Writing the perfect resume can be challenging since you have to include so many details on one or sometimes two pages. As you go through your resume you obviously always want to include details that tell a hiring manager you are qualified for the position. You may ask yourself what type of information is necessary and what could be left out without hurting your chances in your job search. Your skills are one of the biggest appeals to employers and hard skills often get the spotlight due to the common belief that soft skills are more plentiful than hard skills. But, soft skills can actually be a powerful component to your resume and it may be worth making space for them!
Soft skills are defined as interpersonal skills that characterize an individual’s ability to work and communicate with others. Without strong soft skills, employees may struggle to work with their colleagues and clients alike. Soft skills also help you build and maintain healthy work relationships along with aid in solving complex problems you may face. Many desired traits employers look for in their employees usually relate to soft skills in some capacity. We’ve all seen “team player” or “critical thinking” skills at one point when applying for a job and it’s no coincidence considering that work usually requires some interpersonal skills to succeed.
Another great thing about soft skills is that they are transferable. Hard skills such as project management or computer programming are only applicable to certain jobs and may not transfer to every position you’re interested in. Soft skills on the other hand are widely applicable for many fields of work. Another great thing is that if you’re new to work and have minimal skills you can tap into soft skills you have acquired from experiences you’ve had outside the professional working world. Soft skills can be gained from school projects or volunteer programs so you may be sitting on a gold mine of skills you haven’t mentally dug up yet!
When looking at common soft skills whether it be communication skills or time management you may think that everyone has these skills to a certain degree and employers should just assume that you possess them if you’re applying for a job that requires those skills. Why take up extra room on your resume for something that might be obvious and that an employer will likely ignore? It’s easy to get ahead and make these assumptions but it turns out that talent professionals believe that soft skills are just as important as hard skills! Employers are paying close attention to soft skills and just because they may not be as technical as hard skills does not mean they aren’t as important.
Just like hard skills, soft skills take time, dedication, practice, and refinement and they shouldn’t be passed over when writing your resume. Of course, you can still land a job without them but why not make the job hunt easier for yourself by listing soft skills that tell your employer that you possess strong interpersonal skills that will benefit their business? Pay attention to what soft skills the job requires and be sure to highlight them in your bullet points to describe your achievements under each role on your resume to give yourself the boost you deserve!
This article was written by Brittney Jackson.
Brittney Jackson is a Senior studying at Towson University. Outside of school and work, she has a strong passion for travel and gaming; being a collegiate Esports athlete for the past 3 years and counting.