When you apply for a job, employers are interested in more than just your technical skills and knowledge. They also want to know about your “soft skills.” These are the everyday qualities and behaviours that show how you work with others, handle challenges, and contribute to a team. Soft skills help paint a picture of what it’s like to work with you.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills are sometimes called “people skills” or “transferable skills.” Unlike technical skills, which are often specific to a certain role or industry, soft skills are useful across almost any job or situation. Common examples of soft skills include:
- Communication – being clear, respectful and confident when speaking or writing
- Problem-solving – thinking through challenges and finding practical solutions
- Teamwork – working cooperatively with others
- Flexibility – adapting when plans change
- Emotional awareness and empathy– recognising your own feelings and understanding how others might feel, as well as showing you care about others’ needs and perspectives
- Reliability – showing you can be counted on to follow through
- Time management – using your time well and meeting deadlines
Because soft skills can be applied to so many situations, they’re often just as valuable as technical skills when you’re looking for work.
Why soft skills are important
Employers can often teach you the technical side of a job, but qualities like communication style, reliability, or resilience are much harder to train. That’s why soft skills are often what sets one candidate apart from another.
For example, imagine two people applying for the same role. They both have the right qualifications, but one can also show strong teamwork and adaptability. An employer may be more confident that this person will succeed in the role and get along well with colleagues.
Soft skills show employers that you’re not just capable of doing the work, but also of contributing positively to the workplace and culture.
How to highlight soft skills in your resume
Instead of only listing soft skills, you might like to try showing them in action with examples. This helps employers see how you’ve used these skills in real situations.
For example:
- Instead of “problem solver,” you might write: “Supported a teammate to complete their shift when the roster changed at short notice, making sure everything still got done.”
- Instead of “good communicator,” you might say: “Explained steps clearly when helping a peer learn a new task, making sure they felt confident to do it on their own.”
Think about times when you’ve used soft skills in jobs, volunteering, study, or even in day-to-day life. Then connect those examples to the role you’re applying for.
Putting it into practice
Soft skills are what make you a well-rounded candidate. By giving clear, real-life examples in your resume, you’ll show employers that you not only have the technical know-how, but also the personal qualities to succeed in the workplace.
At WISE, we see every day that people already have the soft skills employers value. We can help you find the words and examples to highlight them, so you feel confident showing employers the strengths you bring to the table.
If you’re in the process of finding work and need a little extra support, get in touch with our friendly team by registering as a WISE job seeker. We’re here to help you the build confidence and skills you need to succeed!