being able to articulate your thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely in written or verbal form is crucial for maintaining productive working relationships. This soft skill also encompasses active listening, understanding and interpreting non-verbal cues, and adapting communication style to suit different audiences.

2. Teamwork

Teamwork is about working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal. It involves sharing ideas and resources, taking on different roles and responsibilities, and being willing to support and assist team members as needed. A strong team player also understands the importance of building trust and rapport with colleagues, communicating effectively, and being receptive to feedback.

3. Problem-solving

The ability to identify, analyze and solve problems is an essential soft skill in any workplace. A skilled problem-solver has a logical and systematic approach to identifying the root cause of issues, as well as the creativity to generate and implement effective solutions. This skill requires a combination of critical thinking, research, data analysis, and innovation.

4. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. It requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization and organization. This soft skill also involves the ability to stay focused and avoid distractions, delegate tasks when appropriate, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

5. Leadership

Leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve a common objective. A skilled leader can provide direction and guidance, manage resources and people effectively, and make difficult decisions when necessary. This soft skill also encompasses effective communication, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and the ability to foster a positive and inclusive team culture.

6. Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to change and new situations with ease. A highly adaptable person can work effectively in diverse environments, be flexible with changing priorities, and learn new skills and systems quickly. This soft skill also involves being open-minded, creative and innovative, and able to think on one's feet.

7. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and approach problems from different angles. This soft skill requires imagination, curiosity, and the ability to see connections between seemingly disparate ideas. Creativity is essential for innovation, process improvement, and finding new solutions to complex problems.

8. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and relate to others' emotions and experiences. This soft skill involves active listening, showing compassion, and being able to put oneself in others' shoes. Empathy is crucial for building strong relationships, resolving conflicts, and creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

9. Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is the ability to manage and resolve conflicts effectively. A skilled conflict resolver can identify the underlying causes of conflict, communicate clearly and empathetically, and negotiate win-win solutions. This soft skill also involves active listening, problem-solving, and the ability to remain calm and objective under pressure.

10. Active listening

Active listening is the ability to focus on and understand the speaker's message fully. This soft skill involves paying attention to non-verbal cues, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback to the speaker. Active listening is essential for effective communication, building trust and rapport, and resolving conflicts.

11. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively and make informed decisions. This soft skill involves evaluating evidence, identifying assumptions, and recognizing biases. A skilled critical thinker can synthesize complex information, consider multiple perspectives, and make logical and evidence-based conclusions.

12. Cultural competence

Cultural competence is the ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This soft skill involves understanding and respecting cultural differences, being aware of one's own biases, and adapting communication and behavior to suit different cultural contexts. A culturally competent person can build strong relationships with people from all walks of life.

13. Customer service

Customer service is the ability to provide exceptional service to customers and clients. This soft skill involves actively listening to customers' needs, providing accurate and timely information, and resolving issues in a timely and professional manner. A skilled customer service provider can build strong customer relationships, foster loyalty, and enhance the company's reputation.

14. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make effective decisions based on available information. This soft skill involves weighing different options, considering potential outcomes, and evaluating risks and benefits. A skilled decision-maker can make timely and effective decisions, communicate their reasoning clearly, and be accountable for their choices.

15. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage one's own emotions and the emotions of others. This soft skill involves being aware of one's own emotional state, being empathetic towards others, and responding appropriately to emotional cues. A person with high emotional intelligence can build strong relationships, resolve conflicts effectively, and lead with empathy.

16. Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This soft skill involves being open-minded, responsive to feedback, and able to adjust to new situations with ease. A flexible person can work effectively in fast-paced environments, handle unexpected challenges, and maintain a positive attitude.

17. Goal-setting

Goal-setting is the ability to set achievable goals and work towards achieving them. This soft skill involves being proactive, organized, and focused on results. A person who sets effective goals can prioritize tasks, track progress, and maintain motivation in the face of challenges.

18. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with others. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution. A person with strong interpersonal skills can build rapport, establish trust, and collaborate effectively with others.

19. Negotiation

Negotiation is the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts effectively. This soft skill involves identifying common ground, being persuasive, and finding win-win solutions. A skilled negotiator can build relationships, resolve conflicts, and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

20. Patience

Patience is the ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations. This soft skill involves self-control, emotional regulation, and the ability to take a long-term view. A patient person can stay focused on goals, maintain relationships, and handle difficult situations with grace and resilience.

21. Persuasion

Persuasion is the ability to convince others of one's ideas and opinions. This soft skill involves effective communication, building trust, and being able to present a compelling argument. A skilled persuader can influence decisions, build consensus, and negotiate win-win outcomes.

22. Positive attitude

A positive attitude is the ability to maintain a positive and optimistic outlook. This soft skill involves being resilient, adaptable, and solution-oriented. A person with a positive attitude can motivate others, foster collaboration, and build strong relationships even in difficult circumstances.

23. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to present ideas and information clearly and persuasively. This soft skill involves effective communication, organization, and the ability to engage an audience. A skilled presenter can influence decisions, build credibility, and create a lasting impression.

24. Problem analysis

Problem analysis is the ability to identify and analyze problems to find effective solutions. This soft skill involves critical thinking, data analysis, and the ability to think creatively. A skilled problem analyst can identify root causes, develop effective strategies, and implement sustainable solutions.

25. Self-motivation

Self-motivation is the ability to motivate oneself to achieve goals and overcome obstacles. This soft skill involves being proactive, focused, and disciplined. A person with high self-motivation can stay on track, take initiative, and achieve success in the face of challenges.

26. Stress management

Stress management is the ability to manage stress effectively and remain calm under pressure. This soft skill involves self-awareness, emotional regulation, and coping strategies. A person with strong stress management skills can maintain productivity, build resilience, and manage relationships effectively even in high-pressure situations.

27. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. This soft skill requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization, and organization. A skilled time manager can maintain focus, avoid distractions, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

28. Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness is the ability to maintain the trust and confidence of others. This soft skill involves being honest, reliable, and accountable. A person with high trustworthiness can build strong relationships, foster teamwork, and promote a culture of trust and respect.

29. Verbal communication

Verbal communication is the ability to articulate ideas and information clearly and effectively. This soft skill involves effective listening, tone, and the ability to adapt communication style to different audiences. A person with strong verbal communication skills can build rapport, resolve conflicts, and motivate others effectively.

30. Writing

Writing is the ability to write clearly and effectively to convey ideas and information. This soft skill involves grammar, syntax, and effective communication. A skilled writer can communicate complex ideas clearly, persuade readers, and create compelling content that engages and inspires.

31. Attention to detail

Attention to detail is the ability to notice small details and ensure accuracy and quality in work. This soft skill involves being meticulous, thorough, and focused on delivering high-quality results. A person with strong attention to detail can minimize errors, enhance productivity, and maintain customer satisfaction.

32. Coaching and mentoring

Coaching and mentoring is the ability to guide, teach and mentor others to achieve their goals. This soft skill involves providing feedback, modeling behavior, and supporting others in their professional development. A skilled coach and mentor can build relationships, inspire growth, and promote a positive team culture.

33. Conflict management

Conflict management is the ability to manage conflicts effectively and reach win-win solutions. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, and negotiation. A person with strong conflict management skills can resolve disputes, build consensus, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

34. Cultural awareness

Cultural awareness is the ability to understand and respect cultural differences in the workplace. This soft skill involves recognizing and appreciating diverse perspectives, beliefs, and values. A culturally aware person can work effectively in a global environment, build relationships across cultures, and promote inclusion and diversity.

35. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make informed and timely decisions. This soft skill involves analyzing data, evaluating options, and considering the impact of decisions on stakeholders. A skilled decision-maker can make sound decisions, take calculated risks, and achieve business objectives effectively.

36. Dependability

Dependability is the ability to be reliable and trustworthy in completing tasks and meeting deadlines. This soft skill involves being accountable, punctual, and responsive. A dependable person can maintain high standards, meet expectations, and build trust and respect among colleagues.

37. Diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion is the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and foster an inclusive workplace culture. This soft skill involves being open-minded, respectful, and supportive of differences. A person with strong diversity and inclusion skills can build a sense of belonging, promote creativity, and enhance business outcomes.

38. Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the ability to approach work with passion and energy. This soft skill involves being optimistic, engaged, and committed to achieving results. A person with strong enthusiasm can inspire others, promote positive attitudes, and drive success in a team environment.

39. Financial management

Financial management is the ability to manage financial resources effectively. This soft skill involves understanding financial principles, analyzing data, and making sound decisions. A person with strong financial management skills can optimize resources, minimize risk, and achieve business objectives.

40. Humility

Humility is the ability to admit mistakes and learn from feedback. This soft skill involves being open-minded, reflective, and willing to grow. A person with strong humility can build credibility, promote a culture of learning, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

41. Initiative

Initiative is the ability to take proactive steps to solve problems and improve processes. This soft skill involves being self-motivated, creative, and willing to take calculated risks. A person with strong initiative can drive innovation, enhance productivity, and achieve business goals.

42. Innovation

Innovation is the ability to create new ideas, products, or processes. This soft skill involves being creative, adaptable, and willing to take risks. A person with strong innovation skills can drive growth, solve complex problems, and enhance customer satisfaction.

