There has been a growing focus on 'soft skills' in the workplace in recent years. Unlike technical or practical skills, which are based on qualifications and experience in specific tasks or processes, soft skills refer to personal qualities that are ideally cultivated and refined throughout one’s life, particularly in work or academic settings.

So what are soft skills?

Forbes highlights 11 key soft skills that are highly valued by employers:

1. Communication
2. Leadership
3. Teamwork
4. Creativity
5. Time management
6. Adaptability
7. Problem solving
8. Work ethic
9. Critical thinking
10. Conflict management
11. Emotional intelligence

How to address soft skills in job applications

You’ll probably encounter one or more of these soft skills in the key selection criteria of job descriptions. When crafting your application, reflect on moments in your work or studies where you developed these skills, and consider how those experiences can be connected to the role you’re applying for.

How can you highlight soft skills in a job interview?

In a job interview, you may be asked to share an example where one of your soft skills was put to the test. It’s helpful to prepare responses to these types of questions, as they give employers insight into how you could contribute to their team. One useful approach is the STAR method, where you outline the Situation, explain the Tasks involved, describe the Actions you took, and share the Result or outcome. This method works well for both practical and soft skills. For soft skills, it’s especially useful to show how, for example, your problem-solving abilities helped resolve an issue in the workplace. Remember, a job interview itself is also a test of your communication skills. If the company values verbal communication, be sure to prepare thoroughly so you can effectively showcase your communication abilities. And don’t be afraid to highlight your strengths!

Improving your soft skills

Improving soft skills, much like practical skills, comes down to practice. The main difference is that it can be harder to find situations where soft skills are developed naturally, unlike practical skills where you can simply practice repeatedly. This is where engaging with the community can help. Consider volunteering, joining clubs or societies at university, or even organising team-building activities with friends. Anything that involves interacting with others will help you grow in communication, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, conflict resolution, and more. There are also online courses and resources that can support skills like creativity and time management. One important thing to remember is that the earlier you start, the easier it is to make changes.

Why is it important to keep developing your soft skills?

It might feel like a lot of effort for skills that aren’t easily ‘proven’ on paper. However, consistently developing your soft skills is a valuable investment in both your career and personal life. Soft skills enhance every area of your life! By recognising your weaknesses, working on them, continually challenging your strengths, and starting now, you’ll set yourself up for success in everything you do moving forward.