Definition of Soft Skills
How Soft Skills Work
Example of Soft Skills
Types of Soft Skills
How to Acquire Soft Skills
How to Highlight Your Soft Skills
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Definition of Soft Skills
Soft skills are non-technical skills related to how you work. They include how you interact with your coworkers, how you solve problems, and how you manage your work.
Soft skills are non-technical skills that affect your performance in the workplace. You likely already possess soft skills through your experiences in school and work. You can also develop soft skills through work, school, volunteering, and participating in training programs and courses.
Include soft skills in your resume and cover letter. Showcase your soft skills during job interviews.
How Soft Skills Work
Soft skills relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal skills (communication, negotiation, leadership), teamwork and time management skills, problem-solving, listening, creative thinking, flexibility, the ability to work as part of a team, conflict management, and more.
Hiring managers typically look for job candidates with soft skills because they make a person more successful in the workplace. A person may excel in specialized technical skills, but if they cannot manage their time or work as part of a team, they may not be successful in the workplace.
Soft skills are also important for the success of most employers. After all, almost every job requires employees to interact with others in some way.
Another reason hiring managers and employers seek applicants with soft skills is that soft skills are transferable skills that can be used regardless of a person’s job. This makes job applicants who possess soft skills more flexible and adaptable.
Example of Soft Skills
Soft skills are particularly important in jobs that require customer interaction, for example. These employees are in direct contact with customers. Many soft skills are necessary to be able to listen to the customer and provide helpful and courteous service.
Note: Even if you’re not in a role that requires customer interaction, you should be able to interact effectively with your coworkers, managers, suppliers, and others with whom you engage in the workplace.
Types of Soft Skills
Soft skills encompass personal traits and communication abilities necessary for success in the workplace. Soft skills illustrate how a person interacts in their relationships with others.
Soft skills include: adaptability, communication, negotiation, creative thinking, reliability, leadership, listening, work ethic, teamwork, positivity, time management, motivation, problem-solving, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and negotiation.
How to Acquire Soft Skills
Unlike hard skills that can be learned, soft skills resemble emotions or insights that allow people to “read” others. These skills are harder to learn, at least in traditional classroom settings. They are also more challenging to measure and assess.
Job Training Programs
Some job training programs cover soft skills. They may address soft skills so that job seekers understand what they are and the importance of highlighting them in their resumes. There are also free online courses that can help you improve your soft skills.
On-the-Job Training
If you have been working for a while, you likely have already developed some soft skills. For example, if you worked in retail, you may have worked in a team environment. If you helped dissatisfied customers find a solution, you used problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
Education and Volunteering
If you are new to the workforce, consider other activities you have engaged in, whether in school or on a voluntary basis. You likely had to communicate and adapt to changes and solve problems.
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Also, think about the soft skills that 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 help. If there is a process that can be improved in the workplace, propose it.
Note: Employers usually do not directly ask if you have soft skills. Instead, they provide scenarios and ask what you would do to assess whether you possess soft skills.
How to Highlight Your Soft Skills
When applying for a new job, highlight your soft skills in addition to the job-specific skills. First, prepare a list of the soft skills you possess that are relevant to the job you want. Compare your soft skills list with the job requirements.
Include some of these soft skills in your resume. You can add them to the skills section.
You can also mention these soft skills in your cover letter. Choose two soft skills that you possess and seem most important for the job you’re applying for. In your cover letter, provide evidence that you have those skills in particular.
Finally, you can emphasize these soft skills in job interviews. You can demonstrate your soft skills during the interview by being friendly and cooperative. If you pay attention and listen carefully while the interviewer is speaking, you will showcase your listening skills.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are soft skills important?
Soft skills are important because they help you work well with others. Communication, teamwork, and adaptability enable you to connect with your coworkers, express your ideas, receive feedback, and achieve consensus.
How can I improve my soft skills?
You can learn new soft skills or enhance your existing skill set through online courses, leadership training programs, and mentoring initiatives. You can also build your personal skills simply by identifying your areas for growth and setting goals to improve them. For example, if you know you need to learn better listening skills, you can start by listening carefully to what your coworkers are saying and asking for clarification when needed.
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Sources:
– CareerOneStop. “Soft Skills.”
– iCIMS. “New Research Defines the Soft Skills That Matter Most to Employers.”
– South Dakota Department of Education. “Soft Skills.”
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-are-soft-skills-2060852
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