Top Soft Skills to Include on Your Resume

In today’s competitive job market, having the right skills is essential for standing out. While technical abilities are important, employers also highly value soft skills.

But what exactly are soft skills? Why are they essential in the workplace? And how can you effectively showcase them on your resume?

What are soft skills?

Soft skills refer to personal attributes and qualities that enable individuals to interact effectively with others.

They are often intangible and more complex to measure than hard skills specific to a particular job or industry.

Soft skills encompass various abilities, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, and leadership.

Unlike hard skills, which can be learned and developed through formal education and training, soft skills are more inherent to an individual’s personality and character.

However, they can also be honed and improved with practice and experience.

Why are soft skills important in the workplace?

In today’s collaborative and fast-paced work environments, soft skills foster positive working relationships, enhance productivity, and achieve organizational goals.

While technical skills may get you the job, your soft skills often set you apart and help you thrive.

Employers value soft skills because they contribute to effective teamwork, communication, and interpersonal interactions.

Soft skills enable individuals to work well with others, manage conflicts, and build strong professional relationships.

These qualities are particularly important in roles that require collaboration, customer service, leadership, and problem-solving.

Top 10 soft skills for your resume (plus examples)

When preparing your resume, including relevant soft skills that align with the job requirements and demonstrating your ability to excel in the role is crucial.

Here are ten of the most highly sought-after soft skills:

1. Communication: Effective written and verbal communication skills are essential in any job. Example: Collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver clear project updates and reports.
2. Teamwork: The ability to work well with others and contribute to a team’s success is highly valued. Example: Collaborated with colleagues to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
3. Problem-solving: Employers seek individuals who can analyze challenges and develop innovative solutions. Example: Successfully resolved complex customer issues, ensuring customer satisfaction.
4. Critical thinking: Thinking logically and analytically is crucial in problem-solving and decision-making. Example: Evaluated data to identify trends and make data-driven recommendations.
5. Adaptability: Employers value individuals who quickly adapt to changing circumstances and embrace new technologies or processes. Example: Quickly adapted to new software systems, reducing training time for team members.
6. Leadership: Demonstrating leadership qualities, even in non-managerial roles, can set you apart. Example: Led a cross-functional team to launch a new product within tight deadlines.
7. Time management: The ability to prioritize tasks and manage one’s time efficiently is crucial in meeting deadlines. Example: Successfully managed multiple projects concurrently, meeting all project milestones.
8. Collaboration: Working effectively with others and building harmonious working relationships is highly valued. Example: Collaborated with stakeholders to develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy.
9. Emotional intelligence: Understanding and managing emotions, both in oneself and others, is important for fostering positive working relationships. Example: Demonstrated empathy and understanding in resolving conflicts between team members.
10. Creativity: Innovative thinking and the ability to approach problems from different angles can bring added value to an organization. Example: Developed a creative marketing campaign that significantly increased customer engagement.

Best soft skills for the tech industry

While many soft skills are universally valued, certain industries may prioritize specific skills based on their unique requirements.

In the tech industry, where teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation are highly valued, some of the best soft skills to highlight on your resume include:

• Collaboration: Working effectively with other team members, especially in cross-functional environments.
• Problem-solving: The capacity to analyze complex issues and develop innovative solutions.
• Adaptability: The willingness to embrace new technologies and quickly learn and adapt to changes.
• Curiosity: A thirst for knowledge and a drive to continually learn and explore new technologies.
• Creativity: The ability to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions to technical challenges.
• Resilience: The capacity to persevere and remain focused despite setbacks or challenges.

How to list soft skills on a resume

Listing your soft skills on your resume requires careful thought and consideration. Here are some tips to effectively showcase your soft skills:

1. Understand the job requirements: Tailor your soft skills to match the job you are applying for.
2. Choose your format: Consider including a dedicated soft skills section or incorporating them throughout the resume.
3. Provide concrete examples: Provide specific examples of how you demonstrated your soft skills in previous roles.
4. Use action verbs: Use dynamic action verbs to describe your soft skills, such as “collaborated,” “led,” or “innovated”.
5. Quantify your achievements: When possible, quantify your soft skills’ impact using numbers or percentages.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How do I identify my soft skills?

A: Reflect on your past experiences and think about the skills that have helped you succeed in various situations. It can also be helpful to ask for feedback from colleagues and supervisors.

Q: How many soft skills should I include on my resume?

A: While the exact number may vary depending on the job requirements and your experiences, including four to six relevant soft skills on your resume is generally recommended.

Q: Can I improve my soft skills?

A: Absolutely! Soft skills can be developed and improved with practice, feedback, and ongoing learning. Take advantage of professional development opportunities and seek feedback to enhance your soft skills.

Conclusion

You can effectively showcase your skills beyond technical expertise by highlighting your soft skills on your resume.

Employers value individuals with a potent combination of hard and soft skills, making you a well-rounded candidate for any position.

Remember to tailor your soft skills to match the job requirements and provide concrete examples of how you have demonstrated these skills in previous roles.

With the right combination of soft skills, you can increase your chances of standing out and securing your dream job.

Whether you’re looking to become a skilled software developer, a proficient data analyst, or a cyber security expert, our programs at the Institute of Data cover all the essential areas to help you land that dream job in tech.

With expert instructors, hands-on projects, and industry-relevant certifications, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and expertise that today’s tech employers seek.

We also offer free career consultations with our local team if you’d like to discuss your options around our programs.