What are soft skills? With 20 career examples
Good communicator. Team player. Organised and adaptable. These are all examples of skills that can help you become a better, happier and more successful worker. They’re also all examples of 'soft skills'.
Soft skills are important in the working world, and can even help outside work, in your personal life. But what are soft skills, and why do they matter so much? This guide will look at the soft skills meaning, provide some examples of soft skills and show off the importance of listing key soft skills on your resumé.
- What are soft skills?
- Hard skills vs soft skills
- Example soft skills
- Example soft skills for careers
- FAQs
What are soft skills?
Let's begin with a quick soft skills definition to understand exactly what the term ‘soft skills’ refers to. In short, soft skills, also sometimes called ‘people skills’, are skills that aren’t specifically related to any individual job, role or industry. They’re general, non-technical skills that are character and behaviour traits that help people work well with others and solve problems.
The best way to understand this is with some soft skills examples. So, here's a quick list of soft skills that many employers love to see:
- Communication: Speak and listen to others effectively and confidently.
- Teamwork and collaboration: Working well with other people.
- Adaptability and flexibility: Being able to adapt and cope with new situations.
- Leadership: The ability to lead and guide others.
- Problem-solving and critical thinking: Being able to overcome challenges in rational ways.
Hard skills vs soft skills
To be successful in the workplace, it’s important to have a wide range of skills. We can divide those skills into two key categories: hard and soft.
Hard skills
Hard skills are specific technical abilities that help you perform in your chosen roles.
If you’re a Software Developer, for example, a hard skill would be your ability to work with code and IT. Or, if you’re a Translator, a hard skill could be the ability to speak and understand a foreign language.
Soft skills
Then, there are the soft skills. Soft skills examples can include things like being a good communicator, team player, or being flexible and easily adapting to different roles. These skills are more general, universal, and can apply to all sorts of roles and positions.
The main difference
So, what’s the main difference? Well, the key thing that separates hard skills from soft skills is that hard skills tend to be very job specific. They’re key abilities needed to perform certain tasks or duties, while soft skills are more personal qualities that can be useful in a range of jobs. Hard skills help you do your job well, while soft skills help you be a better worker regardless of your job role.
Neither set of skills is necessarily more important than the other. They both have their uses and benefits. You should aim to have a mix of relevant hard skills and key soft skills to complement them, making you more well-rounded, adaptable and effective in general.
Example soft skills
We've looked at what soft skills are and how resumé soft skills can make you a more appealing job seeker. Now, let's take a more in-depth look at some soft skills examples:
1. Communication skills
Communication is all about speaking and listening to people. But there are multiple forms of communication. It’s not just about having conversations. Being a good communicator can also involve being able to actively listen to others, understand and empathise with other points of view, mastering written communication like emails, presentations and more.
Examples include:
- Public speaking
- Presentation skills
- Persuasion and negotiation
- Active listening
- Giving feedback
2. Teamwork and collaboration
Teamwork is one of the best soft skills that employers want to see, and it’s certainly one to talk up when you apply or have an interview. This skill involves being able to work well with other people, having your own input and influence on a project, but also being able to listen and accept others. It can include aspects like delegation and conflict resolution, too.
Examples include:
- Conflict resolution
- Consensus building
- Mentoring and coaching
- Networking
- Relationship building
3. Problem solving and critical thinking
In any line of work, problems and challenges will inevitably come up for you to either solve or figure out, one way or another. Workers with problem-solving skills can deal with challenges and obstacles more easily, often applying critical thinking to look at situations in a logical, rational way and figure out the smartest course of action to take.
Examples include:
- Systems thinking
- Strategic thinking
- Design thinking
- Risk assessment
- Innovation
4. Adaptability and flexibility
Being adaptable and flexible is another soft skill employers want. If you’re adaptable, that shows that you can fit seamlessly into new roles. It also means that if your career situation changes or the circumstances of your daily duties are altered, you’ll be able to cope. In other words, it lets employers and bosses know that they can count on you not to stress or worry when things change.
Examples include:
- Change management
- Multitasking
- Time management
- Prioritisation
- Self-motivation
5. Leadership
Leadership is another crucial soft skill, especially for those who'd like to pursue careers in positions of authority, like managers, team leaders, heads of department, etc... Leadership is all about leading by example and being able to guide, inspire and persuade people. It often includes aspects like charisma, communication and organisation.
