Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills: Underestimating Complexity
Employers look for individuals with both soft skills and hard skills. You are more likely to get the job during the interview and job application if you showcase both skills. It is necessary to understand what these skills are and their importance.
You need soft skills and hard skills to land your dream job in regions like the UAE, where there are endless possibilities and competition. Hard skills can be easily quantified, and they are teachable. You learn hard skills through training, in books, and on the job. These are the skills you need to perform your job. Soft skills, on the other hand, are personal traits and characters.
Examples of Soft Skills and Hard Skills
Table of Contents
Soft skills refer to your personal traits and habits, and they affect your work performance alone or in a team. Examples include;
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Integrity
- Open-mindedness
- Problem-solving
- Dependability
- Critical thinking
- Effective communication.
Hard skills are professional skills that you acquire through training or experience. Examples include;
- Mobile development
- Programming languages (Java, Python, Ruby)
- Data mining
- Network security
- User interface design
- Statistics analysis
Related: 4 Most Important Hard Skills Every Manager Needs
Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills
Employers prefer and hire candidates with both soft and hard skills. Therefore, list both skills on your resume is necessary because they give employers a glimpse of what you bring to the company.
Below is how you can benefit from these skills;
The Impacts of Including Hard Skills in your Resume
Every job is unique, and it has distinctive skills that are necessary to perform the roles. You need to be proficient in each technical skill required to do your duties effectively; this gives you an advantage over other job seekers. Some jobs, like technical positions, favor hard skills over soft skills.
Improving or acquiring new hard skills is an excellent way to revamp your resume. Leadership training Dubai programs allow you to learn new skills as you work. These skills require time, polishing these skills, and application.
Related: How to Perfectly Explain Employment Gaps in Your Resume
How to Include Hard Skills in Your Resume
Technical jobs focus more on hard skills, so when applying for these jobs, you need to highlight these skills near the top. This allows the hiring team to notice them without skimming through so many details.
If the job requires you to showcase how you utilized your hard skills in your previous jobs, include this information in the Professional Experience segment. You can demonstrate this by showing how you used a specific skill to solve a problem successfully.
You can also attach copies of your certificates to confirm that you have the training and skills required for the job. Always highlight the most relevant skills at the top of your resume. Include the most relevant skills to the position before other skills.
Related: Why Good Resume is Very Important
Impacts of Soft Skills on Your Resume
Soft skills are important because they give the recruiters a clue to what kind of a person you are and if you can fit in their team. Leadership training Dubai programs equip you with soft skills that are in demand in many jobs. Some jobs like human resources positions require and value soft skills more than hard skills.
Hard skills are noticeable on your resume; however, soft skills help you stay ahead of the competition. This is because it is easy to train new staff in hard skills compared to soft skills. Recruiters, therefore, focus on specific soft skills when looking for candidates. Soft skills are valuable because of their flexibility; they can be used across all industries.
Including Soft Skills in Your Resume
Soft skills are best shown through results and quantifiable accomplishments. When including them on your resume, combine them with quantifiable results. Leadership training Abu Dhabi sessions equip you with vital skills to succeed in your profession. Add these skills in the professional experience part of the resume as some of your accomplishments.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to identify your soft skills; however, you can do this by making a list of the top 5 skills you think you have. You can also ask your colleagues and family to highlight a few.
Related: Resume How-to Guide for Moms Rejoining the Workforce
Showcase Your Skills During an Interview
An interview allows you to show off your skills and impress the recruiter. Showcase your soft skills by speaking clearly, showing up on time, answering questions politely and honestly, maintaining eye contact, dressing appropriately, and asking follow-up questions.
You can showcase your hard skills by bringing a digital or physical portfolio, giving a detailed account of your training and education, answering all the technical questions correctly, completing skills tests (if required), and asking follow-up questions.
Related: How to Make Your Job Application Letter Stand Out in 8 Easy Ways
The job market is competitive, and everybody is doing something to stand out and get the job. Having a combination of soft skills and hard skills gives you an advantage over other candidates. Different posts require specific skills, depending on the job environment and activities. Technical jobs prefer hard skills, while others require soft skills. It is necessary to possess both sets of skills to stand out from the crowd.
