The Importance of Soft Skills &

Hard Skills Day-to-Day Activities

Abstract
Hiring managers usually look for two types of skills in the prospective
candidates – hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are job-Specific skills which
are attained by attending school or training programs or through experiential
learning on the job. But if you’re Looking for what other important skills
hiring managers look for while screening resumes, read on as we explain soft
skills and Their importance. The phrase ‘soft skills’ is often used by
employers, particularly when they are looking suitable candidates for Jobs.
You will almost certainly have heard big employers taking into consideration
millennials, school leavers, university graduates, Or perhaps simply ‘young
people’ having the ‘soft skills’ needed in ‘today’s workplace’. A wide range of
skills fall under the Heading of ‘soft skills’. They are also often known as
‘transferable skills’. They include interpersonal skills, sometimes called
‘people skills’ or ‘social skills’, but go far beyond this area. Ironically, for
many people, the so-called soft skills are often some of The hardest skills to
develop. However, this does not mean that they cannot be learned or taught.
Whether or not you are successful In your career may depend on how you
relate to other people and to work: the so-called soft skills. Many people
have characterised Soft skills as those relating to Emotional Intelligence, the
ability to recognise and manage your own and others’ emotions. However, In
reality, they go beyond that, and into the wider realms of how you organise
yourself and how you approach life. The good news Is that you can learn and
develop soft skills as well as hard skills. Hard skills are specific, teachable
abilities that can be defined And measured, such as typing, writing, math,
reading and the ability to use software programs. Soft skills are less tangible
and Harder to quantify, such as etiquette, getting along with others, listening
and engaging in small talk. Hard skills are the abilities That can be measured
and defined. The types of computer skills employers expect will vary
depending on your career or industry. For example, if you’re applying for a
job as an office manager, you will likely be required to have a basic
knowledge of wordProcessing programs, spreadsheets, email platforms and
other communication tools. There are many other computer skills, However,
that are commonly used across all industries that are important for most job
applicants to know.

INTRODUCTION TO SOFT SKILLS

A. Definition

1) Soft skills is the term used for those skills that are not technical or job-
related.
2) They include social skills, interpersonal skills, and a positive attitude.
These are the skills that define your relationships with Other people, or
how you approach life and work.
3) The Hard and Soft Skills have great importance in our day-today
business activities.
4) Job-related expertise is essential in any profession and in many other
careers. However, over the last twenty to thirty years, Understanding
has grown that perhaps the soft skills may ultimately be more
important in determining levels of success.
5) Soft skills are personality traits and behaviours. Unlike technical or
‘hard’ skills, soft skills are not about the knowledge you Possess but
the behaviours you display in different situations.
6) Soft skills include any skill that can be classified as a personality trait
or habit. Interpersonal skills and communication skills Are more
specific categories of soft skills that many employers look for in job
candidates.
7) There are many soft skills that you could list on your resume or cover
letter. Some of the most sought after soft skills include:
1) Effective Communication Skills (Oral and Written)
2) Teamwork

3) Dependability
4) Adaptability
5) Conflict resolution
6) Flexibility
7) Leadership
8) Problem-solving
9) Research
10) Creativity
11) Work ethic
8) Soft skills, often called people skills or emotional intelligence, refer to
the ability to interact amicably with others.
9) Soft skills are personal attributes that can affect relationships,
communication, and interaction with others. Soft skills can

Include, or relate to, the following:

1) Negotiating
2) Customer service
3) Networking
4) Presentation
5) Conflict resolution
6) Communication effectiveness
7) Teamwork
8) Problem-solving
9) Working under pressure
10) Soft skills are interpersonal skills which are used to describe your
approach to life, work, and relationships with other people.Unlike hard
skills, these are not professional job-specific skills like accountancy,
graphics designing, etc. Soft skills are Your unique selling point which
gives you a competitive edge over others in the workplace and in life.
11) Other names given to soft skills are people skills, interpersonal
skills, and social skills.
12) Soft skills comprise of personal attributes, communication skills
and abilities, and personality traits which differentiate people With
similar hard-skill-set from each other.
13) Some examples of soft skills are:

1) Communication Skills
2) Leadership
3) Work Ethic
4) Creative Problem Solving
5) Time management
6) Conflict Resolution
7) Team player

