Hiring managers look for soft skills in job candidates,
which are personality traits and interpersonal skills. These tips will teach
you how to incorporate soft skills into your résumé.
What Exactly Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills, also known as people skills, are the intangible
interpersonal skills and personality traits that job candidates include on
their résumés. When listing your work history, include statistics about your
accomplishments as well as the soft skills you gained from each job. Employers
look for soft skills such as critical thinking, active listening, dependability,
and effective communication skills. A well-rounded team player with a strong
work ethic usually has a strong soft skill set.
What Is the Difference Between Soft and Hard Skills?
In job postings, recruiters and hiring managers prioritize
hard and soft skills, and the ideal new hire will have skills in both
categories. Hard skills are teachable and transferable abilities that people
acquire through training or certification programs. Computer programming, data
analysis, and bookkeeping are examples of job-specific technical skills that
necessitate specialized training.
Personality traits and interpersonal skills that develop
over time as a result of personal growth and maturity are examples of soft
skills. Soft skills are in high demand because they are more difficult to learn
than hard skills. Leadership skills, organizational skills, time management
skills, problem-solving skills, verbal communication skills, and written
communication skills are examples of soft skills.
How to Include Soft Skills on a Résumé
Consider the following tips for including soft skills on a
résumé:
Include a section on your skills. The skills section is
usually found at the bottom of a chronological résumé. You can also use a
functional résumé format to highlight skills rather than work experience.
Highlight the types of skills relevant to your job search in either format.
Make a list of soft skills for each previous job. In the
work history section, include accomplishments and soft skills for each
position. To highlight a cost-cutting measure you developed for a previous job,
for example, you could include the soft skills required for implementation.
Consider whether you developed a plan using critical thinking skills, gathered
information from co-workers using active listening skills, or presented the
final results to your team members.
Examine the job description. Examine the job description for
job-specific soft skills. Optimize your résumé to include any of your skills,
and mention them in your cover letter and during the job interview.
Soft Skills Examples for Résumés
Employers seek candidates with soft skills who can
contribute to a positive work environment and work well in groups. If
applicable, consider including the following soft skills on your résumé:
- Active listening
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Conflict resolution
- Creativity
- Critical thinking
- Customer service
- Decision-making
- Dependability
- Emotional intelligence
- Leadership
- Mentoring
- Public speaking
- Problem-solving
- Project management
- Teamwork
- Time management
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