43. Intercultural communication

Intercultural communication is the ability to communicate effectively across different cultures and languages. This soft skill involves being aware of cultural differences, using appropriate language and tone, and adapting to cultural norms. A person with strong intercultural communication skills can build strong relationships, promote understanding, and enhance global business outcomes.

44. Interpersonal communication

Interpersonal communication is the ability to communicate effectively and build strong relationships with others. This soft skill involves active listening, empathy, and effective use of non-verbal cues. A person with strong interpersonal communication skills can build trust, resolve conflicts, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

45. Learning agility

Learning agility is the ability to adapt to new situations and learn quickly. This soft skill involves being open-minded, curious, and willing to experiment. A person with strong learning agility can acquire new skills and knowledge, adapt to changing circumstances, and enhance personal and professional growth.

46. Organizational skills

Organizational skills are the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively. This soft skill involves being organized, efficient, and able to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. A person with strong organizational skills can meet deadlines, maximize productivity, and achieve business goals.

47. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to deliver compelling and engaging presentations. This soft skill involves being articulate, persuasive, and confident in delivering presentations to different audiences. A person with strong presentation skills can influence decisions, build credibility, and enhance business outcomes.

48. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and bounce back from setbacks. This soft skill involves being adaptable, positive, and able to maintain perspective in difficult situations. A person with strong resilience can maintain productivity, overcome obstacles, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

49. Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking is the ability to think ahead and plan for the future. This soft skill involves being able to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and develop effective strategies to achieve business objectives. A person with strong strategic thinking skills can maximize opportunities, minimize risk, and enhance business outcomes.

50. Work ethic

Work ethic is the ability to work hard, be persistent, and demonstrate a strong commitment to work. This soft skill involves being reliable, responsible, and willing to go the extra mile to achieve results. A person with strong work ethic can maintain high standards, build trust with colleagues, and achieve success in their career.

In conclusion, showcasing your soft skills on your resume is essential in today's job market. By identifying the soft skills required for the job, incorporating them into your resume objective or summary, providing examples in the experience section, highlighting them in the skills section, and providing additional evidence, you can set yourself apart from other candidates and increase your chances of landing the job.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Soft skills 101: definition + 50 examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn all about soft skills in this comprehensive guide. Discover how developing these interpersonal attributes can enhance your professional success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An official website of the United States government.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in today's job market. They refer to the personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Employers are looking for candidates who possess these skills in addition to their technical expertise. In this article, we will guide beginners on how to showcase their soft skills on their resume.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills refer to a set of personal attributes, behaviors, and social attitudes that enable individuals to interact effectively with others in a workplace or social environment. These skills are essential for building healthy relationships, communicating effectively, solving problems, and collaborating with others. Soft skills are intangible and subjective qualities that cannot be measured or quantified like hard skills. They include

communication

teamwork

problem-solving

critical thinking

adaptability

time management

leadership

creativity

emotional intelligence

(More examples below)

Developing soft skills is crucial in today's job market, where employers value employees who can demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills that can help organizations thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment. Moreover, soft skills are not just limited to the workplace. They also play a significant role in our personal lives, helping us build meaningful relationships, manage conflicts, and navigate social situations effectively.

Soft skills are often developed through life experiences, practice, and self-reflection, and can be honed through various methods such as attending workshops, reading books, or seeking feedback from others. In summary, soft skills are a vital component of personal and professional success and are essential for individuals looking to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in the world.

How to share soft skills

1. Identify the soft skills required for the job

The first step is to research the job requirements and identify the soft skills that are essential for the role. This information can be found in the job description or by speaking to people in the industry. Once you have a list of required soft skills, you can focus on highlighting them in your resume.

2. Incorporate soft skills into your resume objective or summary

Your resume objective or summary is the first thing that recruiters will read. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. You can incorporate them by using phrases such as "I am a highly motivated individual with excellent communication and teamwork skills."

3. Provide examples of your soft skills in the experience section

In the experience section of your resume, provide specific examples of how you have used your soft skills in previous roles. For example, if you are applying for a customer service role, you could highlight how you have resolved customer complaints by utilizing your problem-solving skills. Use action verbs such as "managed," "coordinated," "facilitated," or "led" to describe your soft skills in action.

4. Highlight soft skills in the skills section

The skills section of your resume is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. List them under a separate heading and use bullet points to describe each one. For example, under the heading "Teamwork," you could list bullet points such as "collaborated with team members to achieve project goals" or "supported team members in achieving their individual goals."

5. Provide additional evidence of your soft skills

Finally, provide additional evidence of your soft skills in your resume by including any relevant certifications or awards. For example, if you have completed a leadership course or received an award for outstanding teamwork, be sure to include it in your resume.

Examples of Soft Skills

1. Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful professional relationship. Being able to articulate your thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely in written or verbal form is crucial for maintaining productive working relationships. This soft skill also encompasses active listening, understanding and interpreting non-verbal cues, and adapting communication style to suit different audiences.

2. Teamwork

Teamwork is about working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal. It involves sharing ideas and resources, taking on different roles and responsibilities, and being willing to support and assist team members as needed. A strong team player also understands the importance of building trust and rapport with colleagues, communicating effectively, and being receptive to feedback.

3. Problem-solving

The ability to identify, analyze and solve problems is an essential soft skill in any workplace. A skilled problem-solver has a logical and systematic approach to identifying the root cause of issues, as well as the creativity to generate and implement effective solutions. This skill requires a combination of critical thinking, research, data analysis, and innovation.

4. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. It requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization and organization. This soft skill also involves the ability to stay focused and avoid distractions, delegate tasks when appropriate, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

5. Leadership

Leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve a common objective. A skilled leader can provide direction and guidance, manage resources and people effectively, and make difficult decisions when necessary. This soft skill also encompasses effective communication, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and the ability to foster a positive and inclusive team culture.

6. Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to change and new situations with ease. A highly adaptable person can work effectively in diverse environments, be flexible with changing priorities, and learn new skills and systems quickly. This soft skill also involves being open-minded, creative and innovative, and able to think on one's feet.

7. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and approach problems from different angles. This soft skill requires imagination, curiosity, and the ability to see connections between seemingly disparate ideas. Creativity is essential for innovation, process improvement, and finding new solutions to complex problems.

8. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and relate to others' emotions and experiences. This soft skill involves active listening, showing compassion, and being able to put oneself in others' shoes. Empathy is crucial for building strong relationships, resolving conflicts, and creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

9. Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is the ability to manage and resolve conflicts effectively. A skilled conflict resolver can identify the underlying causes of conflict, communicate clearly and empathetically, and negotiate win-win solutions. This soft skill also involves active listening, problem-solving, and the ability to remain calm and objective under pressure.

10. Active listening

Active listening is the ability to focus on and understand the speaker's message fully. This soft skill involves paying attention to non-verbal cues, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback to the speaker. Active listening is essential for effective communication, building trust and rapport, and resolving conflicts.

11. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively and make informed decisions. This soft skill involves evaluating evidence, identifying assumptions, and recognizing biases. A skilled critical thinker can synthesize complex information, consider multiple perspectives, and make logical and evidence-based conclusions.

12. Cultural competence

Cultural competence is the ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This soft skill involves understanding and respecting cultural differences, being aware of one's own biases, and adapting communication and behavior to suit different cultural contexts. A culturally competent person can build strong relationships with people from all walks of life.

13. Customer service

Customer service is the ability to provide exceptional service to customers and clients. This soft skill involves actively listening to customers' needs, providing accurate and timely information, and resolving issues in a timely and professional manner. A skilled customer service provider can build strong customer relationships, foster loyalty, and enhance the company's reputation.

14. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make effective decisions based on available information. This soft skill involves weighing different options, considering potential outcomes, and evaluating risks and benefits. A skilled decision-maker can make timely and effective decisions, communicate their reasoning clearly, and be accountable for their choices.

15. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage one's own emotions and the emotions of others. This soft skill involves being aware of one's own emotional state, being empathetic towards others, and responding appropriately to emotional cues. A person with high emotional intelligence can build strong relationships, resolve conflicts effectively, and lead with empathy.

16. Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This soft skill involves being open-minded, responsive to feedback, and able to adjust to new situations with ease. A flexible person can work effectively in fast-paced environments, handle unexpected challenges, and maintain a positive attitude.

17. Goal-setting

Goal-setting is the ability to set achievable goals and work towards achieving them. This soft skill involves being proactive, organized, and focused on results. A person who sets effective goals can prioritize tasks, track progress, and maintain motivation in the face of challenges.

18. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with others. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution. A person with strong interpersonal skills can build rapport, establish trust, and collaborate effectively with others.

19. Negotiation

Negotiation is the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts effectively. This soft skill involves identifying common ground, being persuasive, and finding win-win solutions. A skilled negotiator can build relationships, resolve conflicts, and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

20. Patience

Patience is the ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations. This soft skill involves self-control, emotional regulation, and the ability to take a long-term view. A patient person can stay focused on goals, maintain relationships, and handle difficult situations with grace and resilience.