14) Soft skills are sometimes referred to as transferable skills or

professional skills. As this term implies, these are skills that are Less
specialised, less rooted in specific vocations, and more aligned with the
general disposition and personality of a candidate.
15) Examples of important soft skills are communication, teamwork
and problem solving.
16) Soft skills relate to your attitudes and your intuitions. As soft
skills are less referable to your qualifications and more Personality-
driven, it is important to consider what your soft skills are and how you
might show evidence of them before you Apply for a job.
17) This is particularly true of the recruitment process for graduate
programmes, where transferable skills and potential often take
Precedence over professional experience.
18) Being able to demonstrate your soft skills equates to
demonstrating great potential to succeed and progress in the career of
your choice
 II. MOST IMPORTANT SOFT SKILLS

It is hard to say which soft skills are .most important, because it will vary by
situation. However, this list is broadly what employers mean when they talk
about ‘good soft skills’. They are, therefore, the skills that are Most likely to
enable you to build constructive working relationships with others, or to be a
constructive and helpful employee.

Communication Skills
Communication skills are almost always high on the ‘essential skills’ list in
any job advertisement.People with strong communication skills can build
relationships (from the initial rapport-building through to a longer-term
Relationship). They can listen well and vary their communication to suit the
circumstances. They avoid misunderstandings, and in General make any
workplace work better.

If you spend time on nothing else, work on your communication skills.

Making Decisions

Being able to make decisions is valued by employers for many reasons, and
also essential to getting on in life more generally.We all have to make
decisions every day, from what we have for breakfast, to more important
decisions like whether to apply For a new job or when to get married.
Sometimes the actual decision doesn’t even matter; what matters is that you
have made one And moved on.Being able to make good decisions can also
help with problem-solving, because it enables you to choose between
possible Solutions.

Self-Motivation

People who are self-motivated get on by themselves.They do not need close

supervision. They are good to work with because they are generally positive
about life and can be Counted upon to keep going, even when times are
hard. Two skills that are closely linked to self-motivation are personal
resilience, Or the ability to bounce back when you encounter problems, and
adaptability to change.

Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are the skills required to take the lead when necessary.They
include the ability to manage and motivate others, and to delegate work.
These are the set of soft skills that we least expect Someone to develop by
themselves. Employers understand that it is hard to develop skills without
being able to practice them every Day. There is likely to come a point,
however, when you may need to step up to a leadership position for the first
time

There are therefore many leadership training courses available and much
has been written about how to develop your leadershipSkills. Our leadership
skills pages describe many of the skills needed for effective leadership and
how to develop your leadership Style.
Team-Working Skills
Team-working skills are broadly those required to work effectively with other
people.They are, therefore, basically interpersonal skills. There is plenty of
thinking to suggest that good communication skills, Particularly good
listening skills, together with an ability to build rapport will go a long way to
support your ability to work well In a team.

There are, however, some specific skills and areas of expertise that may be
helpful if you need to work closely with other people. It is, for example,
useful to understand the distinction between ‘task’- and ‘process’-focused
skills.

Creativity and Problem Solving Skills

Like leadership skills, creativity and problem-solving skills are highly valued
because they are hard to develop.There are many people who believe that
creative thinkers are born, not made. There are certainly some people who
find these Skills much easier. But, like other skills, you can develop them if
you work to do so and our pages on these topics will give you Some ideas
about how to do this.

Time Management and Ability to Work under Pressure

These two areas, put together, can be summed up as ability to get the job
done in the time available. They are also sometimes Described as having a
‘good work ethic’.

Many would say that these two skills, which often go hand-in-hand, are more
an attitude than a skill. The precise words you use, Though, probably do not
matter nearly as much as working on these areas. They are highly valued by
employers, but are also very Useful for organising a family or a team, and
making sure that the job gets done at work or at home.

Positive Attitude
Positive thinking is the idea that you can improve your life, and the lives of
those around you, by taking a positive attitude.This is not in the least ‘fluffy’.
Nobody can deny that it is pleasanter to work with someone who is
enthusiastic, friendly, and Has a can-do attitude. It is also quite depressing to
work with someone who always sees the downside of everything. Employers

Look for people with a positive attitude because they help everyone to feel
better about themselves. They also achieve more.

