Learn soft skills

Soft skills are the non-technical abilities necessary for thinking clearly and collaborating well with others in the workplace.

These transferable skills and traits can help you succeed in various contexts. Some soft skills, such as writing and time management, involve concrete techniques, while others, like leadership and teamwork, involve your attitude and mindset.

Examples of soft skills (that AI can't replace) include:

• Effective communication
• Writing
• Teamwork
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Adaptability
• Time management
• Leadership

Why learn soft skills?

• Candidates with soft skills are more adaptable in changing markets.
• Technological advances may make some hard skills obsolete, but they can't replace the need for recession-proof soft skills.
• Soft skills, such as adaptability and critical thinking, help professionals learn and grow in their roles.
• Professionals in leadership and management, counseling, social work, and public relations, in particular, rely heavily on these competencies.
• Most employers seek candidates with strong soft skills, including time management, effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Hard skills vs. soft skills

Hard skills are specific, narrow, and often measurable abilities acquired through technical training. Examples include proficiency with manufacturing equipment, coding languages, and project management software.

Soft skills, on the other hand, involve broad attitudes, traits, and high-level strategies that influence the way you approach your work. Communication, leadership, and critical thinking, for example, are considered soft skills. They often seem subjective and difficult to measure, but they are just as valuable as hard skills — and often more transferable across industries.

How to get started advancing your soft skills

A common misconception about soft skills is that they are innate — the idea that you either have them or you don't. In reality, anyone can learn soft skills with enough time, dedication, and practice. While your ideal learning pathway depends on your level of experience and knowledge, here are some of the most popular ways to learn in-demand soft skills:

Beginner soft skills programs

Beginner-friendly soft skills courses cover the fundamentals of skills commonly used in workplace contexts, like giving constructive criticism, dealing with conflict, and applying critical thinking to daily tasks. Consider enrolling in:

Intermediate soft skills programs

If you've been in the workforce for a few years and need to polish some soft skills you haven't practiced in a while — or get practice with a soft skill you haven't yet mastered — an intermediate-level course can help you stay competitive. Consider enrolling in:

Expert soft skills programs

While soft skills can help you thrive in virtually any role, some are likely more essential in your role than others. Expert-level soft skill courses are designed for professionals with experience in their field who want to refine their knowledge of a specific soft skill in the context of their career path. If this sounds like you, consider enrolling in:

Jobs that require soft skills

Developing soft skills can help you in various careers. However, certain careers rely more on refined soft skills than others. Here are some roles you can pursue with strong soft skills, including salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

How to highlight soft skills in your job search

If you're applying for jobs:

As you search for a new role, demonstrate your soft skills to employers by incorporating specific examples in your résumé, interview answers, and other interactions with potential employers.

You should read each job description carefully and highlight your mastery of the soft skills listed, tailoring each application accordingly.

Maintaining a strong online presence, sharing project samples, and replying to correspondence promptly can also help you validate soft skills such as communication, time management, and attention to detail.

If you're seeking a promotion at your current job:

You can showcase your soft skills in your current role by demonstrating them in daily interactions and tracking your achievements. Efforts such as leading projects, streamlining workflows, or resolving team challenges can demonstrate key soft skills, including collaboration, leadership, and creative thinking.

Be sure to highlight your accomplishments in performance reviews and tie them to in-demand soft skills that ideally align with your employer's core values.