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Home » Soft skills : definition, examples and why is it important?

Soft skills : definition, examples and why is it important?

Soft skills : definition, examples and why is it important

If you are learning some hard skills for any job, you will definitely have heard soft skills. Actually, soft skill is a complement to hard skills. You will need hard skills to complete your daily tasks. But you will need soft skills to deal with your colleagues. 

Sociologists describe soft skills as the emotional intelligence quotient, which the opposite of IQ or intelligence quotient. 

Today we will look out the matter that is Soft skills and their importance in our job life. Please have a look at it.

What is skill? 

Firstly, come to our main theme that is Skill. So, skill is a kind of ability to do any work or execution of any bookish plan or your imagination. 

In other words, encompassing the knowledge, competencies, and abilities for performing any operational task is also called skill. 

There are different types of skills, and it varies from person to person based on physical abilities and intelligence, which can be measured through different tests. And today, we are going to discuss one of a branch of Skill that is Soft skill.

What is skill?
Skill is a kind of ability to do any work or execution of any bookish plan or your imagination.

Soft skill definition

At the very beginning, we discussed a portion of soft skills. Now, let’s become more clear by taking a look at the definition of it. 

According to Wikipedia, Soft skills are kind of interpersonal skills that complement hard skills in our working field. 

That means For working in an office, you need soft skills. But these are not visible. Soft skill is mainly the ability to deal with people. It includes your personal behavior, coping with the environment, and problem-solving ability. This also includes the ability to use time perfectly.

Soft skills examples 

Soft skill complement hard skill that means that hard skill is not enough for a job without soft skill. And you have to keep it in mind.

Now, we will look at some of the soft skills that are very much essential for better understanding. So, let’s have a look at 15 soft skill examples-

Problem Solving: If you have given any interview, then definitely you have known about problem-solving. An owner or boss always wants some problem-solving tactics in his worker. So, you have to make a practice of it.

Time managementEvery one of us got 24 hours in a day. But do we all get the same result at the end of the day? Or Can you do the same work? No. Why? It’s because of time management. If you are careful about it, you will be able to do any work very fast and save time.

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Adaptability: For working in an office, you will definitely need to cope up with the environment. If you can’t manage yourself with the office colleagues, then you will be suffering a lot. Again, you will lack help from others.

Leadership: One of the greatest aspects of soft skills is Leadership. Leadership includes the ability to make others perfect and the ability to do any task through others. Through you are the team leader of your project. At this time, what will you do? 

Surely, your focus will be on how to make it done by others. And that’s why you will need it.

Creativity: Creativity means doing something new or doing work in a new way. And that’s what any company will be wanting from you. 

Suppose they are telling you to make an Ads. Now there are thousands of ways existing. But you have to choose a unique one. That’s what creativity does.

Decision Making: Before starting a job, decision making is a long process, and only a few of us have this ability. But it is a must to have this. 

So, always make a habit of dealing with problems and take the decision wisely. This will help a lot now and then.

Critical Thinking: Critical thinking mainly denotes the analysis of any facts for forming any judgment. In the case of soft skills, you have to gain this qualification. Anyone must have a practice and use of critical thinking in their normal and job life also.

Team Work: Remember when you are doing any job, you have to work with others. That’s what teamwork means. When you are working together, you have to maintain proper gestures with others. Make others feel good.

In a nutshell, you must interact with them when you are working in a team.

Communication:  The most important thing that you need to learn is communicating. Where ever you go. It might be an office or a hostel; you will need to interact with others. Not only interacting but also you have to maintain good communication between yourselves.

Punctuality: Similar to time management, but the main thing is to be punctual. Doing the works in time and submitting them etc. This is one of the greatest aspects of soft skills.

Soft Skill : Definition, example and importance
Soft skills are kind of interpersonal skills that complement hard skills in our working field. 

Soft skill vs. hard skill

At the very beginning, we have told that soft skill is a complement to hard skill. But what is the difference? What actually hard skills are? Why are they different from soft ones?

Yeah, now we will talk about this. So, let’s have a look at the difference between Soft skills and hard skills.

Hard skill shows your skill in a specific job. Suppose you want to be an engineer. For this, you have to read and take courses for engineering. At last, you will be fit for it. But anyone who had done the course of medical can’t do this work.