III. IMPORTANCE OF SOFT SKILLS

Soft skills play an important role in resume writing, interviewing and finding
success in communicating with people at work and In other areas of your life.
For example, as you look for jobs, you may find that many employers list
specific soft skills on their Job posts in the ‘required’ or ‘desired’ sections. A
job posting for a Human Resources associate may list ‘attention to detail’ as
a Desired trait, while a job for a Marketing Specialist could list ‘leadership’
and ‘great communication skills’.Soft skills are often transferable across
careers and industries. As a result, you may find that you possess many of
the required Traits even if you don’t match the exact profile in a job
description. As you search for jobs, pay special attention to posts calling For
candidates with soft skills or traits you possess. Even if the job title isn’t a
great fit, you may find that the description makes sense for you. As you
progress through the job search process, keep your resume updated to

reflect soft skills most relevant to the Jobs you’re applying for.
You may also find it helpful to consider how you might showcase your soft
skills in an interview. While you can display some Skills like good
communication, you may consider weaving others into your answers to
interview questions. For example, you Might talk about your problem-solving
skills when answering a question like, “Tell me about a time you overcame an
obstacle.” If the employer prompts you to provide references, think of those
that can speak to examples that verify your soft skills and other Strengths.

Soft skills are an essential part of finding, attracting, and retaining clients.
Highly-developed presentation skills, networking Abilities, and etiquette
awareness can help you win new clients and gain more work from existing
clients. Honing your abilities to Resolve conflicts, solve problems, and
provide excellent customer service can lead to stronger relationships with
colleagues, Vendors, and other professional contacts. Ultimately, strong soft
skills can help you gain confidence—an invaluable trait in the Business world.

On the other hand, a lack of soft skills can limit your potential, or even be the
downfall of your business. By developing strong Leadership, teamwork, and
communication abilities, you can run projects more smoothly, deliver results
that please everyone, and Even positively influence your personal life by
improving how you interact with others. Because in this competitive world,
work isn’t limited to just what’s offered to you by your boss. It requires you to
solve the Problems creatively, give ideas for better business, save time,
handle conflicts, maintain a peaceful and optimistic environment in The
workplace, etc
 IV. STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SOFT SKILLS

Many employers value strong soft skills over technical skills because they are
often personality traits developed over a lifetime And can be difficult to
teach. That being said, anyone can improve their soft skills with experience
and practice. For example, you May find that an employer is seeking
someone skilled in conflict resolution. While you may be naturally skilled at
effective Communication, it may help to practice working through conflicts
with others.

There are several ways you can help improve your soft skills.

1) Pick a soft skill you want to improve and practice it consistently. You
can improve any soft skill if you make it a practice. Most soft skills are
a matter of routine. For example, you can practice dependability, both
on the job and at home, by improving Punctuality (showing up to work
or events on time or early) and starting on projects at work earlier so
you can complete them Ahead of schedule.
2) Observe and mimic the positive soft skills you see in others. There are
likely professionals you know or work with who have Strengths in
various soft skills. You may be able to develop integral soft skills by
observing the practices of others and Incorporating them into your own
daily routine. You may find, for example, that effective communicators
often write down Notes when others are talking during meetings. This
helps them organise their thoughts so they are prepared to ask and
answer Important questions. This is also an active listening practice
that may be good to utilise as part of your own work.
3) Set milestone goals to improve soft skills. Set specific, measurable
goals by carefully reading your performance reviews at Work or asking
trusted friends and colleagues for constructive criticism. This can help
you to identify key areas of improvement For goal setting and areas of
strength to highlight on your resume and in interviews. You can
prioritise which soft skills to Work on based on those that you need to
get a certain job or move up in a career you already have.
4) Find resources to help you learn. You can find several resources to help
you learn tactics for improving the soft skills you Want to focus on like
books, podcasts or online classes. While some require payment, many
are free of cost and can be accessed .At any time. You might try out
 few different types of resources to see which are best for your learning
style.
5) A great first step in personal development is to recognize and
acknowledge the areas in which you need to improve. This can Take
place through personal reflection and introspection, an evaluation of
your business’s performance deficiencies, or through Feedback from
trusted colleagues or friends. You may find that daily journaling
regarding your professional interactions and Their outcomes is helpful
self-evaluation.
6) After you’ve gained an awareness of your strengths and weaknesses,
create a plan of action for improvement that aligns with And supports
your business plan. Because soft skills encompass a relatively large
category, there are a number of ways to Develop or enhance these
skills. Consider working with a mentor who can provide feedback and
model appropriate skills. If Your focus is on improving communication,
courses in subjects like public speaking or joining a group such As
Toastmasters can be helpful.
7) Finally, although it may seem deceptively simple, don’t underestimate
the effect of positivity and optimism. After all, the Majority of soft skills
are bolstered by confidence and enthusiasm, and undermined by
anxiety, insecurity, and negativity. Changing your mindset so you are
able to see the positive in situations can have a significant impact on
how you interact with Others.
8) Soft skills can influence your ability to give a great presentation and
communicate your speaking points effectively.While hard skills are
important for completing technical tasks, strong soft skills will make
you the kind of worker employersWant to hire, retain and promote. It’s
important to highlight the soft skills you have at all stages of the job
search process and Continue developing those skills once you find the
job you’re looking for.
Well-rounded, highly-developed soft skills can be invaluable to business
success. While soft skills can at times be more difficult To develop than
hard skills—more quantifiable attributes such as web design,
accounting, or editing experience—they are arguably Equally important
in running a successful business