21. Persuasion

Persuasion is the ability to convince others of one's ideas and opinions. This soft skill involves effective communication, building trust, and being able to present a compelling argument. A skilled persuader can influence decisions, build consensus, and negotiate win-win outcomes.

22. Positive attitude

A positive attitude is the ability to maintain a positive and optimistic outlook. This soft skill involves being resilient, adaptable, and solution-oriented. A person with a positive attitude can motivate others, foster collaboration, and build strong relationships even in difficult circumstances.

23. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to present ideas and information clearly and persuasively. This soft skill involves effective communication, organization, and the ability to engage an audience. A skilled presenter can influence decisions, build credibility, and create a lasting impression.

24. Problem analysis

Problem analysis is the ability to identify and analyze problems to find effective solutions. This soft skill involves critical thinking, data analysis, and the ability to think creatively. A skilled problem analyst can identify root causes, develop effective strategies, and implement sustainable solutions.

25. Self-motivation

Self-motivation is the ability to motivate oneself to achieve goals and overcome obstacles. This soft skill involves being proactive, focused, and disciplined. A person with high self-motivation can stay on track, take initiative, and achieve success in the face of challenges.

26. Stress management

Stress management is the ability to manage stress effectively and remain calm under pressure. This soft skill involves self-awareness, emotional regulation, and coping strategies. A person with strong stress management skills can maintain productivity, build resilience, and manage relationships effectively even in high-pressure situations.

27. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. This soft skill requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization, and organization. A skilled time manager can maintain focus, avoid distractions, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

28. Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness is the ability to maintain the trust and confidence of others. This soft skill involves being honest, reliable, and accountable. A person with high trustworthiness can build strong relationships, foster teamwork, and promote a culture of trust and respect.

29. Verbal communication

Verbal communication is the ability to articulate ideas and information clearly and effectively. This soft skill involves effective listening, tone, and the ability to adapt communication style to different audiences. A person with strong verbal communication skills can build rapport, resolve conflicts, and motivate others effectively.

30. Writing

Writing is the ability to write clearly and effectively to convey ideas and information. This soft skill involves grammar, syntax, and effective communication. A skilled writer can communicate complex ideas clearly, persuade readers, and create compelling content that engages and inspires.

31. Attention to detail

Attention to detail is the ability to notice small details and ensure accuracy and quality in work. This soft skill involves being meticulous, thorough, and focused on delivering high-quality results. A person with strong attention to detail can minimize errors, enhance productivity, and maintain customer satisfaction.

32. Coaching and mentoring

Coaching and mentoring is the ability to guide, teach and mentor others to achieve their goals. This soft skill involves providing feedback, modeling behavior, and supporting others in their professional development. A skilled coach and mentor can build relationships, inspire growth, and promote a positive team culture.

33. Conflict management

Conflict management is the ability to manage conflicts effectively and reach win-win solutions. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, and negotiation. A person with strong conflict management skills can resolve disputes, build consensus, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

34. Cultural awareness

Cultural awareness is the ability to understand and respect cultural differences in the workplace. This soft skill involves recognizing and appreciating diverse perspectives, beliefs, and values. A culturally aware person can work effectively in a global environment, build relationships across cultures, and promote inclusion and diversity.

35. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make informed and timely decisions. This soft skill involves analyzing data, evaluating options, and considering the impact of decisions on stakeholders. A skilled decision-maker can make sound decisions, take calculated risks, and achieve business objectives effectively.

36. Dependability

Dependability is the ability to be reliable and trustworthy in completing tasks and meeting deadlines. This soft skill involves being accountable, punctual, and responsive. A dependable person can maintain high standards, meet expectations, and build trust and respect among colleagues.

37. Diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion is the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and foster an inclusive workplace culture. This soft skill involves being open-minded, respectful, and supportive of differences. A person with strong diversity and inclusion skills can build a sense of belonging, promote creativity, and enhance business outcomes.

38. Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the ability to approach work with passion and energy. This soft skill involves being optimistic, engaged, and committed to achieving results. A person with strong enthusiasm can inspire others, promote positive attitudes, and drive success in a team environment.

39. Financial management

Financial management is the ability to manage financial resources effectively. This soft skill involves understanding financial principles, analyzing data, and making sound decisions. A person with strong financial management skills can optimize resources, minimize risk, and achieve business objectives.

40. Humility

Humility is the ability to admit mistakes and learn from feedback. This soft skill involves being open-minded, reflective, and willing to grow. A person with strong humility can build credibility, promote a culture of learning, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

41. Initiative

Initiative is the ability to take proactive steps to solve problems and improve processes. This soft skill involves being self-motivated, creative, and willing to take calculated risks. A person with strong initiative can drive innovation, enhance productivity, and achieve business goals.

42. Innovation

Innovation is the ability to create new ideas, products, or processes. This soft skill involves being creative, adaptable, and willing to take risks. A person with strong innovation skills can drive growth, solve complex problems, and enhance customer satisfaction.

43. Intercultural communication

Intercultural communication is the ability to communicate effectively across different cultures and languages. This soft skill involves being aware of cultural differences, using appropriate language and tone, and adapting to cultural norms. A person with strong intercultural communication skills can build strong relationships, promote understanding, and enhance global business outcomes.

44. Interpersonal communication

Interpersonal communication is the ability to communicate effectively and build strong relationships with others. This soft skill involves active listening, empathy, and effective use of non-verbal cues. A person with strong interpersonal communication skills can build trust, resolve conflicts, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

45. Learning agility

Learning agility is the ability to adapt to new situations and learn quickly. This soft skill involves being open-minded, curious, and willing to experiment. A person with strong learning agility can acquire new skills and knowledge, adapt to changing circumstances, and enhance personal and professional growth.

46. Organizational skills

Organizational skills are the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively. This soft skill involves being organized, efficient, and able to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. A person with strong organizational skills can meet deadlines, maximize productivity, and achieve business goals.

47. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to deliver compelling and engaging presentations. This soft skill involves being articulate, persuasive, and confident in delivering presentations to different audiences. A person with strong presentation skills can influence decisions, build credibility, and enhance business outcomes.

48. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and bounce back from setbacks. This soft skill involves being adaptable, positive, and able to maintain perspective in difficult situations. A person with strong resilience can maintain productivity, overcome obstacles, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

49. Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking is the ability to think ahead and plan for the future. This soft skill involves being able to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and develop effective strategies to achieve business objectives. A person with strong strategic thinking skills can maximize opportunities, minimize risk, and enhance business outcomes.

50. Work ethic

Work ethic is the ability to work hard, be persistent, and demonstrate a strong commitment to work. This soft skill involves being reliable, responsible, and willing to go the extra mile to achieve results. A person with strong work ethic can maintain high standards, build trust with colleagues, and achieve success in their career.

In conclusion, showcasing your soft skills on your resume is essential in today's job market. By identifying the soft skills required for the job, incorporating them into your resume objective or summary, providing examples in the experience section, highlighting them in the skills section, and providing additional evidence, you can set yourself apart from other candidates and increase your chances of landing the job.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Soft skills 101: definition + 50 examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn all about soft skills in this comprehensive guide. Discover how developing these interpersonal attributes can enhance your professional success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are non-technical skills that describe how you work and interact with others. Unlike hard skills, they're not necessarily something you'll learn in a course, like data analytics or programming skills. Instead, they're something you often build through experience. Soft skills reflect your communication style, work ethic, and work style.

Showcase new skills

Build the confidence and practical skills that employers are looking for with Forage's free job simulations.

What Are Soft Skills at Work?

Soft skills are interpersonal skills that describe how you work and interact with other people. These skills apply to all kinds of jobs and careers. For example, a professor and an investment manager can both be great communicators and have exceptional leadership skills, although how those skills translate into their professions can look quite different. No matter what field you're interested in, these skills won't just come in handy - they'll be integral to your success at a company.

What Are Soft Skills Examples?

These skills generally fall into a few different categories:

Communication Skills

Communication skills describe how you interact with the people you work with - from your boss to your friendly colleague to an important client. These skills are vital in getting your ideas across in a meeting, sharing status updates on a project, or effectively negotiating with a coworker about how to move forward. Some soft communication skills include:
>>MORE: Top Communication Skills for the Workplace
Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are essential in all types of roles, even if you're not directly managing someone. Adding these skills to a resume shows your potential employer that you're confident in taking charge and leading by example. Some soft leadership skills include:

Teamwork Skills

No one works in a silo, even if they're on a team of one. Teamwork skills are critical in any job to work harmoniously with stakeholders across projects, teams, and departments. These skills aren't just about getting along, though. It's also essential to know when to disagree and push back to get the best result. Some soft teamwork skills include:

Empathetic listening

Conflict resolution

Rapport-building

Decision-making

Respectfulness

Problem-Solving Skills

Companies hire people to help them solve problems and find the best solutions. No matter what role you're taking on, you'll need to think creatively, analytically, and logically to understand why problems are happening and how to solve the issue.

