Hard skills vs. Soft skills - Why are they important?

We know many cases when applicants failed their job interview, although it seemed very promising at the beginning. If you understand what they dismissed, it can help you avoid this happening to you.

Most job-hunters who fail to find their dream job, fail not because they lack sufficient technical skills, they underperform because they lack soft skills.

What are hard skills?

Hard skills are specific technical skills, which can be gained through education, job-related training programs, and certifications. Typically, you learn hard skills in the classroom, through books or other training materials, or on the job. Hard skills are usually related to professional knowledge, tools or techniques, included in our CV that allow us to work within our profession.

Some examples:

• Proficiency in a foreign language

• Academic qualification (e.g. university degree or certification)

• Computer programming skills

• Operating a machine

• Speed typing

At the beginning of a job interview you will probably be asked about your hard skills:

"Which programming language did you used so far?"

"What processes did you control in your previous position?"

"Are you fluent in English?"

etc.

But at the second part of the interview, the hiring manager will ask some non-technical questions to test your soft skills:

"How do you organise your tasks to deliver everything by the deadline?"

"Do you communicate easily with foreign colleagues?"

"What would you do, if...?"

etc.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are subjective skills that are much harder to quantify. They are also known as "interpersonal skills", which describes how you relate to and interact with others (colleagues, customers).

Soft skills include:

• Communication

• Motivation

• Leadership

• Problem solving

• Teamwork

• Time management

• etc.

Employers usually look for applicants not with certain hard skills, but with soft skills. That is because it is easier for an employer to train new colleague in a hard skill (such as a new software) than to train an employee in a soft skill (such as flexibility).

If you take time and energy to develop not only your hard skills but your soft skills as well, your desired position will be guaranteed!

And we can help you with that!

Enroll our online courses and become a soft skill professional!

#skillup_yourlife #softskills