What are hard skills?
Hard skills are those skills that determine the ability of a person to get the work done. For instance, if you wish to hire an accounting assistant, you’ll see if he’s good with numbers or if he knows how to read financial statements, right? That’s what a hard skill is, which can hit a bull’s eye once hired.
Here are some examples of hard skills one can learn to go in any field:
- Technical/Computer Skills
You can consider web development (HTML, C++, Javascript), STEM skills, prototyping, automated billing systems, payment processing, CRM platforms, etc.
- Analytical Skills
Research, forecasting, data representation, resource management, data engineering, metric interpretation, reporting, diagnostics, etc.
- Marketing Skills
SEO, SEM, PPC, email marketing, writing, social media management, CRM, UX Design, funnel management, google analytics, data visualization, etc.
- Management Skills
Business strategy, project management, financial modeling, performance tracking, budgeting, office management, negotiating, logistics, etc.
- Language Skills
Proposal writing, email writing, journalism, academic writing, storytelling, business writing reports, content management, etc.
How do you put these hard skills into your resume?
- Read the job description and identify the skill-related keywords.
- Create a list based on what you find.
- Highlight these strengths in your resume.
Where to list these hard skills in your resume?
- Put the most relevant skills in the “skills section” of your resume.
- Use examples in the achievements section to showcase your professional skills.
- Mention 2–3 skills in the summary statement of your professional job profile.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills determine whether you’ll be a good fit for the company’s culture or not. Soft skills are difficult to quantify and measure. One does not get any training related to soft skills. These soft skills can’t really be taught in one afternoon; rather, these personality traits are obtained through life experiences. They include people and social skills, which define how you interact in the workplace, handle responsibility, or seek improvement, among others.
Here is the list of soft skills that one must add to their resume, irrespective of any field they wish to get into:
- Time Management:
Managing time means working efficiently and effectively. Employers in every industry look for staff that can make optimal use of their time on the job.
- Communication:
The best employers need leaders who can exercise care in their ability to listen and respond to customers and fellow employees.
- Adaptability:
Adaptability in the workplace means being flexible and able to change in order to become successful.
- Problem-solving skills:
The ability to solve problems quickly and innovatively is what the majority of hiring managers seek in potential employees.
- Teamwork:
Regardless of your role, you need to be able to work well with others and convey your teamwork skills to hiring managers, recruiters, and prospective employers.
- Creativity:
Bringing out-of-the-box ideas to carry tasks and challenging situations at work.
- Leadership:
It is the ability to mentor, train, and guide others. No matter what industry you wish to get into, employers across every industry look into a candidate’s ability to lead a team.
- Interpersonal skills:
Interpersonal skills are all about how well you interact with others, tend to relationships, and make a positive impression on those around you.
- Work ethic:
Work ethic relates to valuing work and putting in the effort to yield results. It’s a soft skill that employers in literally every job you’ll ever apply for will appreciate.
- Attention to detail:
Here’s another skill no employer will reject: the ability to be thorough and accurate in your work. Paying attention even to minor details is what sets dedicated employees apart from those who just want to get the job done and go home.
How can you showcase these soft skills on your resume?
- Tailor the soft skills in your resume according to the job role you wish to apply for. The more specific you are, the more well-researched and to-the-point your resume looks.
- Back up your soft skills with facts and experiences; otherwise, the recruiter won’t take your image In your past experience, you have shown teamwork skills while working on a group project.
How do hard and soft skills matter?
A hiring manager keeps trying and testing various methods to find the right candidate for this talent war. But without a doubt, even today, referrals are one of the best sources of hiring.
Whether through social media or company programs, referrals are used by employers to compare networks beyond what the company can reach for itself. For employers who are adopting new technologies and next-gen recruiting platforms, activating employee-based social referrals is becoming an important aspect of their recruiting strategy.
However, a social recruiting strategy cannot be built entirely on posting and tweeting job openings on social media. Organizations need to adapt and take advantage of the newest methods of engaging with their socially savvy audience and stakeholders in two-way communication. For most target candidates and top talent hanging out on social media, employee referrals have taken on a whole new meaning.
Trends say that applicants should start emphasizing both soft and hard skills in their resumes to get selected. This way, even if the applicant lacks a particular hard skill required by the company, balancing it with a particular soft skill would be valuable in the position.
For example, if the job involves working on many group projects, the candidate must emphasize his or her experience and skills as a team player and the ability to communicate with team members. Although employers typically equally include both technical and soft skills, it is almost always the latter that they value more.
Employers pay close attention to the following hard skills and soft skills examples: teamwork, attitude, communication, creative thinking, work ethic, decision-making, positivity, work drive, leadership, time management, motivation, flexibility, problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, conflict resolution, empathy, diligence, etc.
Hence, the right balance of hard skills vs soft skills is equally necessary for one’s career growth and success in their dream full-time or part-time job!
FAQs
1. How do hard skills and soft skills contribute to success?
Hard skills aid in determining which candidates possess the required abilities to perform a job, while soft skills reveal which of them are effective communicators as well. To be successful in their position, each employee must possess a solid combination of hard and soft skills.
2. How do hard skills help you get a job?
When applying for a job, having hard skills specific to your field listed on your resume will assist you in qualifying as a desirable applicant. To demonstrate your technical proficiency and industry or role expertise, emphasise your hard skills.
3. What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills?
Soft skills are those that each person naturally possesses in their own way. These involve motivation, flexibility, time management, collaboration, and successful communication. Conversely, hard skills are acquired through instruction, training, or practical experience.
4. How can I improve my hard skills?
You can benefit from the many online courses that are offered on various subjects and platforms. You can upgrade your hard skills list, pick up new ones, or obtain a certification that will look more professional on your resume by taking online courses.
5. Is leadership a hard or soft skill?
Leadership is regarded as a soft skill and is essential for encouraging and motivating teams. Strong soft skills are possessed by successful leaders, which allow them to plan strategically while taking criticism into account and appreciating the input and thoughts of their team.