Whether it's understanding why there's not enough traffic to a website or how to raise students' test scores, problems in the workplace are everywhere, and companies want new hires to bring fresh and innovative ways to solve them. Problem-solving skills include:

Critical Thinking Skills

These skills help people identify the root cause of an issue. Critical thinkers analyze, research, identify, and think outside the box to make sense of information. At work, critical thinking helps people solve problems and challenge preconceived notions to help create the best path forward. Some soft critical thinking skills include:

Time Management Skills

Time management skills ensure employees perform their jobs efficiently and productively. While time management is essential to any role, these skills are critical in hybrid and remote work environments. Employers want to know they can trust employees to get things done even if they're not physically in an office with them. Some time management skills include:

"We all have soft skills because they are part of who we are," Sabrina Cortes, resume writer, says. "Top soft skills are teamwork, attention to detail, time management, organization, verbal and written communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, adaptability/flexibility, problem-solving/conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills. ... Unfortunately, all too often, these personality traits are overlooked [by applicants]. But they play a role in each job out there."

Of course, some skills are more applicable to specific jobs than others. Here are some examples of how soft skills can be applied to specific industries:

Customer service

Verbal communication, to speak with clients clearly and concisely

Teaching

Public speaking, to present to a classroom of students confidently

Sales

Persuasion, to convince potential buyers to invest in what you're selling

Law

Organization, to manage a variety of responsibilities under tight timelines and pressure

Why Are Soft Skills Important?

Soft skills are important because they make you a successful employee and a helpful team member - and they're a crucial part of helping you land a job.

"Employers want to see how well [potential employees] work with people and can think beyond their learning," Joanne Rosen, Chief Operations Officer at Write Choice Resumes, explains.

Employers look for soft skills because these skills are helpful indicators of how successful a new hire will be. According to a Leadership IQ study, 89% of new hire failures were a result of poor soft skills, not a lack of technical failures. New hires were more likely to fail because they lacked soft skills like coachability, emotional intelligence, and motivation. Only 11% of new hire failures were a result of technical incompetence.

This trend especially rings true for entry-level hires. Because entry-level applicants don't have advanced technical skills yet, having good soft skills can set you apart from the competition.

>>MORE: Learn what careers are right for you based on your skillset with our career aptitude test.

What Soft Skills Do Employers Look For?

Not all soft skills are created equal in employers' eyes. According to a 2023 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the top skills employers look for are problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a team.

"In my experience, it's valuable [for students] to convey these three key soft skills: time management, communications, and customer service," 5X Certified Resume Writer Virginia Franco says. "They are most relevant to entry-level success across diverse industries and job functions."

How to Improve Your Soft Skills

Now you know - soft skills are a major way to stand out in the job search when you're just starting out. But how do you start to improve yours?

Go Out of Your Way to Work With Others

If you're like me, group projects are the bane of your academic career. Yet they're a valuable way to build soft skills and experience that you can talk about in interviews. Proactively seek out group settings when working on projects, whether you're in the classroom or for an extracurricular. Even if the project takes a little longer than it would have on your own, you'll practice skills like problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and feedback. If you're lucky, you'll even build conflict resolution skills!

Practice Responsive Soft Skills

Soft skills aren't just what you bring to the working world, but how you respond to it. Start with how you communicate with others. It's not just about what you're saying to another person, but how you listen and process what they're saying back to you.

Self-Reflect

Finally, the best way to work on your soft skills is to reflect on your progress. Soft skills can be a lot harder to measure than hard skills because they're often unquantifiable. Instead, you can track your progress by thinking of examples of when you have (or haven't!) used your soft skills when working on a school project, or in an internship, volunteer opportunity, part-time job, extracurricular, or any other experience you might talk about in an interview. Where are your gaps? Could you have been a more effective communicator? Were you a great negotiator? What can you do differently next time?

Including Soft Skills on a Resume

Because employers are looking for soft skills in the entry-level hiring process, it's crucial for you not only to include them, but to know the right ones to include.

What Soft Skills Should I Include on My Resume?

One of the best ways to know what skills to include on your resume is to look at the job description. Just as you'd include hard skills based on a job description's requirements, reading what a company is looking for can help determine what soft skills to include.

>>Forage find: Unlike hard skills, the exact soft skills an employer is looking for might not be as spelled out. Look for clues on what kinds of workers they're looking for - Team players? Independent? Self-motivated? - to understand what skills to include.

Is the company looking for someone who can handle communicating big ideas with customers and clients? Demonstrate those communication skills. Does it want someone strategic who can tackle big issues? Show that you're an excellent problem-solver.

How to Include Soft Skills on a Resume

Resume experts agree that you don't necessarily need a dedicated skills section to flaunt your soft skills on a resume.

"Soft skills need to be demonstrated, not listed," Rosen says. "Example: Rescued at-risk account by communicating with the client about needs and creating innovative customer-facing solutions."
>>MORE: How to Write a Resume
By using the phrases "communicating" and" "creating innovative, customer-facing solutions," the candidate shows off their communication skills and problem-solving skills.

You can also use a professional summary to flex these skills.

"I like to mix soft skills with hard skills," Wendi Weiner, attorney and resume expert, says. "You can include a sentence in your professional summary that speaks to some of your soft skills. Example: 'Record of leading projects from concept to completion through strong problem solving, team building, and solid time management.' The hard skill in this sentence is project management, and it's leveraged by the soft skills of problem-solving, team building, and time management."
Image credit: GaudiLab / Depositphotos.com
If you do include a skills section on your resume, you can use the same section to list both hard and soft skills. It's a great way to save on space while sharing a well-rounded picture of your abilities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Are Soft Skills? Definition and Examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft skills are personal attributes relating to how you work and interact with people. Learn soft skills examples, why they're important, and how to include them on your resume.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here's a look at the essential soft skills that companies value the most.

1. Communication

Effective communication is essential to build strong relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders. Not only does this involve the ability to convey messages in a clear and compelling way, but also the ability to understand the needs of others and respond to feedback. Employers want people who can build professional relationships with colleagues, which is especially important when working with teams.

Communication is often evaluated in the workplace through informal feedback, such as verbal or written comments from colleagues and supervisors. An alternative method is a formal evaluation or assessment. The ability to communicate effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions.

Here are some examples of communication skills:

Active listening

Verbal communication

Nonverbal communication

Written communication

Presentation skills

2. Leadership

A good leader has the ability to inspire their team to achieve greatness. They are able to set a clear vision, communicate it effectively and create a culture of accountability and excellence. More importantly, they're able to inspire and influence team members to achieve shared goals and objectives.

The ability to lead effectively is often considered a critical component of professional success, and is highly valued by employers in a wide range of industries and professions. Because most employees work in teams, leadership is widely recognized as a critical attribute for success in the modern workplace.

Here are some examples of leadership skills:

3. Teamwork

Teamwork involves the ability to work with others toward a shared goal. It requires communication, collaboration and a shared commitment to work in a group. Individuals who are able to work collaboratively with others are more likely to achieve their professional goals, and to contribute to the success of their organizations.

In a professional setting, good teamwork can help to foster creativity and innovation because it encourages members to share ideas, brainstorm new solutions and collaborate on new initiatives. Working as part of a collaborative team can also enhance job satisfaction and contribute to a positive work environment.

Here are some examples of teamwork skills:

4. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to think outside the box and come up with ideas that challenge assumptions. Needless to say, it requires a mindset of curiosity, risk-taking and a willingness to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty.

On another front, creativity is essential for effective problem-solving, meaning it allows individuals to tackle issues from new and different angles. Creative individuals also give organizations a competitive edge by enabling them to develop new products and systems that set them apart from their competition.

Here are some examples of creative skills:

5. Time management

Time management involves the ability to set priorities, organize tasks and allot time across different activities. It requires discipline and a willingness to avoid distractions and low-priority tasks.

Naturally, good time management skills can help individuals avoid the stress and anxiety that can arise from missed deadlines. But more importantly, those who can manage their time effectively are more likely to be seen as reliable and efficient, which allows them to stand out in the workplace.

Here are some examples of time management skills:

6. Adaptability

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, adaptability is a key soft skill that enables individuals to stay ahead of the curve. An employee with this skill can adjust to changing circumstances, for example, and learn new skills and technologies to remain relevant in the workplace.

Because it's impossible to avoid unexpected challenges, having adaptable employees allows organizations to bounce back from setbacks much faster. Plus, they can also read situations quickly and adjust their approach to adapt based on the situation.

Here are some examples of adaptability skills:

7. Problem-solving

Problem-solving involves the ability to come up with alternative solutions. This skill is crucial to identifying and addressing complex challenges and opportunities in a variety of contexts.

Problem-solving also makes it easier to make more informed decisions because employees are able to analyze situations and identify the best course of action. As a result, teams are able to get more done in less time.

Here are some examples of problem-solving skills:

8. Work ethic

Work ethic demonstrates an individual's commitment to their job. Having a strong work ethic makes you seem more reliable and dependable, which improves your credibility in the workplace.

There are a lot of ways to demonstrate a strong work ethic. Some examples include arriving on time for meetings, meeting deadlines consistently and being accountable for your actions. If you encounter any challenges in the workplace, you should also maintain a positive demeanor and adapt to changing situations.

Here are some examples of work ethic skills:

9. Critical thinking

Critical thinking enables individuals to approach problems and challenges with a strategic and analytical mindset. When making informed decisions, this skill allows you to weigh available options and consider potential outcomes.

