Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What's the Difference?

[Reyed Mia (Apprentice, DIU)]

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What's the Difference?

The Difference Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills
Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Typically, you'll learn hard skills in the classroom, through books or other training materials, or on the job.

Examples of hard skills include:

• Proficiency in a foreign language
  A degree or certificate
  Typing speed
  Machine operation
  Computer programming

These hard skills are often listed in your cover letter and on your resume, and are easy for an employer or recruiter to recognize.
Soft skills, on the other hand, are subjective skills that are much harder to quantify. Also known as "people skills" or "interpersonal skills," soft skills relate to the way you relate to and interact with other people.

Examples of soft skills include:

• Communication
  Flexibility
  Leadership
  Motivation
  Patience
  Persuasion
  Problem Solving Abilities
  Teamwork
  Time Management
  Work Ethic

Top Skills Employers Look For
While certain hard skills are necessary for any position, employers increasingly look for job applicants with particular soft skills. This is because, while it is easy for an employer to train a new employee in a particular hard skill (such as how to use a certain computer program), it is much more difficult to train an employee in a soft skill (such as patience).

Here's a list of some of the top skills employers seek in candidates for employment. Incorporate these skills into your resume, cover letters, and mention them during job interviews.

Emphasize Both Hard and Soft Skills
During the job application process, you should therefore be sure to emphasize both your hard and soft skills.
This way, even if you lack a particular hard skill required by the company, you can emphasize a particular soft skill that you know would be valuable in the position.
For example, if the job involves working on a number of group projects, be sure to emphasize your experience and skill as a team player and your ability to communicate with team members.

How to Highlight Your Skills
You'll want to make sure potential employers are aware of your skills throughout the job application process. This means highlighting your hard and soft skills on your resume and cover letter, and also weaving in mentions of your skills during job interviews.

Source: https://www.thebalance.com/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills-2063780