What are Soft Skills?

Soft skills, also known as people skills, are personal attributes that influence how you interact with others and manage your workload. It includes various personal traits, abilities, and qualities. A few examples of essential soft skills are a positive attitude, teamwork, and problem-solving. These non-technical skills are important for your success in the workplace, your company’s success, and your personal life.

What is the Difference Between
Soft Skills and Hard Skills?

Many job seekers think that getting a job is all about qualifications and technical skills. While hard skills are essential for a job, soft skills are equally important for workplace success.

Hard skills are knowledge and abilities that anyone can learn at work, school, or through various courses. By contrast, soft skills are a combination of a person’s communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative abilities.

Soft Skills in the
Workplace

Someone may have excellent technical skills but if they lack soft skills like teamwork or time management, they may not be successful in the workplace. Therefore, employers are increasingly looking for workers who also possess certain soft skills. Job seekers need to identify which soft skills they already possess, and which ones they need to improve. Employers may have different requirements for different positions, so the skills on your resume might vary from one position to another.

The most in-demand soft skills for the workplace are:

  • Verbal communication
  • Written communication
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Organisational skills
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Adaptability
  • Analytical skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Creativity

Why are Soft Skills Important?

Skills such as teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving are highly valued in the modern workplace. Employees with strong soft skills can be highly productive and help the business to excel in an increasingly competitive market. According to a survey by the Wall Street Journal, 92% of executives rank soft skills as equally or more important than technical skills and experience. Therefore, job seekers should list soft skills on their resume, demonstrate it in an interview, and work hard on developing it in the workplace. This will support their career and lead to new opportunities.

Here are a few reasons why soft skills are so important in finding a job and achieving further career growth:

Better Employee Retention
Employers prefer job applicants with stronger soft skills because they have a better chance to excel within the company, which improves employee retention.

The Future Workplace will rely on soft skills
Many occupations are at risk of automation in the near future. However, skills like emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and decision-making are hard to automate. Research by Deloitte Access Economics predicts that at least two-thirds of occupations will be soft skills intensive by 2030. This will result in a decline of hard skills requirements – making soft skills more desirable in the workplace.

Develop Leadership Capabilities
Developing soft skills will help you gain leadership capabilities. Employers often look for candidates who have leadership skills, which help them analyse what kind of leadership strategies their team needs to succeed. This is often required to increase productivity in the workplace.

Grow a Professional Network
Soft skills will help you create and grow your professional network. Your interpersonal skills can make you much better in developing relationships with others, which will support you in your personal and professional life.

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