A critical thinker can evaluate the strength of arguments and identify flaws in reasoning. They consider multiple perspectives, which makes them more likely to pinpoint the short-term and long-term consequences of their decisions. Additionally, they can also identify the root cause of a problem and generate multiple solutions.

Here are some examples of critical thinking skills:

10. Conflict management

Not every employee can get along with colleagues every time. As a team tackles obstacles, conflict and opposing ideas could arise every now and then.

Conflict management is the process of addressing disputes or disagreements in a constructive and effective manner. Often, this requires good communication skills, active listening, empathy, negotiation skills and a willingness to collaborate and find common ground.

When managing conflict, it is important to identify common goals and interests for all parties involved. This can help to establish a sense of unity and collaboration, and even lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Being open to different ideas and perspectives can also make individuals feel motivated to work towards resolution.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

11. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions and those of others. In today's collaborative work environments, this skill enables employees to navigate complex social dynamics and work effectively within teams. It also allows them to provide constructive feedback in a way that is sensitive to the emotions of others, leading to more successful outcomes and stronger relationships.

Effective leaders often have the ability to motivate others and navigate challenging situations with grace and empathy.

Here are some examples of conflict management skills:

Bottom Line

In the modern workplace, employers seek candidates who possess technical expertise and soft skills that enable them to thrive in a collaborative work environment. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity, adaptability, problem-solving, work ethic, critical thinking and conflict management can be developed and honed over time. While it is important for individuals to continue to build their technical expertise, developing soft skills can ultimately set you apart in the workplace and lead to long-term success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
11 Essential Soft Skills In 2023 (With Examples)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In today's fast-paced world, success in the workplace requires more than just technical expertise and knowledge. As the nature of work continues to evolve, it is important for individuals to possess attributes and abilities that allow them to collaborate with teams and colleagues-otherwise known as

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When applying for a job, there are many ways to optimize your resume. You can check the listing to see where the employer's priorities lie in terms of experience, and make sure to highlight what's most important to them, for example. You can include any major achievements like exceeding sales goals. And you can include a link to your LinkedIn profile.

One group of skills career experts say is crucial to include is your soft skills. An overwhelming majority ― 93% 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, said in the company's recent report The Job Market Outlook for Grads.

Soft skills include a wide array of abilities. "I would say, in general, communication is very high on that list right now considering how people are working in very different situations, hybrid situations," says Kristin Kelley, chief marketing officer at CareerBuilder, as an example.

ZipRecruiter compiled some of the most in-demand soft skills on its platform. Here are the top skills on that list, including the number of jobs on the site listing the skill as a requirement.

Number of jobs listing the skill: 6.1 million

Number of jobs listing the skill: 5.5 million

Number of jobs listing the skill: 5 million

Number of jobs listing the skill: 3.6 million

Number of jobs listing the skill: 2.8 million

Number of jobs listing the skill: 2.7 million

Number of jobs listing the skill: 2 million

Number of jobs listing the skill: 1.3 million

When it comes to the importance of communication, in part, as Kelley says, that's a result of the new remote and hybrid work arrangements that rely heavily on tech. "How you respond to someone who sent you an email" matters, she says as an example. "Formally respond to them in 24 hours."

The importance of communication is also a result of various companies' recent diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

"To be a diverse and inclusive employer," says Georgene Huang, co-founder and CEO of Fairygodboss, "you have to work with all different kinds of people, which means you have to be able to communicate effectively with all different kinds of people."

When it comes to scheduling and time management, "no matter what kind of role you have, if you can't organize your time," you can't be effective, she says.

Finally, when it comes to flexibility, "people really have to be able to turn left, turn right on a dime, join the Zoom, be able to manage their own instant messages coming in," says Kelley. There's an element of ease with multitasking and being able to switch what you're doing at a moment's notice that has heightened since the pandemic and as so many people continue to work from home.

Include your soft skills by giving concrete examples of how you've used them either in your resume intro or the bullets under your job descriptions.
3 strategies for writing a resume that will 'instantly impress' any hiring manager, according to a recruiting expert I've been reviewing resumes for 26 years. These are the 5 biggest mistakes that make candidates look weak Feel behind at work? 5 soft skills you 'need to prioritize today,' says career development expert Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
93% of employers want to see soft skills on your resume-here are 8 of the most in-demand ones

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When applying for a job, there are many ways to optimize your resume. You can check the listing to see where the employer's priorities lie in terms of experience, and make sure to highlight what's most important to them, for example. You can include any major achievements like exceeding sales goals.

# data[].attributes.headline
This is a good source because it includes a percentage

# data[].attributes.subject
This is a good source because it includes a percentage

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you're new to the workforce, you've probably read articles about the importance of building "soft skills"-empathy, resilience, compassion, adaptability, and others. The advice isn't wrong. Research shows soft skills are foundational to great leadership and set high performers apart from their peers. They're also increasingly sought by employers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Power of Soft Skills: Our Favorite Reads

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The the skills we call "soft" are the ones we need the most.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We can create a more flexible workforce by advancing interdisciplinary skill development. Cultivating transferable skills that apply across a range of work types and industries is critical to responding to shifts in workplace dynamics and business demand.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in today's job market. They refer to the personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Employers are looking for candidates who possess these skills in addition to their technical expertise. In this article, we will guide beginners on how to showcase their soft skills on their resume.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills refer to a set of personal attributes, behaviors, and social attitudes that enable individuals to interact effectively with others in a workplace or social environment. These skills are essential for building healthy relationships, communicating effectively, solving problems, and collaborating with others. Soft skills are intangible and subjective qualities that cannot be measured or quantified like hard skills. They include

communication

teamwork

problem-solving

critical thinking

adaptability

time management

leadership

creativity

emotional intelligence

(More examples below)

Developing soft skills is crucial in today's job market, where employers value employees who can demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills that can help organizations thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment. Moreover, soft skills are not just limited to the workplace. They also play a significant role in our personal lives, helping us build meaningful relationships, manage conflicts, and navigate social situations effectively.

Soft skills are often developed through life experiences, practice, and self-reflection, and can be honed through various methods such as attending workshops, reading books, or seeking feedback from others. In summary, soft skills are a vital component of personal and professional success and are essential for individuals looking to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in the world.

How to share soft skills

1. Identify the soft skills required for the job

The first step is to research the job requirements and identify the soft skills that are essential for the role. This information can be found in the job description or by speaking to people in the industry. Once you have a list of required soft skills, you can focus on highlighting them in your resume.

2. Incorporate soft skills into your resume objective or summary

Your resume objective or summary is the first thing that recruiters will read. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. You can incorporate them by using phrases such as "I am a highly motivated individual with excellent communication and teamwork skills."

3. Provide examples of your soft skills in the experience section

In the experience section of your resume, provide specific examples of how you have used your soft skills in previous roles. For example, if you are applying for a customer service role, you could highlight how you have resolved customer complaints by utilizing your problem-solving skills. Use action verbs such as "managed," "coordinated," "facilitated," or "led" to describe your soft skills in action.

4. Highlight soft skills in the skills section

The skills section of your resume is an excellent opportunity to showcase your soft skills. List them under a separate heading and use bullet points to describe each one. For example, under the heading "Teamwork," you could list bullet points such as "collaborated with team members to achieve project goals" or "supported team members in achieving their individual goals."

5. Provide additional evidence of your soft skills

Finally, provide additional evidence of your soft skills in your resume by including any relevant certifications or awards. For example, if you have completed a leadership course or received an award for outstanding teamwork, be sure to include it in your resume.

Examples of Soft Skills

1. Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful professional relationship. Being able to articulate your thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely in written or verbal form is crucial for maintaining productive working relationships. This soft skill also encompasses active listening, understanding and interpreting non-verbal cues, and adapting communication style to suit different audiences.

2. Teamwork

Teamwork is about working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal. It involves sharing ideas and resources, taking on different roles and responsibilities, and being willing to support and assist team members as needed. A strong team player also understands the importance of building trust and rapport with colleagues, communicating effectively, and being receptive to feedback.

3. Problem-solving

The ability to identify, analyze and solve problems is an essential soft skill in any workplace. A skilled problem-solver has a logical and systematic approach to identifying the root cause of issues, as well as the creativity to generate and implement effective solutions. This skill requires a combination of critical thinking, research, data analysis, and innovation.

4. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. It requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization and organization. This soft skill also involves the ability to stay focused and avoid distractions, delegate tasks when appropriate, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

5. Leadership

Leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve a common objective. A skilled leader can provide direction and guidance, manage resources and people effectively, and make difficult decisions when necessary. This soft skill also encompasses effective communication, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and the ability to foster a positive and inclusive team culture.

6. Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to change and new situations with ease. A highly adaptable person can work effectively in diverse environments, be flexible with changing priorities, and learn new skills and systems quickly. This soft skill also involves being open-minded, creative and innovative, and able to think on one's feet.

7. Creativity

Creativity involves the ability to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and approach problems from different angles. This soft skill requires imagination, curiosity, and the ability to see connections between seemingly disparate ideas. Creativity is essential for innovation, process improvement, and finding new solutions to complex problems.

8. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and relate to others' emotions and experiences. This soft skill involves active listening, showing compassion, and being able to put oneself in others' shoes. Empathy is crucial for building strong relationships, resolving conflicts, and creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

9. Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is the ability to manage and resolve conflicts effectively. A skilled conflict resolver can identify the underlying causes of conflict, communicate clearly and empathetically, and negotiate win-win solutions. This soft skill also involves active listening, problem-solving, and the ability to remain calm and objective under pressure.

10. Active listening

Active listening is the ability to focus on and understand the speaker's message fully. This soft skill involves paying attention to non-verbal cues, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback to the speaker. Active listening is essential for effective communication, building trust and rapport, and resolving conflicts.

11. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively and make informed decisions. This soft skill involves evaluating evidence, identifying assumptions, and recognizing biases. A skilled critical thinker can synthesize complex information, consider multiple perspectives, and make logical and evidence-based conclusions.

12. Cultural competence

Cultural competence is the ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This soft skill involves understanding and respecting cultural differences, being aware of one's own biases, and adapting communication and behavior to suit different cultural contexts. A culturally competent person can build strong relationships with people from all walks of life.

13. Customer service

Customer service is the ability to provide exceptional service to customers and clients. This soft skill involves actively listening to customers' needs, providing accurate and timely information, and resolving issues in a timely and professional manner. A skilled customer service provider can build strong customer relationships, foster loyalty, and enhance the company's reputation.

14. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make effective decisions based on available information. This soft skill involves weighing different options, considering potential outcomes, and evaluating risks and benefits. A skilled decision-maker can make timely and effective decisions, communicate their reasoning clearly, and be accountable for their choices.

15. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage one's own emotions and the emotions of others. This soft skill involves being aware of one's own emotional state, being empathetic towards others, and responding appropriately to emotional cues. A person with high emotional intelligence can build strong relationships, resolve conflicts effectively, and lead with empathy.

16. Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This soft skill involves being open-minded, responsive to feedback, and able to adjust to new situations with ease. A flexible person can work effectively in fast-paced environments, handle unexpected challenges, and maintain a positive attitude.

17. Goal-setting

Goal-setting is the ability to set achievable goals and work towards achieving them. This soft skill involves being proactive, organized, and focused on results. A person who sets effective goals can prioritize tasks, track progress, and maintain motivation in the face of challenges.

18. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with others. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution. A person with strong interpersonal skills can build rapport, establish trust, and collaborate effectively with others.

19. Negotiation

Negotiation is the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts effectively. This soft skill involves identifying common ground, being persuasive, and finding win-win solutions. A skilled negotiator can build relationships, resolve conflicts, and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

20. Patience

Patience is the ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations. This soft skill involves self-control, emotional regulation, and the ability to take a long-term view. A patient person can stay focused on goals, maintain relationships, and handle difficult situations with grace and resilience.

21. Persuasion

Persuasion is the ability to convince others of one's ideas and opinions. This soft skill involves effective communication, building trust, and being able to present a compelling argument. A skilled persuader can influence decisions, build consensus, and negotiate win-win outcomes.

22. Positive attitude

A positive attitude is the ability to maintain a positive and optimistic outlook. This soft skill involves being resilient, adaptable, and solution-oriented. A person with a positive attitude can motivate others, foster collaboration, and build strong relationships even in difficult circumstances.

23. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to present ideas and information clearly and persuasively. This soft skill involves effective communication, organization, and the ability to engage an audience. A skilled presenter can influence decisions, build credibility, and create a lasting impression.

24. Problem analysis

Problem analysis is the ability to identify and analyze problems to find effective solutions. This soft skill involves critical thinking, data analysis, and the ability to think creatively. A skilled problem analyst can identify root causes, develop effective strategies, and implement sustainable solutions.

25. Self-motivation

Self-motivation is the ability to motivate oneself to achieve goals and overcome obstacles. This soft skill involves being proactive, focused, and disciplined. A person with high self-motivation can stay on track, take initiative, and achieve success in the face of challenges.

26. Stress management

Stress management is the ability to manage stress effectively and remain calm under pressure. This soft skill involves self-awareness, emotional regulation, and coping strategies. A person with strong stress management skills can maintain productivity, build resilience, and manage relationships effectively even in high-pressure situations.

27. Time management

Effective time management is vital for meeting deadlines and achieving business goals. This soft skill requires a proactive approach to planning, prioritization, and organization. A skilled time manager can maintain focus, avoid distractions, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

28. Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness is the ability to maintain the trust and confidence of others. This soft skill involves being honest, reliable, and accountable. A person with high trustworthiness can build strong relationships, foster teamwork, and promote a culture of trust and respect.

29. Verbal communication

Verbal communication is the ability to articulate ideas and information clearly and effectively. This soft skill involves effective listening, tone, and the ability to adapt communication style to different audiences. A person with strong verbal communication skills can build rapport, resolve conflicts, and motivate others effectively.

30. Writing

Writing is the ability to write clearly and effectively to convey ideas and information. This soft skill involves grammar, syntax, and effective communication. A skilled writer can communicate complex ideas clearly, persuade readers, and create compelling content that engages and inspires.

31. Attention to detail

Attention to detail is the ability to notice small details and ensure accuracy and quality in work. This soft skill involves being meticulous, thorough, and focused on delivering high-quality results. A person with strong attention to detail can minimize errors, enhance productivity, and maintain customer satisfaction.

32. Coaching and mentoring

Coaching and mentoring is the ability to guide, teach and mentor others to achieve their goals. This soft skill involves providing feedback, modeling behavior, and supporting others in their professional development. A skilled coach and mentor can build relationships, inspire growth, and promote a positive team culture.

33. Conflict management

Conflict management is the ability to manage conflicts effectively and reach win-win solutions. This soft skill involves effective communication, active listening, and negotiation. A person with strong conflict management skills can resolve disputes, build consensus, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

34. Cultural awareness

Cultural awareness is the ability to understand and respect cultural differences in the workplace. This soft skill involves recognizing and appreciating diverse perspectives, beliefs, and values. A culturally aware person can work effectively in a global environment, build relationships across cultures, and promote inclusion and diversity.

35. Decision-making

Decision-making is the ability to make informed and timely decisions. This soft skill involves analyzing data, evaluating options, and considering the impact of decisions on stakeholders. A skilled decision-maker can make sound decisions, take calculated risks, and achieve business objectives effectively.

36. Dependability

Dependability is the ability to be reliable and trustworthy in completing tasks and meeting deadlines. This soft skill involves being accountable, punctual, and responsive. A dependable person can maintain high standards, meet expectations, and build trust and respect among colleagues.

37. Diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion is the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and foster an inclusive workplace culture. This soft skill involves being open-minded, respectful, and supportive of differences. A person with strong diversity and inclusion skills can build a sense of belonging, promote creativity, and enhance business outcomes.

38. Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the ability to approach work with passion and energy. This soft skill involves being optimistic, engaged, and committed to achieving results. A person with strong enthusiasm can inspire others, promote positive attitudes, and drive success in a team environment.

39. Financial management

Financial management is the ability to manage financial resources effectively. This soft skill involves understanding financial principles, analyzing data, and making sound decisions. A person with strong financial management skills can optimize resources, minimize risk, and achieve business objectives.

40. Humility

Humility is the ability to admit mistakes and learn from feedback. This soft skill involves being open-minded, reflective, and willing to grow. A person with strong humility can build credibility, promote a culture of learning, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

41. Initiative

Initiative is the ability to take proactive steps to solve problems and improve processes. This soft skill involves being self-motivated, creative, and willing to take calculated risks. A person with strong initiative can drive innovation, enhance productivity, and achieve business goals.

42. Innovation

Innovation is the ability to create new ideas, products, or processes. This soft skill involves being creative, adaptable, and willing to take risks. A person with strong innovation skills can drive growth, solve complex problems, and enhance customer satisfaction.

43. Intercultural communication

Intercultural communication is the ability to communicate effectively across different cultures and languages. This soft skill involves being aware of cultural differences, using appropriate language and tone, and adapting to cultural norms. A person with strong intercultural communication skills can build strong relationships, promote understanding, and enhance global business outcomes.

44. Interpersonal communication

Interpersonal communication is the ability to communicate effectively and build strong relationships with others. This soft skill involves active listening, empathy, and effective use of non-verbal cues. A person with strong interpersonal communication skills can build trust, resolve conflicts, and promote collaboration in a team environment.

45. Learning agility

Learning agility is the ability to adapt to new situations and learn quickly. This soft skill involves being open-minded, curious, and willing to experiment. A person with strong learning agility can acquire new skills and knowledge, adapt to changing circumstances, and enhance personal and professional growth.

46. Organizational skills

Organizational skills are the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively. This soft skill involves being organized, efficient, and able to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. A person with strong organizational skills can meet deadlines, maximize productivity, and achieve business goals.

47. Presentation skills

Presentation skills are the ability to deliver compelling and engaging presentations. This soft skill involves being articulate, persuasive, and confident in delivering presentations to different audiences. A person with strong presentation skills can influence decisions, build credibility, and enhance business outcomes.

48. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and bounce back from setbacks. This soft skill involves being adaptable, positive, and able to maintain perspective in difficult situations. A person with strong resilience can maintain productivity, overcome obstacles, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

49. Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking is the ability to think ahead and plan for the future. This soft skill involves being able to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and develop effective strategies to achieve business objectives. A person with strong strategic thinking skills can maximize opportunities, minimize risk, and enhance business outcomes.

50. Work ethic

Work ethic is the ability to work hard, be persistent, and demonstrate a strong commitment to work. This soft skill involves being reliable, responsible, and willing to go the extra mile to achieve results. A person with strong work ethic can maintain high standards, build trust with colleagues, and achieve success in their career.

In conclusion, showcasing your soft skills on your resume is essential in today's job market. By identifying the soft skills required for the job, incorporating them into your resume objective or summary, providing examples in the experience section, highlighting them in the skills section, and providing additional evidence, you can set yourself apart from other candidates and increase your chances of landing the job.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Soft skills 101: definition + 50 examples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn all about soft skills in this comprehensive guide. Discover how developing these interpersonal attributes can enhance your professional success.

# data[].attributes.headline
The 9 Most Important Soft Skills in the Workplace

# data[].attributes.subject
The 9 Most Important Soft Skills in the Workplace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In the vast employment landscape, there are certain skills that will always be in demand. There are hard skills like technical skills that can be learned in a classroom or on the job - skills that are specific to the task at hand and can be quantified.

Soft skills, on the other hand, are more difficult to quantify...

In this article, we will discuss what soft skills are and how you can develop them in the workplace. We will also look at how they can help you when looking for a job or filling a role.

And for additional industry insights and staffing trends, our 2023 Salary Guide has all the high-level industry trends you need to inform your hiring strategies.

What are soft skills in the workplace?

Soft skills are the personal qualities that make someone successful in their career. They are also known as interpersonal or non-technical skills. Soft skills include things like communication, problem-solving, and listening skills.

While hard skills like technical skills are specific to the job at hand and can be quantified, soft skills are more difficult to track - After all, how do you measure how good someone is at problem-solving or managing difficult situations?

Which soft skills are most important for employers?

The most important soft skills which employers value are: emotional intelligence, communication, problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking, conflict resolution, flexibility, leadership and interpersonal skills.

1. Emotional intelligence (EI) soft skills

The National Soft Skills Association (NASSA) defines emotional intelligence as,
"A learned ability to identify, experience, understand, and express human emotions in healthy and productive ways . . . Emotional intelligence skills form the base of competencies that all soft skills are built upon."
Furthermore, people with high emotional intelligence are better able to navigate through difficult conversations, manage stress and pressure, and resolve conflicts - all qualities that employers value in their employees.

2. Communication soft skills

This one seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how often communication skill is overlooked. The ability to communicate effectively - both written and verbal - is essential in the workplace. After all, what good are your ideas if you can't communicate them properly?

People who can communicate their ideas clearly, concisely, and persuasively are usually the ones who get ahead in their careers.

3. Problem-solving soft skills

Problem-solving is another soft skill that is essential in the workplace. No matter what industry you're in, being able to solve problems quickly and efficiently is a valuable asset.

People who are good at problem-solving are able to see the big picture and identify the root cause of a problem. They're also able to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions.

4. Collaboration soft skills

Gone are the days when people could succeed in their careers by working alone. In today's workplace, collaboration and social skills are key.

People who are good at collaborating or have "people skills" are able to work well with others and build relationships easily.

These team players are able to compromise, see things from other people's perspectives, and exercise strong verbal communication.

5. Critical thinking soft skills

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally about a problem or situation. People who are good at critical thinking are able to see both the forest and the trees, so to speak.

They're able to identify the most important information and make sound decisions quickly. This is a valuable skill in any workplace.

6. Conflict resolution soft skills

Conflict resolution is the ability to resolve conflicts quickly and efficiently.

People who are good at conflict resolution are able to stay calm under pressure and see both sides of a situation. They're also able to find creative solutions to problems and diffuse difficult situations.

7. Flexibility/Adaptability soft skills

In today's ever-changing workplace, flexibility and adaptability are essential.

People who are flexible and adaptable are able to roll with the punches and change with the times.

They're also able to take on new challenges and learn new skills quickly.

8. Interpersonal soft skills

Interpersonal skills are the ability to interact with others effectively.

People who have strong interpersonal skills are able to build relationships easily and communicate effectively.

9. Leadership soft skills

Leadership skills are the ability to inspire and motivate others.

People who have strong leadership skills are able to take charge of a situation and get people to buy into their vision.

They're also able to delegate tasks and build teams effectively.

Why are soft skills important in the workplace?

Employees with essential soft skills stand out from the crowd and nurturing these types of competencies makes candidates more effective and fulfilled workers.

When it comes to looking for a job or trying to fill a role within your company, the benefits of soft skills cannot be understated.

Need more evidence? In 2017, a joint study done by Boston College, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan found that soft skills training increases productivity and retention by 12 percent, with a 250% ROI.

In addition, workers with strong communication skills are able to build better relationships with clients and co-workers. Not to mention individuals with solid problem-solving skills are better able to find solutions to challenges in their work.

In fact, the Deloitte 2016 Global Human Capital Trends report states that 92 percent of executives consider soft skills a critical priority - we're not sure what the remaining 8 percent were doing that day. Vacation maybe?

We can say with a great degree of certainty that developing and nurturing these types of skills as a candidate can only serve to drive your success.

How can you develop better soft skills?

The best ways to develop better soft skills in the workplace are through experience and online & offline education.

Developing soft skills through experience

Learning soft skills through general work experience is a tried and true way to develop these capabilities. Hands-on, trial and error, failing forward, in the trenches - whatever you want to call it, being pushed and tested regularly is an effective way to grow and evolve your skill sets in the workplace.

Learning soft skills through online education

Over the years, as the demand for soft skills has grown, new resources to develop these capabilities have become commonplace. Everything from books and articles to online courses and in-person workshops are now available.

Platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Coursera offer a wealth of courses on soft skills, and there are countless books on the subject as well. A quick Amazon search will turn up titles like "The Soft Skills Revolution: Embracing the New Workplace Reality" and "How to Win Friends & Influence People."

Developing soft skills by combining work experience and continuing education

The best way to develop soft skills is probably a combination of the old and new ways. Work experience will always be the best teacher, but supplementing that with personal development on your own with the resources and tools that best fit your learning styles can only help you grow faster.

There's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to developing soft skills, but a combination of real-world experience and personal development is the best way to go.

Working with a staffing agency that is familiar with the talent they are referring to you is always a good first step.

They will have gotten to know the candidates they work with and can help you identify those with the right mix of soft skills for your needs.

In addition, when writing job descriptions, be sure to include desired soft skills in addition to required qualifications. This will help weed out prospective employees who don't have the requirements you're looking for in any given job role.

Final thoughts on soft skills in the workplace

At Mondo, we take a different approach to staffing by staying up to date on the latest employment trends. We believe in finding the right person for the job, not just filling it with someone who meets all of the qualifications on paper.

That's why we focus on finding candidates with the transferable skills necessary to excel in your company culture and thrive in their role - and we can help you do the same.

We have years of experience matching top talent with companies like yours, so don't hesitate to reach out and let us know what you need. With our help, you can find the perfect candidate with all the soft skills required to be successful in your business.

Mondo Matches Great Talent With Great Companies

With an expansive, connected network of the top IT, Tech, Creative, and Digital Marketing professionals and a proprietary process, Mondo can match you with the hard-to-find, specialized talent you need.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Which Soft Skills are Most Important in the Workplace?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What soft skills do employers look for? Which are most important for hiring candidates? Learn how to develop them & what to include on your resume.

# data[].attributes.body
Per noi, l'autonomia non è lavorare in isolamento, ma la capacità di prendere l'iniziativa e portare avanti il proprio compito senza attendere costantemente indicazioni esterne. È la forza di trovare la propria strada e di risolvere i piccoli intoppi, contribuendo in modo indipendente al successo complessivo del gruppo.💪🏼💪🏽💪🏾

# data[].attributes.body
Collaborare e partecipare significa unire le proprie forze con quelle degli altri, proprio come i pezzi di un puzzle che, messi insieme, formano un'immagine completa. Ogni contributo è importante e permette di raggiungere i propri obbiettivi comuni, valorizzando le idee e le competenze di tutti.🧩

# data[].attributes.body
Capacità di comunicare in modo chiaro ed efficace all'interno di un team, favorendo collaborazione, condivisione di idee e risoluzione dei problemi. Comprende ascolto attivo, empatia e adattamento del messaggio agli interlocutori per migliorare la produttività e l'armonia del gruppo. L'immagine della nostra videochiamata su Zoom simboleggia il nostro sforzo costante per mantenere un dialogo aperto, anche a distanza ed è stato il filo diretto che ha connesso le nostre idee per costruire questo lavoro.🗣️🗣️🗣️

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Soft skills are what humans use to interact with one another, read other people, and emotionally navigate situations.

From customer service to marketing to managing people, many business interactions rely on soft skills. Being well-versed in soft skills can give a you a leg up, both as an employee and in the career marketplace.

