List of Top Soft Skills Employers Value With Examples

List of Top Soft Skills Employers Value With ExamplesList of Top Soft Skills Employers Value With ExamplesCandidates with strong soft skills are in high demand for many different types of jobs.Soft skillsare the interpersonal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace. These are related to how you work with andrelatetoothers- in other words,people skills. What Are Soft Skills? Soft skills are different fromhard skills, which are directly relevant to the jobtowhichyou are applying. These are often more quantifiable, and easier to learn than soft skills. A hard skill for acarpenter, for example, might be the ability to operate a power saw or use framing squares. Regardless of the jobtowhichyure applying, you need at least some soft skills. In orderto succeed atwork, you must get along well with all the peoplewithwhomyou interact,including managers, co-workers, clients, vendors, customers, andanyone else you communicate with while on the job. These are the types of skills all e mployers value. Employers want employees who are able to interact effectivelywith others. These skills are also very hard to teach, so employers want to know that job candidates already have the soft skills to besuccessful. List of Soft Skills Below is a list of the fruchtweinimportant soft skillsthat most employers look for. It also includes sublists of related soft skills that employers tend to seek in job applicants. Develop these skills and emphasize them in job applications, resumes, cover letters, and interviews. Showing the interviewer that you have the skills the company is seeking will help you get hired. Communication How well do you communicate?Communication skillsare important in almost every job. You will likely need to communicate with peopleonthejob, whether they are clients, customers, colleagues, employers, or vendors. You willalsoneed to be able tospeakclearly and politely with people in person, by phone, and in writing. You will also likely need to be agoo d listener. Employers want employees who can not only communicate their own ideas, but whoalso listen empathetically to others. Listening is a particularly important skill in customer service jobs. ListeningNegotiationNonverbal communicationPersuasionPresentationPublic speakingReadingbody languageStorytellingVerbal communicationVisual communicationWriting reports and proposalsWriting skills Critical Thinking No matter what the job, employers want candidates who can analyze situationsand make informed decisions. Whether you are working with data, teaching students, or fixing a home heating system, you need to be able to understand problems, think critically, and devise solutions. Skills related tocritical thinkinginclude creativity, flexibility, and curiosity. AdaptabilityArtistic aptitudeCreativityCritical observationCritical thinkingDesign aptitudeDesire to learnFlexibilityInnovationLogical thinkingProblem solvingResearchResourcefulnessThinkingoutside the boxTolerance ofchange and uncertaintyTroubleshootingValue educationWillingnessto learn Leadership While not every job opening is aleadershiprole, most employers will want to know that you have the ability to make decisions when push comes to shove, andcanmanage situations and people. Theability to step up to the plate in a difficult situation and tohelp to resolve it is something employers look for in prospective employees If you are interviewing for a job that has the potential for advancement, the employer will want to know that you have what it takes to become a leader. Other skills related to leadership include the abilities to resolve problems and conflicts between people, and tomakeexecutive decisions. Conflict managementConflict resolutionDeal makingDecision makingDelegationDispute resolutionFacilitationGivingclear feedbackInspiringpeopleLeadershipManagementManaging difficult conversationsManaging remote/virtual teamsMeeting managementMentoringMotivatingProject managementResolving issuesSucces sful coachingSupervisingTalent management Positive Attitude Employers are always seeking people who will bring a positive attitude to the office. They want employees who will be friendly to others, eager to work, and generally a pleasure to be around. Being able to keepthingspositive is especially important if youre working in a fast-paced, high-stress work environment. ConfidenceCooperationCourtesyEnergyEnthusiasmFriendlinessHonestyHumorousPatienceRespectabilityRespectfulness Teamwork Hiring managers look for job candidates who can work well with others. Whether you will be doing a lot of team projects or simply attending a few departmentalmeetings, you need to be able to work effectively with the people around you. You need to be able to work with others even if you do not always see eye to eye. Some skills related toteamworkinclude the ability to negotiate with others, and to recognize and appreciate diversity in a team. Another related skill is the ability to accept and apply feedback from others. Accepting feedbackCollaborationCustomer serviceDealingwith difficult situationsDealingwith office politicsDisability awarenessDiversity awarenessEmotional intelligenceEmpathyEstablishinginterpersonal relationshipsDealing with difficult personalitiesIntercultural competenceInterpersonal skillsInfluenceNetworkingPersuasionSelf-awarenessSelling skillsSocial skillsTeam buildingTeamwork Work Ethic Employers look for job candidates with a strong work ethic. Suchpeople come to work on time, complete tasks in a timely manner, stay focused, and stay organized. They are able to budget their time and complete their work thoroughly. While they can work independently, people with a strong work ethic can also follow instructions. A strong work ethic is difficult to teach, so employers will be impressed if you can demonstrateitin your job application. AttentivenessBusiness ethicsCompetitivenessDedicationDependabilityFollowingdirectionIndependenceMeeting deadlinesMot ivationMultitaskingOrganizationPerseverancePersistencePlanningProper business etiquettePunctualityReliabilityResilienceResults-orientationSchedulingSelf-directionSelf-monitoringSelf-supervisingStayingon taskStrategic planningTime managementTrainabilityWorkingwell under pressure More Soft Skills Here are additional soft skills for resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interviews. Required skills will vary based on the job for which youre applying, so also review our list ofskills listed by joband type of skill. AssertivenessBusiness ethicsBusiness storytellingBusiness trend awarenessCustomer ServiceEffective communicatorEmotion managementErgonomic sensitivityFollow instructionsFollow regulationsFollow rulesFunctions well under pressureGood attitudeHighly recommendedIndependentInterviewingKnowledge managementMeets deadlinesMotivatingPerform effectively in a deadline environmentPerformance managementPositive work ethicProblem solvingProcess improvementQuick-wittedResults or ientedSafety consciousScheduling Self-awarenessSelf-supervisingStress managementTeam playerTechnology savvyTechnology trend awarenessTolerantTrainableTrainingTroubleshootingWilling to accept feedbackWillingness to learnWork-life balanceWorks well under pressure How to Make Your Skills Stand Out Add Relevant Skills to Your Resume Include the terms most closely related to the job in yourresume, especially in the description of your work history.Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter You can incorporate soft skills into yourcover letter. Include one or two of the skills mentioned here, and give specific examples of instances when you demonstrated these traits at work.Use Skill Words During Job Interviews You can also use these words in yourjob interviews. Keep the top skills listed here in mind during your interview, and be prepared to give examples of how youve used each. Each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read thejob descriptioncarefully and focus on the skills listed by the employer.