Soft skills are developed naturally through experiences in your life and

career. They help you build stronger relationships with other people

and complete tasks efficiently. Qualities like resourcefulness and open-
mindedness are examples of soft skills that make you a great person to
work with and help you accomplish your professional goals.

In contrast, hard skills are more clearly-defined abilities like computer

skills or language skills that are often taught in a formal setting. While
most jobs require technical training (i.e. hard skills), soft skills are what
help with the application of those learned abilities.

Tip
Not sure if you understand the difference between hard and soft skills? Hard skills can
be considered technical skills, while soft skills are closely related to people skills.

Why are soft skills important in the

workplace?
If two candidates for a job have similar experience and training, soft skills
often become the deciding factor between hiring one or the other.
Employers want to hire people with strong soft skills because these skills
show how well you work with colleagues and clients and self-motivate to
get the job done.

As Susan Vitale of iCIMS says, “hard skills might get your resume looked
at” but soft skills “help you stand out and get you hired.” You must still
possess the requisite technical skills to get the job you want, but without
good soft skills, you can’t compete.

According to Forbes, 94% of recruiters believe great soft skills outweigh

experience when it comes to internal promotion to leadership positions.
So soft skills are not just fundamental to getting the job you want —
they’re also essential for future career growth.
 Top 10 soft skills (plus examples of
each for your resume)
Below are 10 of the most important soft skills to emphasize on your
resume (or in an interview). Additionally, we include specific examples of
related soft skills for each.

1. Communication
Communication skills allow you to express yourself and your ideas when
interacting with others. Communication is a critical sales skill, but is also
useful across a variety of industries from human resources to
management.

Some examples of communication skills include:

 Presentation skills

 Confidence

 Mutual respect

 Empathy

 Active listening

 Verbal communication

 Non-verbal communication

 Written communication

 Constructive feedback

 Friendliness

 Awareness

 Open-mindedness
2. Teamwork
 Employers are always looking for candidates that are great at
collaborating in a team environment. Teamwork skills help you operate
well in a group to quickly and effectively accomplish tasks.

In fact, teamwork is crucial for careers in market research, event

coordination, and software engineering.

Some examples of teamwork-related skills include:

 Conflict management

 Communication

 Listening

 Cultural sensitivity

 Collaboration

 Encouragement

 Cooperation

 Coordination

 Idea exchange

 Mediation

 Negotiation
3. Adaptability
Adaptability and flexibility are essential skills for embracing and adjusting
to change.

These are some of the best soft skills to have when working in fast-paced
or constantly evolving work environments such as public relations, event
management, tech, nursing, and advertising.

Some examples of adaptability-related skills include:

 Curiosity

 Self-management

 Decision-making

 Calmness

 Optimism

 Open-mindedness

 Analysis

 Self-confidence

 Resilience

 Self-motivation
4. Problem solving
Problem solving skills depend on your ability to use analytical and
creative thinking to find solutions. No matter what industry you’re in,
problem-solving soft skills in the workplace will always be valuable on
some level because every job has issues that need to be tackled.

Ultimately, candidates who can tackle problems and find intuitive

solutions will always be in high demand.

Careers where problem-solving is the most vital include law enforcement,

information technology, and medical-related fields.

Types of problem-solving skills include:

 Analysis

 Lateral thinking

 Logical reasoning

 Initiative

 Persistence
 Observation

 Persuasion

 Negotiation

 Brainstorming

 Decision making

 Research
5. Creativity
Creativity is a broad soft skill that can range from helping you develop
innovative solutions to being an effective graphic designer. In fact,
creativity is considered by some experts to be the most important soft
skill of the future.

While valuable for any industry, conceptual skills like creativity are

especially important for instructional designers, architects, and artists.

Types of creative skills include:

 Divergent thinking

 Inspiration

 Imagination

 Reframing

 Mind mapping

 Insight

 Innovation

 Experimenting

 Questioning

 Design

 Vision
 6.  Leadership
Leadership skills refer to your ability to mentor others, train new hires, and
guide teams. Strong leadership skills are also essential for taking on more
responsibility and being promoted within a company. Employers are
always looking for strong leaders to help them grow their companies.

Leadership skills are critical for entrepreneurs, all types of management,

and teaching.

Some other skills connected to leadership include:

 Project management

 Empathy

 Selflessness

 Encouragement

 Management skills

 Cultural sensitivity

 Authenticity

 Versatility

 Team building

 Generosity

 Trustworthiness

 Mentorship

 Hiring
7. Work ethic
Work ethic is one of the most basic, widely transferable soft skills there is.
By showcasing your work ethic, you communicate to employers that you
 believe in the importance of work and the value of putting forward your
best effort.

Demonstrating work ethic should be important in every career, but is vital

for high-stress jobs like first responders, teachers, and nurses.

Soft skills examples related to work ethic include:

 Integrity

 Responsibility

 Discipline

 Initiative

 Dependability

 Commitment

 Self-motivated

 Professionalism

 Teamwork

 Time-management
8. Interpersonal skills
Interpersonal skills refer to your ability to communicate well and interact
with others, maintain relationships, and otherwise leave a positive
impression on people.

Interpersonal skills are used every day in most industries as you interact
and communicate with co-workers and management. However, they’re
especially vital for people who work in industries like customer service,
recruitment and HR, realty, or financial planning.

Examples of skills related to interpersonal skills include:

 Empathy

 Humor

 Mentoring

 Networking

 Charisma

 Sensitivity

 Patience

 Listening

 Tolerance

 Public speaking

 Positive reinforcement

 Diplomacy
9. Time management
Time management skills describe your ability to work efficiently and
productively by using your time wisely. Most employers appreciate this
soft skill, but it’s particularly important if you’re a project manager, middle
manager, or work in loss prevention or legal fields.

Some skills related to time management skills include:

 Goal setting

 Prioritization

 Self-starter

 Planning

 Decision making

 Focus

 Delegation
 Stress management

 Coping

 Organization
10. Attention to detail
Attention to detail refers to your ability to be thorough and accurate in
your work, and notice even minor issues when they arise. Careers suited
to detail-oriented people include accounting, pharmacology, and
engineering.

Some additional soft skills related to attention to detail are:

 Critical observation

 Active listening

 Organization

 Scheduling

 Analysis

 Introspection

 Memory

 Acuity

 Recall

 Questioning