SOFT SKILLS TRAINING

Thanks to the digital world, soft skills training is possible if you have an
internet connection and a few dollars to spare. Online Learning platforms
have hundreds of courses for free and interactive options, which teach you
time management, communication,And other soft skills.

Whereas hard skills are the tangible and technical skills easily demonstrated
by a candidate’s qualifications and specific Professional experiences, soft
skills is a term used by employers to refer to the more intangible and non-
technical abilities that are Sought from candidates

SOFT SKILLS MATTER

1) Leadership is one of the core soft skills.

2) Soft skills are the difference between adequate candidates and ideal
candidates. In most competitive job markets, recruitment Criteria do not stop
at technical ability and specialist knowledge.

3) Particularly with graduate schemes, recruiters will be looking for people

who can become leaders, and leadership, itself, Depends on several key soft
skills.

4) An instructive example of the difference made by soft skills is a medical

doctor. A doctor is required to have an extensive Repertoire of hard skills,
especially the ability to diagnose and prescribe treatments for an array of
ailments.

5) But a doctor who does not have the soft skills of emotional intelligence,
trustworthiness and approachability is not likely to be Very highly regarded
by their patients.

6) Similarly, a salesperson who may have an unrivalled and exhaustive

knowledge of their market will find it difficult to close a Deal and retain their
clients if they lack the soft skills of interpersonal skills and negotiation.

7)Soft skills are not just important when facing external customers and
clients. They are equally important when it comes To interacting with
colleagues.

8) Soft skills relate to how you work with others (whereas hard skills relate to
you, in isolation, as an individual).

9)Employers value soft skills because they enable people to function and
thrive in teams and in organisations as a whole.
10)A productive and healthy work environment depends on soft skills. After
all, the workplace is an interpersonal space, where Relationships must be
built and fostered, perspectives must be exchanged, and occasionally
conflicts must be resolved.

THE VITAL ROLE SOFT SKILLS

To get, and keep, a job you typically need a repertoire of technical skills.
Dentists need to know how to fill cavities. Secretaries Need to type 100+
words per minute. Accountants need to be certified.Beyond the technical
skills, though, which dentist do you go to? The one who is pleasant and takes
time to answer your questions; Or the one who treats you like a number in a
long line of numbered mouths?

Which secretary do you retain when times are lean? The one whose attitude
is positive and upbeat, and who is always willing To help; or the one who is
inflexible and has a hard time admitting mistakes?Likewise, think about
accountants. The one who has a great work ethic and encourages his
colleagues is the one who will, most Likely, excel in his position and
organization.In these situations, and all the others like them, it’s the soft
skills that matter
 HARD SKILLS
Hard skills’, by contrast, is a phrase usually used to describe job-specific
skills.

