Hard skills vs. soft skills: An introduction
Hard skills are those talents and abilities that can be measured. They are usually specific to a particular job, and they can be learned through schooling or on the-job-training.
Soft skills are less defined skills that often apply not only to one specific job but are universal.
Think of hard skills as those you list on a resumé or the areas in which you hold certifications. Soft skills are those that help you build longer-lasting coworker and customer relationships. The importance of hard skills vs. soft skills should not be underestimated.
Soft skills are skills and abilities that are much harder to measure and a bit fuzzier to define.
These are interpersonal skills that help people get along with each other and collaborate.
Challenging to train explicitly, soft skills include things like character, ability to work on a team, and overall understanding of and participation in your company culture.
Employees just entering the workforce or transitioning to a new career may struggle with soft skills, especially as they relate to fellow employees.
- Examples of soft skills:
• Creativity
• Persuasion
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Emotional intelligence
• Communication
• Listening
• Punctuality
• Organization
• Teamwork
• Ability to “read a room”
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Time management
• Multitasking
• Attention to detail
• Responsibility
• Strategic thinking
• Problem solving
• Good decision making
• Conflict resolution
• Innovation
• Social skills
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity