List of Top Soft Skills Employers Value With Examples

List of Top Soft Skills Employers Value With Examples List of Top Soft Skills Employers Value With Examples Candidates with strong soft skills are in high demand for many different types of jobs.  Soft skills  are the interpersonal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace. These are related to how you work with and  relate  to  others- in other words,  people skills. What Are Soft Skills? Soft skills are different from  hard skills, which are directly relevant to the job  to  which  you are applying. These are often more quantifiable, and easier to learn than soft skills. A hard skill for a  carpenter, for example, might be the ability to operate a power saw or use framing squares. Regardless of the job  to  which  youre applying, you need at least some soft skills. In order  to succeed at  work, you must get along well with all the people  with  whom  you interact,  including managers, co-workers, clients, vendors, customers, and  anyone else you communicate with while on the job. These are the types of skills all employers value. Employers want employees who are able to interact effectively  with others. These skills are also very hard to teach, so employers want to know that job candidates already have the soft skills to be  successful. List of Soft Skills Below is a list of the most  important soft skills  that 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 skills  are important in almost every job. You will likely need to communicate with people  on  the  job, whether they are clients, customers, colleagues, employers, or vendors. You will  also  need to be able to  speak  clearly and politely with people in person, by phone, and in writing. You will also likely need to be a  good listener. Employers want employees who can not only communicate their own ideas, but who  also listen empathetically to others. Listening is a particularly important skill in customer service jobs. ListeningNegotiationNonverbal communicationPersuasionPresentationPublic speakingReading  body languageStorytellingVerbal communicationVisual communicationWriting reports and proposalsWriting skills Critical Thinking No matter what the job, employers want candidates who can analyze situations  and 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 to  critical thinking  include creativity, flexibility, and curiosity. AdaptabilityArtistic aptitudeCreativityCritical observationCritical thinkingDesign aptitudeDesire to learnFlexibilityInnovationLogical thinkingProblem solvingResearchResourcefulnessThinking  outside the boxTolerance of  change and uncertaintyTroubleshootingValue educationWillingness  to learn Leadership While not every job opening is a  leadership  role, most employers will want to know that you have the ability to make decisions when push comes to shove, and  can  manage situations and people. The  ability to step up to the plate in a difficult situation and to  help 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 to  make  executive decisions. Conflict managementConflict resolutionDeal makingDecision makingDelegationDispute resolutionFacilitationGiving  clear feedbackInspiringpeopleLeadershipManagementManaging difficult conversationsManaging remote/virtual teamsMeeting managementMentoringMotivatingProject managementResolving issuesSuccessful 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 keep  things  positive is especially important if you’re 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 departmental  meetings, 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 to  teamwork  include 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 serviceDealing  with difficult situationsDealing  with office politicsDisability awarenessDiversity awarenessEmotional intelligenceEmpathyEstablishing  interpersonal relationshipsDealing with difficult personalitiesIntercultural competenceInterpersonal skillsInfluenceNetworkingPersuasionSelf-awarenessSelling skillsSocial skillsTeam buildingTeamwork Work Ethic Employers look for job candidates with a strong work ethic. Such  people 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 demonstrate  it  in your job application. AttentivenessBusiness ethicsCompetitivenessDedicationDependabilityFollowing  directionIndependenceMeeting deadlinesMotivationMultitaskingOrganizationPerseverancePersistencePlanningProper business etiquettePunctualityReliabilityResilienceResults-orientationSchedulingSelf-directionSelf-monitoringSelf-supervisingStaying  on taskStrategic planningTime managementTrainabilityWorking  well 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 of  skills listed by job  and 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 orientedSafety 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 your  resume, especially in the description of your work history.Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter: You can incorporate soft skills into your  cover 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 your  job 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 the  job description  carefully and focus on the skills listed by the employer.