The Importance of Soft Skills in the Labour Market
People often underestimate the importance of soft skills in the labour market. As many of us continue to work from home and have fewer in-person interactions, we focus on hard skills (also known as technical skills) related to specific knowledge or training and may neglect to develop soft skills (or professional skills), related to interpersonal interaction or personality traits. People are spending more time online and less time interacting in-person or through the kind of social environments needed to cultivate soft skills. Even the term “soft” implies these skills are not to be taken as seriously as their “hard” counterparts.
However, many employers value employees with soft skills, the interpersonal and thinking skills needed to interact successfully with people and to perform efficiently and effectively in the workplace. Unlike hard skills, soft skills stand the test of time and are resistant to becoming outdated. That is why some have started to call them “durable” skills instead of soft skills (and to move away from the stigma associated with the word “soft”).
The difference between hard skills and soft skills:
Skills are the ability to perform tasks because of one’s knowledge, learning or practice. Hard skills are measurable abilities and knowledge that are often specific to a career. They are usually learned through education or training and can be demonstrated through certifications, portfolios, skills assessment tests and past work. Soft skills are interpersonal traits that people develop through time and real-world experiences. Hard skills are often applicable to a certain career, whereas soft skills are transferable to the many different jobs you might have throughout a lifetime.
Examples of hard skills:
• Computer programming
• Software knowledge
• Data analysis
• Graphic design
• Project management
Examples of soft skills:
• Communication (interpersonal and written)
• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Adaptability
• Social perceptiveness
As you can probably tell from the examples of hard and soft skills above, hard skills are mostly related to traditional intelligence (IQ) and soft skills are often related to emotional intelligence (EQ). Employees with high emotional intelligence on average out-earn those with lower EQ. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, experience, understand and express human emotions in healthy and productive ways. You can develop your emotional intelligence by observing how you feel and paying attention to how you behave. The key to becoming more emotionally intelligent is to practice self-awareness, empathy and social awareness.
How to develop soft skills:
Hard skills are usually learned through education or training, while soft skills are usually learned through real-world experience. If you want to improve your soft skills, start by identifying your strengths and weaknesses. Ask for feedback from your peers, colleagues and past or current supervisors. Observe others and take note of their interactions and what seems to work well and not work well. You can also develop your soft skills through volunteering with a local non-profit, joining a community club or social group, or sharing your knowledge with others through a formal mentorship program.
Highlight your soft skills:
Now that you know how important soft skills are for employers, make sure you identify yours and include them on your resume and cover letter when applying for jobs. Check out the resume and cover letter page for tips on how to write a great resume and cover letter.
Have an interview coming up? Remember to discuss how your soft skills relate to the job description when answering questions! Visit the interviews page on WorkBC.ca to brush up on your interview skills.
Use your soft skills!
Not only will developing your soft skills help with your employability, but having these types of skills will also help with your ability to form social connections, resolve conflicts and cope with the inevitable stresses that come up in your personal life.