Examples include:
- Visionary thinking
- Decision-making
- Delegation
- Motivating and inspiring others
- Emotional intelligence
Example soft skills for careers
The beauty of soft skills is that they can help you in many different roles and industries. It's always helpful to be a good communicator, for example, or to be an adaptable person. But some soft skills are particularly valuable in certain lines of work. In this section, we'll take a look at a range of different jobs and industries, highlighting key examples of soft skills to suit each one.
1. Business
The term ‘business’ can apply to quite a wide range of roles and company types. Fields like marketing, management, sales, and finance all fall under this umbrella. In this type of work, a wide range of soft skills tend to be needed, and the best, most successful performers tend to be great communicators, great leaders and excellent problem-solvers, too.
Example soft skills;
- Communication
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Time management.
2. Healthcare
Healthcare is an industry with many different roles to fill for those who want to help people with illnesses, injuries and more. Nurses, doctors and paramedics can all benefit from strong people skills and empathy, but even in other healthcare roles, like admin and research, healthcare workers need solid problem-solving abilities and great time management to excel in their chosen positions.
Example soft skills;
- Empathy
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Patience
3. Creative arts
If you have a creative, imaginative mind, it’s natural to want to work in a field that lets you express yourself, like writing, drama, art and so on. These fields rely heavily on imagination and natural talent, but certain soft skills can also be very beneficial, like the ability to solve problems or communicate with others to help you get ahead and forge important relationships.
Example soft skills;
- Creativity
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Time management
4. Education
The world of education is another important industry, where teachers, lecturers and similar workers shape the minds of the future. This kind of work requires a lot of soft skills. In fact, Teachers need to have a wide range of skills, like empathy, understanding, the ability to adapt to different classes and students, conflict resolution and problem-solving.
Example soft skills;
- Communication
- Empathy
- Patience
- Organisation
- Problem-solving
5. Technology
Technology has helped shape a big part of the modern world. If you’re passionate about devices, innovation and new developments, you could try a career in software development, cybersecurity, data analysis and so on. These roles require strong hard skills, like IT knowledge, but also benefit from good time management and the ability to analyse problems and situations in a critical and rational way.
Example soft skills;
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability
- Time management
6. Social services
Soft skills and hard skills almost overlap in the field of social services. To succeed in this kind of work, it’s necessary to have a good level of empathy to understand people in difficult conditions and situations. Problem-solving is also useful in finding ways to help others, along with strong communication abilities to converse with colleagues and people in need of assistance.
Example soft skills;
- Empathy
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Patience
7. Hospitality and tourism
If you love travel and like the idea of working in people-facing roles, a job in hospitality and tourism could be the one for you. These roles include the likes of travel agents, hotel workers, restaurant workers, airline workers and so on. Since these jobs involve a lot of customer contact, strong communication is recommended, and workers also benefit from problem-solving and organisation.
Example soft skills;
- Communication
- Customer service
- Problem-solving
- Time management.
8. Finance
The field of finance is usually associated with more hard skills than soft skills. Of course, you need a strong understanding of money and mathematics to excel in fields like accounting or banking. But you can also benefit from a selection of important soft skills, like the ability to think critically, solve problems and manage your time to get things done efficiently.
Example soft skills;
- Analytical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Time management
9. Law
Those who work in the field of law tend to be people who are motivated by a sense of justice and a desire to help others. Along with hard skills, like legal knowledge, lawyers and solicitors can benefit from key soft skills. Skills like strong communication to explain complicated concepts to their clients, and persuasion to be able to defend their clients or make arguments in court.
Example soft skills;
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Analytical thinking
- Time management
10. Engineering
The field of engineering demands a strong blend of both hard and soft skills. One of the best soft skills in this work is the ability to solve-problems, as engineers often find themselves with difficult challenges to overcome and have to use their knowledge and critical thinking abilities to figure out the right way forward.
Example soft skills;
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Time management
11. Science
If you have a passion for science or a naturally scientific mind, a job in some sort of scientific role, like research, analysis or laboratory work could be the right career move. Given that science is often about solving problems and discovering new ways of doing things, critical thinking and the ability to look at situations from different angles are very relevant and useful soft skills to have.
Example soft skills;
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Time management
12. Government and public service
Soft skills can also benefit you if you choose to work in a governmental role, like administration, politics, public service and policy-making. Communication is key for this type of work, as it often involves various groups working and engaging with one another. Empathy is also a strong soft skill to have, as the best governmental officials are those who can understand other people’s viewpoints and situations.
