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New job-seekers might notice something called “soft skills” while researching interview tips or cover letter examples. Some websites even recommend adding them to their resume. So what are soft skills, and why are they so important to employers?
Dictionary.com describes soft skills as “desirable qualities for certain forms of employment that do not depend on acquired knowledge: they include common sense, the ability to deal with people, and a flexible attitude.”
Which is pretty unhelpful, Dictionary.com, so thanks for that.
Let me break it down for you.
There are soft skills, and there are hard skills. Hard skills are generally quantifiable. You can train, grow knowledge and directly measure your expertise in those areas. Examples include SEO, Instagram, Excel and graphic design.
Soft skills are not quantifiable. You can build soft skills, but you don’t need to train for them, and you usually can’t measure them. They include, as Dictionary.com states, flexibility, “common sense” and “the ability to deal with people.” While you can time your productivity in Excel or check your Instagram followers, you can’t really measure common sense.
But soft skills are just as important—if not more important—than hard skills. In interviews, you’ll notice that soft skills are central to recruiters’ questions. And in your professional life, you’ll need them in order to get ahead.
But why?
Companies want employees who are efficient and easy to manage. Usually, a few soft skills can determine whether an employee is either of these things.
In my experience, interviewers usually want to see if candidates have flexibility, teamwork, loyalty and communication skills. For obvious reasons.
Companies want candidates who are willing to take on roles or outside jobs if necessary. They also want candidates who can work well and communicate with other workers to avoid any problems. And they need employees who will stay with them, so they don’t have to do this process over again in a few months.
Recruiters will likely turn down candidates that don’t exemplify these soft skills. So if you’re applying for jobs, make sure to emphasize each of these traits in your cover letter or interview.
Obviously, if you want to land a job, you’re going to need these soft skills to succeed. But soft skills are also necessary for accomplishing your personal goals as well.
For example, networking—or “building relationships,” as I’ve recently learned—is an essential soft skill for professionals. You might recognize this term as “connections.” Without connections, your professional opportunities become nearly impossible. You need to know people in order to land an interview, meet with company advisors, get funding, send in a resume and a million other essentials of the business world.
And let’s say you want a mentor to help you navigate your goals. In order to find a mentor, you’ll have to know how to ask for help, which requires communication skills and confidence.
So to answer the question “what are soft skills?,” I’d say “pretty freaking important.” They help you land jobs, find opportunities and grow as a professional. And that will eventually lead to success.
Want more tips for other aspects of the job application process? Check out these resources on job hunting prep and nailing that interview.