Examples of hard skills include professional skills like bricklaying or

accountancy, medical expertise such as diagnosis and Treatment, or other
skills that can be taught and whose presence is testable through exams.Hard
skills are therefore a basic minimum necessary to operate in that particular
workplace.Like hard skills, soft skills require a lot of practice to make you
really skilled at using them. Unlike hard skills, there are no Exams to prove
that you can do them. You measure your success in developing soft skills in
how well you manage relationships With those around you. These include
family, friends, and co-workers, as well as customers and those who provide
you with goods Or services

Hard skills include the specific knowledge and abilities required for success in
a job. Examples of hard skills include computer Programming, web design,
typing, accounting, finance, writing, mathematics, legal and other
quantifiable skills that are included

In the requirements for a job. List of hard skills include

1) Proficiency in a foreign language.

2) A degree or certificate.

3)Typing speed.

4)Machine operation.

5) Computer programming.

We’ll dive into the most marketable skills below, but to get you started, here
are a few that many employers look for on a resume:

1) Proficiency in foreign language

2) Data management
3) Scheduling
4) Research skills
5) Team management

Here are five skills you should consider adding to your resume:
1) Computer savvy: Regardless of what field of work you’re in and how
non-tech-savvy you consider yourself, computer Knowledge is always
one of the top hard skills. The more you improve your computer skills,
the better off you’ll be. Building Your computer skills begins with the
basics, such as a fast typing speed, knowing Microsoft Office (inside
and out), and Working with spreadsheets. Then you can add in great
Web skills, such as email campaigns and social media. You should also
Know how to manage files on the computer, create presentations, and
how both software and hardware work (so that you can Fix errors
without any help).

2) Data management: Every business works with a ton of data. You’ll

sometimes end up going through a lot of information, which Means
you’ll need the ability to navigate through it and extract the essentials.
You should also be able to analyze results, Understand guidelines and
definitions, review them, keep things up to date, and create reports.
3) Scheduling: Scheduling is deciding (and knowing) how to get the job
done effectively, what tools to use, and how to organize Your time.

Even if you’re not a project manager, it’s still a key hard skill (and can
be applied to any other area of life). If you Can plan and schedule well
at work, you’ll be able to manage your time (and life) better as a
result.
4) Research: Research skills are something you’ll always need when
preparing for a job, getting familiar with a new industry, Gathering
 information, and making a plan on where to begin. Some helpful tips
on how to become a better researcher can be Found here.
5) Financial planning: There are a great number of hard skills in the
finance category, these include: accounting, Budgeting, financial
planning, cash flow management, and much more. While you won’t
necessarily need to master all these, You need to work well with
numbers.Hard and soft skills together are an ideal combination. These
skillsets ensure that you’ll always know how to act according to The
situation, communicate clearly, be a great team member, and solve
problems easily. It’s the hard skills, however, that require Specific
knowledge and exercise your brain’s ability to learn.Defining skills as
either hard or soft is slightly misleading. It implies that one might be
more difficult or the other less important. The truth, as always, has a
nuance that the jargon misses. Anyone who has spent time in a work
environment understands that the Distinction between hard skills and
soft skills is an artificial one, as they often overlap.Yes, the distinction
differentiates types of skills, and they are categorically different in
many ways. However, they’re two sides Of the same coin. A
combination of hard skills and soft skills is ideal for understanding
methodologies and teamwork—one being Useless without the other.

What Are Hard Skills?

Before going further, it’s important to make sure we’re on the same page
when defining these terms. So, what is a hard skill? It’s A specific, teachable
ability: something that can be measured and defined. A hard skill can be
anything from being able to read to Working complex software programs.You
can quantify a hard skill. That is, it can be certified, or you might earn a
degree in that discipline. Think of your resume. Those bullet points listing
your qualifications for the job are an example of the hard skills you have
mastered.

Therefore, hard skills are acquired through formal education or training

programs. That can be in an academic environment or Learning on the job as
an apprentice.

Usually, when referring to skilled labor, the job is onethat demands

proficiency in a hard Skill. Though there are aspects of some types of manual
labor that require soft skills, too.
What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are those that help with interpersonal issues. In other words,
dealing with people. That might sound very general, and it Is. Soft skills are
notoriously difficult to define. But they include such areas as being able to
clearly communicate, listen, be Empathetic and the like.Just because soft
skills are elusive doesn’t mean they’re not in demand. Employers are looking
for soft skills when they’re Hiring. Personal attributes, personality traits,
understanding social cues and being able to communicate effectively are all
skills that Stand out beyond the resume and are exposed during the
interview process.One reason that soft skills are less clear is that they’re akin
to emotions and being able to read a person. It’s not something that Can be
taught in a traditional classroom setting. Therefore, they’re hard or
impossible to measure or evaluate.

