what are soft skills

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are defined as the natural characteristics of an individual. They may include personality traits, personal attributes, and communication skills. Soft skills are as important as hard skills. However, they are often ignored. It is a fact that hard skills will get you a job, but soft skills will help retain it.

Additionally, soft skills are qualities or emotions that help you with your job. Some examples of soft skills are teamwork, communication, problem-solving, time management, etc.

Why Are Soft Skills Important?

Communication with people requires soft skills. Soft skills are used every day at work. Besides, you can also work on building these skills. This will help you with the quality of the job.

Additionally, it will enable you to build better relationships at work. On the other hand, a lack of soft skills can affect your job too. Soft skills are required to deal with customers and clients.

Poor skills can cost you your job. You need to have great communication skills. Though hard skills are important, soft skills are considered crucial. Recruiters today look for soft skills in candidates. However, soft skills can be built over time. Some of the most demanded soft skills are teamwork, creativity, organization, social skills, and interpersonal communication. Though an individual may not have all of these qualities, yet they can learn them. Developing soft skills can improve your work culture. Additionally, it will help you in multiple ways possible.

Soft skills are traits that aren't taught in schools. They are the natural characteristics of a person. However, in today's market, soft skills are as important as hard skills. Soft skills are valuable as well as important in the workplace. This includes the ability to deal with people.

Additionally, it defines your relationship with clients. While hard skills are taught, soft skills are tough to learn. However, it is not impossible to learn them. All you need is the mind to teach such skills.

Let's look at an example of how soft skills have a direct link to your job. Sara and Keisha are fresh graduates who have recently landed new jobs. The office timings are from 9 to 5. Sara reaches the workplace by 8.50. She is at her desk by 9, starting her work.

On the other hand, Keisha rushes in at 9:03. Their jobs consist of dealing with customers all day long. An angry customer gets in touch with Keisha. She arranges for a refund for the customer.

Meanwhile, another furious client gets in touch with Sara. She looks into the matter to find the customer is happy with the service but has some other issues. She helps them clear issues. The client is happy with the customer service and promises to make bigger purchases the next time.

Here, it can be clearly seen that good soft skills helped Sara retain clients. On the other hand, Keisha loses a customer. This is how soft skills affect your job.

Soft skills are the underlying skills a person should have. These are the skills that help an individual do his/her best. Soft skills in a workplace are also called as employability skills. These are the types of skills that will help you stand out.

Let's look at some of these important skills.

1. Communication Skills

No matter what kind of job you are in, you need to have good communication skills. This is important because it helps you convey things better. Additionally, it also enables you to make conversations easier. You are able to ask or tell things much clearer.

2. Problem Solving

Nearly every job you do, there will be difficulties or problems. That is where problem-solving skills become important. These skills involve you to come with logical solutions for problems. This skill is much valued and appreciated.

3. Teamwork

Teamwork is the ability to get along with other workers in the group. If you have great teamwork skills, then it has an advantage. You can build your teamwork skills by doing group projects or studies.

4. Technology

It is fairly difficult to work without knowing how to use technology. Every work involves knowing different levels of technology. Hence, it is important to know the basic usage of computers. You can build your technology skills by doing an online course. Besides, you could learn what is necessary for your job.

These are some of the most basic soft skills that you need to develop. Not only these, but there are multiple other skills that include planning, organizing, self-management, and others.

Soft skills are a combination of multiple skills, which include social skills, people skills, communication skills, attitude, career attributes, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, among others.

These are the basic skills that help people in their careers, enable them to work well, perform well, and achieve their goals.

In simple words, they are your behaviors and personality traits. The two most important skills that employers look for in candidates are communication skills and interpersonal skills.

However, there are multiple other skills that you could list in your resume. Some of them are integrity, work ethic, research, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, flexibility, and adaptability.

In addition to these, soft skills are divided into five broad types, which are problem-solving, communication, creativity, work ethic, and adaptability. Let’s look into details of these soft skills.