Example soft skills;
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Empathy
- Leadership.
13. Journalism and media
Reporting, editing, broadcasting and entertainment are all aspects of the journalism and media industry. There are lots of different jobs to fill in this industry, and each one of them can benefit from soft skills. If you’re interested in journalism, it definitely pays to be a great communicator, a team player and someone who's very adept at managing their time effectively.
Example soft skills;
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Self-motivation
- Time management
14. Non-profit and philanthropy
Even those who work in voluntary roles with charities and non-profits can strongly benefit from soft skills. Let’s say you’re in a fundraising position, for example, it helps to have great communication and problem-solving skills to find the best ways to raise money for your chosen organisation.
Example soft skills;
- Empathy
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
15. Entrepreneurship
When building your own business, soft skills can be the make-or-break factor between success and failure. Being a great communicator and a creative person will help you get your ideas off the ground and encourage people to join your new business or invest in it. Having strong leadership is also key to guide the way as your business develops and encounters its first challenges.
Example soft skills;
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
16. Research
Those with scientific and development backgrounds may choose to pursue careers in research, whether that be for an academic institution, the government or some other industry. If you’re working in this type of role, you have to not only have a strong understanding of your research subject, but also the ability to think critically and analytically, solving problems well and staying organised.
Example soft skills;
- Analytical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Time management
17. Administration
Even when working in admin roles, like support staff, data entry or management, soft skills have a huge part to play and are just as important as hard skills. Depending on the level of the admin role you fill, you may benefit from leadership, the ability to work well as part of a team and the ability to be organised and independent, too.
Example soft skills;
- Leadership
- Organisation
- Time management
18. Consulting
Consulting roles like business strategists and financial consultants often involve a lot of problem-solving. They also require a certain level of critical thinking, as consultants need to be able to look at various situations and circumstances with a clear and rational mind, analysing all available information to make the best decisions or recommendations for their clients.
Example soft skills;
- Problem-solving
- Analytical thinking
- Time management
19. Customer service
Soft skills are particularly important for those working in the field of customer service, for example, a Retail Sales Assistant. These kinds of jobs are very heavily reliant on communication with customers, and you may have to handle complaints or know how to deal with people who are angry or upset. Naturally, some of the best soft skills for this work revolve around communication, understanding and empathy.
Example soft skills;
- Empathy
- Resilience
- Problem-solving
- Patience
20. Writing and editing
Creative people and those with literary minds are drawn to roles in writing and editing. This can be quite independent work, so teamwork isn’t necessarily such an important soft skill here. But in roles like publishing, journalism and content creation, it’s key to be able to stay organised, be creative and solve problems daily.
Example soft skills;
- Creativity
- Communication
- Problem-solving
Conclusion
Soft skills have a huge role to play in the modern workplace. It’s one thing to have the necessary hard, technical skills to complete your daily tasks and duties. But having essential soft skills, like strong communication, emotional intelligence, teamwork and problem-solving can help elevate your career to a new level.
These skills are valuable, because they’re versatile. No matter what kind of job you’re in, it’s always helpful to have a solid soft skill set. The more you work on your own soft skills, the better chance you’ll have of building your career and relationships around you.
FAQs
What are the 7 soft skills?
Seven essential soft skills include communication, teamwork, empathy, active listening, conflict resolution, crtical thinking and adaptability.
How can I improve my soft skills?
There are many ways to develop your soft skills through practise, repetition and focusing on the skills that matter to you the most. Additionally, asking for feedback, following examples of role models around you and stepping out of your comfort zone into new situations are some ways to get started.
How do I demonstrate my soft skills in a job interview?
Interviews are great places to demonstrate key soft skills. For example, your ability to communicate effectively, maintain eye contact, persuade the interviewer that they should hire you, and showcase your adaptability as you react and respond to different questions.
Can soft skills be taught or are they innate?
Soft skills can absolutely be taught and learnt over time with experience and effort. Some people may find that certain skills come more easily and naturally to them, but it's always possible to improve and learn these skills with hard work.
Are soft skills more important than hard skills in the workplace?
Neither set of skills are necessarily more important than the other. They’re both necessary to be a successful worker. Hard skills are essential for fulfilling certain roles and tasks, while soft skills provide key benefits to help you perform better and get ahead.