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But soft skill is a bit different. How? Actually, it means to be fit in your workplace utilizing your personality. Yes, it is a part of your personality.

On the other hand, we can measure hard skills. Such as you can measure how good your writing skill is? But you can’t measure soft skills. These are like traits. You can only see it in a person. But can’t measure.

Now let’s have a look at the examples-

Hard Skills-

  • Gathering Software Requirements
  • Phlebotomy
  • Financial Modeling
  • Marketing Skills
  • Shelf Stocking
  • IT Skills
  • Forklift Operation

Soft skills- 

  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Collaboration
  • Problem Solving
  • Communication
  • Leadership

I hope we have learned the basic differences between hard and soft skill.

Soft skills for resume
We got a bit worried about giving our soft skills in the resume and what should be included

Soft skills on a resume 

The toughest situation while using the soft skills is in the resume. We got a bit worried about giving our soft skills in the resume and what should be included. So, for making you feel free, we will be talking about that.

For including the soft skills, you have to remember that what the job is about. 

So, keeping that in mind, I have chosen a couple of soft skills that should be included in your CV for a better rating. Let’s have an eye on it.

  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Collaboration
  • Problem Solving
  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Time management
  • Adaptability
  • Attention to detail
  • Work ethic
  • Team Work

Make these 10 soft skills highlighted in your personal CV. I hope it will work for you.

Soft skills in the workplace

Now, this is time for applying your soft skills. Suppose you have gotten a job, and now you have to work in an office along with your colleagues. By this time, you will need to apply them practically.

While using them practically, you have to keep in mind some of the factors like where you are using it, why you are using it, etc. So, taking this under consideration, we have made a list of skills you will need in the workplace. These are-

Attitude: The first thing that your employee or your boss will look at you is your attitude. You have to behave properly for this.

Communication: It is a must to maintain good communication while working. You must help others when they need it. And you will see that they are also helping you with your problem.

Teamwork: Make a habit of working in a team. Because most of the projects and work in your office or workplace will be based on group working. Don’t sit alone.

Time management: As we have mentioned earlier, time management is one of the greatest factors for any job. So, it would help if you thought about it. Make the best use of it.

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Networking: Build a strong network with your colleagues. Make sure you are giving proper gestures while talking. You are helping them etc.

I hope the above one will give better feedback in your workplace. So, make the correct use of it.

Why are soft skills important? 

Now, you may ask me why are you talking about the Soft skill? Are they really matters?

Yes, they matter. While working, most of the interactions are done through soft skills. If you have any lacking, you will definitely fall down. Even if you have great potential, you will be useless without soft skills. That’s what affects most people. 

Think once if you have the soft skills that you can do. Again think what would be done without these?

Things really matter. If you are experienced in teamwork, it may not be difficult to work on a project with others. But if you are not, then it really matters a lot, and you will be suffering a lot.

 Are soft skills transferable? 

If you think that soft skills will be transferable or not, then my answer will be yes. Soft skills are transferable. As per the definition of transferable skills, we know that the skills used in different aspects of life are known as transferable skills. And in this case, soft skills also can be used in different areas of life, not only in the workplace but also in others.

Suppose you have good communication skills. This helps you a lot in your office. But except the office, this can also give you better feedback while working on the road or purchasing a thing. A good communication skill may highlight yourself to others. Thus all of the soft skills are transferable and can be used in different areas of life.

Jobs with soft skill

There a numerous ways of applying your soft skills. You can also use them as your profession. Now we will be talking about those jobs that only need soft skills.

In this case, at the very first, we are taking a call center job. What you have to do there? You have to deal with the customers and make an impression on them. For this, you will need good communication skills.

You may also work as a part-time interviewer. You will find a great market for these online. For this kind of work, your communication and speaking skills must be proficient. The company related to these works mainly looks at the soft skills of the employee.

Thus there are numerous skills, and you will be finding them online very easily.

 Conclusion: As mentioned earlier, soft skills are complement hard skills. And the importance of it also. Any candidate for any job will need soft skills. There is no alternative to it. So, my advice will be to focus on your soft skills. Build it along with your hard ones. Never negotiate the importance of it.

In this way, with both hard and soft skills, you may get an outstanding job at the very first. So, keep it in mind.