What are soft skills

What are soft skills by Michael Cheary Worried that your lack of skills is letting you down? Soft skills are important in a range of different roles, helping you do everything from negotiating and selling through to managing your schedule. In fact, you probably have a number of attributes already that you’re simply not using to your advantage. You just need to learn how to back them up.To find out how to make the most of them, here’s our guide on soft skills â€" and how they could help land your next job:  What are soft skills? Soft skills are general attributes that aren’t specific to a job or industry.They’re usually self-developed, meaning no training is needed to build them. And because they can be applied to a number of different roles, soft skills are always desirable â€" no matter what field you’re working in.What are transferable skills?  List of soft skillsSoft skills are a combination of many different things, including social skills, character traits and employment qualities. As a result, the number of soft skills is almost endless. Some of the most common examples include:Communication skillsLeadershipProblem solvingCritical thinkingTeam workingFlexibilityResilienceNegotiation skillsWhy are soft skills important? Although hard skills might be important in some industries, soft skills are important in all of them.They’re what help us bond with other people around the business, and fit well within the company culture. Without them, even someone with the right qualifications could end up alienating themselves in their role, or not having the right mindset to do their job effectively.They’re also what help distinguish us from other potential candidates when we look for a new position.Skills based CV template  Five CV skills employers look for in every jobseekerWhat are the advantages of soft skills?One of the biggest advantages of soft skills is that they don’t limit you to working within one industry.They are transferable skills, allowing you to demo nstrate your personality and effectiveness to prospective employers, even if you have limited experience in their field.For example, your excellent communication skills may have made you good at selling. But many other sectors outside of sales require people who can communicate well â€" whether it’s by attracting new customers, building relationships with suppliers or working effectively in a team.Also, everyone has some form of soft skills. They require no formal training, and are usually picked up through previous positions or experiences â€" meaning you might already have some great attributes you can use to your advantage.Six ways to make your CV stand out from the crowdWhat words should I use on my CV?What are the disadvantages of soft skills?Although they’re valuable, soft skills won’t always be enough to get you the job.Some industries require more formal qualifications or experience to get your foot in the door, and without these prerequisites your soft skills may not be enough.Soft skills are also extremely difficult to measure, meaning some employers don’t appreciate their true value until you’ve actively been able to demonstrate them.Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills  How do I demonstrate soft skills on my CV?  It’s never enough to say you have soft skills â€" you actually need to back them up.When it comes to writing a CV that means adding practical examples to show times when you’ve put your soft skills to good use.For example, stating you have good problem solving skills sounds fine. But saying ‘good problem solving skills, demonstrated when I successfully overcame X’ will come across much better to employers â€" not to mention add value to your CV.And the best part? A list of desirable skills will already be provided for you in the job description. All you need to do is prove them.If you struggle to think of good examples, use the STAR technique to help get you started.Five lines that are killing your CVCan I learn soft skills?Soft skills are self-developed. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t be taught.There are a wide range of courses out there to help you improve everything from your organisation skills through to your public speaking. So, even if it’s not something you’re particularly strong on right now, there’s no reason you can’t get better.Figure out what skills you think you need to improve, find a course and get started.Need more CV advice?It takes an employer just seven seconds to save or reject a job applicant’s CV. This means creating a succinct CV is absolutely vital if you want to land that all-important interview. To find out how to make your CV stand out from the crowd, buy James Reed’s new book: The 7 Second CV: How to Land the Interview. Ready to put your skills to good use? View all available jobs now.