Soft Skills definition with example

Soft skills are not 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.

Soft Skills.

Soft skills relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal, communication, listening, time management and empathy.

Hiring managers typically look for job candidates with soft skills because they make someone more successful in the workplace. Like someone can be excellent with technical and job specific skills but if they can’t manage their time or work within a team then they may not be successful in the workplace.

How its work

Soft skills are also important to the success of most employers after all nearly every job requires employees to engage with other in some way.

Another reason hiring managers and employers look for applicants with soft skills in 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 employees.

Soft skills are particularly crucial in customer based jobs. 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 services.

Soft Skills types.

It includes the personal attributes, personality traits and communication abilities needed for success on the job. Soft skills characterize how a person interacts in his or her relationships with others.

Soft skills includes.

•        Adaptability
•        Communication
•        Creative thinking
•        Dependability
•        Work ethic
•       Teamwork
•         Positivity
•        Time management
•        Motivation 
•        Problem-solving 
•       Critical thinking
•       Conflict resolution

How to get soft skills

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. That said some job skills programs do cover soft skills. They may discuss soft skills so job seekers know what they are and the importance of highlighting them on their resume.

If you have been working for a while, chances are you have 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 find a resolution, you've used conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.

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 communicate, adapt to changes, and solve problems.

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