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What Are Soft Skills?

By Alison Doyle | Updated on October 9, 2022

In This Article WhatExactlyAreSoftSkills?

Softskillsarepersonalattributesneededforsuccessonthejob.
How Soft Skills Work

Example of Soft Skills

Types of Soft Skills

How To Get Soft Skills

TimeManagement Networking Teamwork
How To Highlight Your
Soft Skills

Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs)
CreativeThinking ConflictResolution

PHOTO: THERESA CHIECHI / THE BALANCE

DEFINITION
N::

Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work. They
include how you interact with colleagues, how you solve problems, and
how you manage your work.

Key Takeaways

Soft skills are non-technical skills that impact your performance

in the workplace.

You likely already have soft skills from your school and work
experience.
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You can also develop soft skills at work, school, volunteer Interview Questions and Answers
activities, and by participating in training programs and classes.
3 Worst Interview Answers
Include your soft skills in your resume and cover letter.
How To Prepare For An Interview
Demonstrate your soft skills during job interviews.
Behavioral Interview Questions

Job Interview Tips

How Soft Skills Work

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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. [1] They are Advertisement

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. [2]
Someone can be excellent with technical, job-speciWc 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. [1]

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 Zexible employees.

Alternate names: Interpersonal skills, essential skills, noncognitive

skills [3]

Example of Soft Skills Advertisement

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
Even if you're not in a client-facing role, you need to be able to get
along with co-workers, managers, vendors, and other people you
interact with at work.

Types of Soft Skills

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Soft skills include the personal attributes, personality traits, and Interview Questions and Answers
communication abilities needed for success on the job. Soft skills
3 Worst Interview Answers
characterize how a person interacts in his or her relationships with
others. How To Prepare For An Interview

Soft skills include: Behavioral Interview Questions

Adaptability  Job Interview Tips

Communication 
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Compromise

Creative thinking

Dependability

Leadership

Listening

Work ethic 

Teamwork

Positivity 

Time management 

Motivation 
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Problem-solving 

Critical thinking

ConZict resolution

Negotiation

How To Get Soft Skills

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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
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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 Wnd a resolution, you've used conZict 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 Advertisement

communicate, adapt to changes, and solve problems.

You can also reZect 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, o_er to
pitch in. If there's a process that could improve your workplace, suggest
it.

Note
Employers typically don't directly ask if you have soft skills. Instead,
they present situations and ask what you would do to assess
whether you have soft skills.

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How To Highlight Your Soft Skills

When you're applying for a new job, highlight your soft skills, as well as
your job-speciWc 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.
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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)
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Why are soft skills important?
Interview Questions and Answers
Soft skills are important because they help you work well with others.
3 Worst Interview Answers
Communication skills, teamwork, and adaptability enable you to
connect with co-workers, express your ideas, receive feedback, and How To Prepare For An Interview
achieve consensus. 
Behavioral Interview Questions

How can I improve my soft skills? Job Interview Tips

You can learn new soft skills or improve your existing skill set through
online classes, leadership training, and mentorship programs. You can Advertisement

also build your people skills simply by identifying your growth areas and
setting goals to improve. For example, if you know you need to learn
better listening skills, you can start by listening carefully to what co-
workers say and asking for clariWcation when you need it. 

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