- A job seeker having difficulty getting an offer even though you possess all the required technical skills;
- An employee who experiences negative emotions or outcomes in your interactions with co-workers, supervisors, or customers;
- A veteran making the transition into the civilian workforce;
- A person facing employment barriers, such as a disability, addiction history, or criminal record;
- A high school or college student taking steps to prepare yourself for the workforce; or
- Any of the above who wants to maximize your chances of an enjoyable, productive, and rewarding career
… then this blog is for you!
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills
Hard skills are the abilities needed to do a specific type of job or task, while the term "soft skills” refers to an individual’s personal qualities, habits, and social abilities. Knowing how to use a cash register is a hard skill, for example, while interacting with customers during checkout is a soft skill.
Unlike hard skills, soft skills are broadly applicable to nearly all occupations, as well as one’s personal life. Examples include:
- Etiquette and other social graces;
- Enthusiasm and positive attitude;
- Self-management, flexibility, and productivity;
- Communication, teamwork, and conflict management;
- Ability to accept instruction, feedback, and responsibility;
- Problem solving and critical thinking;
- And many, many more!
Soft Skills and Employment
While many employers are prepared to train new hires on job-specific duties, they expect applicants to demonstrate during the job interview that they already have the needed soft skills.
In fact, responses to an informative employment practices survey[1] indicated that:
- 67% of employers would hire an applicant whose technical abilities are lacking if he or she possesses strong soft skills.
- Only 9% would hire someone whose technical abilities are strong if he or she lacks soft skills.
A weakness in this area, therefore, can have adverse effects on your ability to get, keep, and advance in a job!
Soft Skills Builder Can Help!
This Soft Skills Builder blog is dedicated to supporting readers in developing and strengthening their workplace soft skills. We will provide realistic examples and actionable tips for acing job interviews, making a good impression, keeping a positive attitude, communicating effectively, overcoming workplace conflict and challenges, working productively, and adding value to your organization. We will also feature guest contributors to share their experiences overcoming employment barriers.
We are very excited to help you master important soft skills that will benefit you both personally and professionally. Please check back regularly, or sign up to receive automatic blog updates.
[1]Fitting In, Standing Out, and Building a Remarkable Work Team (OfficeTeam, HR.com, and International Association of Administrative Professionals; 2007)
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