In almost every industry, technology is disrupting how people work. The rise of AI in the workplace is automating routine, repetitive tasks that are more efficiently handled by computers, leaving more emphasis on 'soft-skill' work that is significantly harder, if not impossible, to automate.

Also known as people skills, these are the personal attributes of your emotional intelligence that enable you to play well with others.

As Deanna Pate of LinkedIn explains, soft skills are amongst the top skills required by companies.

Here we'll go through what soft skills are, examples of soft skills, why they're important, and how to develop your own.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are personality traits and interpersonal skills like effective communication skills, time management skills, problem-solving skills, and listening skills.

Generally, skillsets are lumped into hard and soft skills, with hard skills describing more concrete technical skills and soft skills indicating 'non-technical skills.' While technical skills are still important in the job market, candidates that also have soft skills are more likely to perform well. That's why employers prefer employees who already have soft skills.

The Future of Work 2021: Global Hiring Outlook report states that employers named soft skills like dependability, flexibility, and collaboration as their most preferred skills in an employee.

Soft skills make you employable and enable you to distinguish yourself from co-workers who might have similar qualifications and experience. Moreover, soft skills are also critical when navigating day-to-day business challenges like dealing with a dissatisfied client or negotiating with a supplier.

Examples of soft skills

So, what are the key soft skills employers value? The following soft skills examples are highly attractive to hiring managers-so don't be shy about highlighting them in your interview question responses!

Acceptance of criticism: being able to receive constructive criticism with an open mind

Accountability: fulfill responsibilities, always follow through, and accept responsibility

Active listening: the skill of paying close attention to what is being said and discussed

Adaptability: the ability to be flexible and open to change for learning and growth

Collaboration: being a 'team player' or effectively contributing to a diverse team

Communication: the ability to effectively convey and receive information

Conflict management: the ability to help groups and individuals mediate disagreements and arrive at positive outcomes

Creativity: the ability to come up with new original ideas to solve issues and complete tasks

Critical thinking skills: inquiry, resourcefulness, and creativity in problem-solving

Decision-making: the ability to swiftly weigh pros and cons and take decisive action

Dependability: being trustworthy and reliable

Emotional awareness: possess empathy and tools for conflict resolution

Leadership skills: lead, manage, and guide team members

Persuasion: the capability to influence the behavior and beliefs of others

Positive attitude: the inclination to approach challenges with optimism and find the "upside" in challenging situations.

Problem-solving: achieving your goals by determining and overcoming obstacles

Time management: consciously planning and splitting time among various tasks

Work ethic: the 'can do' attitude and determination to work hard to achieve company goals

Why are soft skills important?

In 2013, Google conducted an internal study to find out which employees were most successful in terms of productivity and innovation.

Turns out, the top seven qualities of the company's best-performing and most innovative employees were soft skills. In a bold move, Google reinvented how, and who, it hired, opening their positions up to candidates with non-technical degrees, like arts and humanities.

While technical skills connect workers to the physical function of their jobs, soft skills build an emotional connection between workers and their jobs, the company, and colleagues. This contributes to:

An environment of belonging and purpose. In other words, your soft skills can help increase employee engagement throughout the organization-which can be tracked with an employee app's real-time analytics dashboard. This is a factor that is known to impact business outcomes, like productivity, directly.

Reduced burden on management. Employees with strong interpersonal skills need less hand-holding. Having great soft skills often means you have the confidence to be a self-starter and excellent collaborator. Managers will feel at ease delegating projects to you with little oversight, leaving them more time to dedicate to bigger projects.

Better career outcomes. The more developed your soft skills, the more likely you are to form positive relationships with leadership, develop highly collaborative working relationships with co-workers, and work more effectively with customers and other stakeholders. This translates to more opportunities for career advancement down the line.

How to develop Your soft skills

A McKinsey survey reveals that millions of workers, especially in advanced economies, need to reskill. Soft skills are one of the most important skills required for a modern employee. The question is, how exactly do you develop your soft skills?

Most people generally default to thinking of training courses to cultivate personal skills, but most soft skills aren't so easily learned through a Udemy module or development certification. Here are some practical, concrete ways to challenge yourself and hone your soft skills.

1. Ask for feedback

Since soft skills are based on interpersonal interactions, there's no better way to improve them than to involve the people you interact with most. Get comfortable with asking for feedback from superiors.

When requesting feedback, it's helpful to define what you're seeking from the other party. Some people might feel uncomfortable offering feedback in case it's perceived as criticism. Pre-empt this discomfort by asking specific questions that:

Focus on the future: "Would you like to see this done differently next time? How so?"

Emphasize processes: "How do you think we could improve the way we collaborate on this next time?"

Ask for examples: "I'd like to do that better next time, what's an example of a time you saw that done really well?"

Lean into outcomes rather than personal critiques: "How do you think I could have improved the outcome in this situation?"

2. Contribute to a culture of learning

One-on-one performance coaching, live workshops, and training programs are great resources for developing soft skills.

Speaking to your manager or your company's HR department about investing in these opportunities for your team is one way you can help build a culture of learning. Another way is to pursue these resources independently and share key takeaways with your team.

If your workplace encourages or offers incentives for professional development, even better! Advocate for group soft skills training so the whole team can build and foster this skillset together, both during and after the workshop.

3. Attend networking events

Walking into a room full of strangers is a significant challenge for your emotional intelligence -after all, you're there to build professional relationships from scratch!

The great thing about networking events is that everyone is there to talk and be talked to. Take advantage! Use these occasions to get comfortable with asking people about their work, where they're experiencing friction in their professional lives, and get to know them on a personal level. These conversations not only build your confidence and interpersonal skills, but they can also lead to valuable career in-roads.

4. Take the lead

In every organization, there's bound to be opportunities to step in and step up when something doesn't go to plan. When you voluntarily lead the charge, the people around you take notice.

Exposing yourself to high-pressure or critical situations helps you polish your analytical, leadership, critical thinking, time management, and social skills. There's also something to be said about 'rising to the occasion'-and proving to yourself that you are capable of taking on tough challenges outside of your comfort zone.

5. Look for opportunities when things get tough

Every challenge requires a solution-and the creative thinking required to get there is a goldmine for personal development. Often, when teams are presented with unexpected demands or changes, there are individuals who take the avenue of resistance, which can manifest into complaints and adopting a negative attitude. This is a trap that has a toxic effect on the team dynamic.

Instead, look at these situations with a solution-oriented mindset. Ask yourself:

What kinds of lessons, skills, or opportunities can my team and I gain from solving this problem?

How can I contribute to solving this problem?

Who can I seek buy-in from to make this solution happen?

Which people, teams, and other resources can I leverage to solve this problem?

6. Practice mindfulness in your relationships

Some of the best examples of soft skills in action come from the interactions we have every day when we're not actively "working"-like socializing in the lunchroom, spending time with family, and visiting friends.

To use these opportunities to improve your soft skills, challenge yourself to focus on the people around you. Consider things like:

Has everyone present had an equal opportunity to speak?

Have you asked as many questions as you've answered?

What are other people's body language signals telling you?

Does the interaction feel comfortable and natural? If not, what are some things you can do or say to put others at ease?

By making these easy and actionable steps a normal part of your daily life, you'll quickly notice your relationships improving, your professional influence growing, and an increased comfort level with conflict and other challenges. It goes without saying that these benefits have myriad benefits-both inside and outside of the workplace.

How To Develop Soft Skills In Employees

We can all benefit from improving our own soft skills, but what if your objective is to improve this skill set within your team? Employers generally default to thinking of personalized training courses to cultivate their personal skills, but they aren't the only options. You can implement other strategies to promote soft skills training in your organization, such as:

1. Quantify soft skills

One of the biggest challenges when thinking of soft skills is that, unlike hard skills, they're intangible. However, you can find a way to quantify these skills with tests or good old performance assessments. Putting a number next to a soft skill gives employees a starting point and a goal, making their progress more tangible.

2. Invest in a culture of learning

One-on-one performance coaching, live workshops, and training programs can help cultivate soft skills in your employees.

3. Give your employees time and opportunity to hone their skill

Offer your employees time and space to practice and enhance their soft skills. For example, outdoor retreats and team activities allow them to hone skills like collaboration, teamwork, creativity, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and communication skills.

4. Offer constructive feedback

89% of HR leaders agree that ongoing feedback positively impacts their company. However, it's also important to provide feedback the right way. When providing feedback on developing soft skills, be patient and open.

Soft Skills Are Future-Proof

Every day, more and more tasks are being automated using custom GPT applications and other machine-learning tools. However, there remains no substitute for human interaction and its power to drive productivity-and great soft skills are the key to unlocking that potential.

Join The Conversation

Want to exercise your soft skills with other ambitious professionals? Join the conversation in the People Managing People Community, a supportive community of HR and business leaders sharing knowledge and expertise to help you progress in your career and build better organizations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Soft Skills 101: Definition, Examples, and 10 Skill-Building Exercises

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What are soft skills, and what makes them 'soft'? Find out what soft skills are, why it matters, and 10 exercises for you and your team.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We can create a more flexible workforce by advancing interdisciplinary skill development. Cultivating transferable skills that apply across a range of work types and industries is critical to responding to shifts in workplace dynamics and business demand.