EXAMPLES OF HARD AND SOFT SKILLS

Well, let’s start with a subject near and dear to us: Project Management.
Projects that have project managers are better run becauseThose project
managers are trained and often certified in hard skills that involve planning,
budgeting and scheduling. These are Essential tools of the trade.But a
project manager is not just working on spreadsheets and balancing budgets,
filling out Gantt charts and staying glued toTheir project management
software. They’re team leaders who are responsible for assigning tasks to
team members and helping Them accomplish those tasks within the
resources and time allotted.That means a project manager is working with a
variety of different types of workers, depending on the project, and must
Communicate as effectively with the manager on a construction site as the
stakeholders in the boardroom. Therefore, project Manager’s soft skills are as
important as the hard skills they have.

Managing people is different than keystroke commands on software. People

don’t always act as you expect or respond to what You say. Having the soft
skills to work with a diverse group and be able to communicate effectively
with them and resolve Conflicts when the arise are just as important as
allocating your resources smartly.The same can be said of a profession that is
more defined by excellence in soft skills. Say you’re a marketer and you live
and Breathe by how well you can understand consumers’ needs. That will
require assembling panels and doing in-depth question-andanswer interviews
with a diverse group of people, being able to empathize with them and
communicate clearly.But what do you do once you have all that data? It can
be unruly, and no matter how intuitive you might be, you’ll want to have
Some hard skills in play to crunch those numbers and pull the pertinent
information from it. That involves science and math, two Hard skills, and
other disciplines that can be studied in school. If you have that training it
would only enhance your abilities to do Your work.

What Does Hard Skills Mean? Opposite of Soft Skills:

Hard Skills are a set of special skills that are obtained through years of
practice or learning. They can be said as skills that are Needed for a specific
task.

They can also be termed as technical skills or abilities for a certain

professional or occupational fields. These skills are easily Visible, tangible
and well-defined. These skills vary from person to person in quality and
quantity.

Acquiring good Hard Skills means higher IQ (Intelligence Quotient). It

includes logical thinking, analytical thinking, Programming, understanding,

strategic thinking, planning etc.

What Does Soft Skills Mean?

Soft Skills on the other hand are a set of skills or traits that include frank
behaviour, communicational skills, teamwork ability, Management skills,
appropriate attitude, etiquette, self-presentation, etc.

These are learnt on their own. Hard skills are taught in many institution but
they make almost no contribution in developing Soft skills.
Soft skills can be termed as personal attributes and grace that helps in
maintaining better relation as well as a sense of harmony

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HARD AND SOFT SKILL

IMPORTANCE OF HARD AND SOFT SKILLS IN

DIFFERENT CAREERS
Hard and soft skills vary in requirements according to the field and career
you are involved in

More Hard Skills and Less Soft Skills:

There are people who work excellently in their field but fail miserably in
teamwork or group task. These are the people who Have more hard skills and
less soft skills and are yet successful in their careers.

Hard skills examples of such people in different career are physicians,

engineers, scientists etc

Equal Hard and Soft Skills Needing Professions:

These are the people who require both the set of skills. For an instance,
people from accounting or law profession need both The skills equally.

These people need a good knowledge of the techniques of accounting or

different laws respective to their career.

At the same time they need thoroughly good soft skills which may help in
dealing with possible clients. Further it is the soft Skill that is enhancing the
hard ones.

Similarly, the profession of doctors demands them to have an eminent

knowledge of medicines as well enough skills to deal With patients requiring

emotional help.

Lesser hard skill and more of Soft Skills:

These are the careers that need very less hard skills and more of soft skills
presentation like communication skills and Networking skills. These are the
people who often belong to the sales and marketing department.

To sell a certain product all they need is good marketing of the product and
convincing demo. They might have the least Knowledge about the product
but they wouldn’t mind as

they have the skills to read convince and persuade their customers to Make
a deal.