What Do Employers Want? Top 13 Soft Skills to Boost Your Resume
Every year, employers say soft skills are at least as important as hard skills. Soft skills are non-technical and useful in any field, while hard skills are specific to a role. Though the specific terms used in job listings may differ, there are several near-universal soft skills workplaces desire.
Let's dig into the most valuable soft skills, why they matter, and how to showcase your abilities.
Communication
What it is: Sharing information clearly while writing, speaking, and listening.
Why it matters: It helps avoid confusion and builds trust.
How to show it: Write clear and appropriate emails, listen carefully, and give presentations.
Communication is almost universally the #1 soft skill employers want. Excellent communicators learn information and tell others about it in an understandable way. This can be in writing or verbally. Communicating well can help projects progress, as everyone is more likely to be on the same page. It can also build positive relationships and trust between coworkers.
2. Teamwork and Collaboration
What it is: Working with others to achieve a goal.
Why it matters: Almost any job requires collaboration across teams or departments.
How to show it: Help coworkers, contribute to group projects, and meet deadlines.
Teamwork and collaboration both involve working with others toward a shared goal. However, they mean different things. Collaboration refers to when colleagues work as equals to complete a project (like singers in a choir). Teamwork combines individual efforts with a leader delegating tasks (like a coach and their team).
Nearly every job calls for both collaboration and teamwork, depending on the project. Being adept at both can help you succeed.
3. Interpersonal Skills
What it is: Being friendly, respectful, and kind.
Why it matters: Improves collaboration and ensures a healthy work environment.
How to show it: Get to know colleagues and clients, take feedback well, and be approachable.
Individuals with interpersonal skills show everyone empathy and respect. Through this, they can usually find common ground and work well with anyone for the length of a project.
Those with strong interpersonal skills don’t have to be best friends with everyone! They are simply able to relate well to others as long as needed. However, many are naturally skilled at making friends.
4. Drive and Work Ethic
What it is: Working hard and wanting to improve.
Why it matters: Employers want employees who work both hard and smart.
How to show it: Finish tasks on time, try new things, and keep learning.
According to Forbes, “work ethic and drive often trump raw talent as a barometer for overall success.” This is because you can learn how to do tasks if you want to (drive) and really try to learn or improve (work ethic). Driven people are intrinsically motivated to do well. Work ethic is the evidence that you’re driven to succeed.
Having a good work ethic doesn't mean frequently working extra hours and never taking a day off. If you get burned out, your work ethic and drive could both suffer. Check in with yourself regularly.
5. Adaptability and Flexibility
What it is: Adjusting to change and reordering priorities as needed.
Why it matters: Work environments and expectations shift constantly, and you need to keep up.
How to show it: Calmly handle changes, switch tasks quickly, and learn to use new tools.
Workplace needs seem to shift every day. Being adaptable and flexible means adjusting plans when things change, even unexpectedly. This doesn’t mean you should accept unreasonable changes or become a doormat. Instead, you need to do your best to adjust while knowing your limits. If something isn’t possible, hopefully you can talk to your boss and find a solution together.
6. Critical Thinking
What it is: Evaluating information and making logical decisions.
Why it matters: It lets you address complex issues or questions.
How to show it: Evaluate data, ask thoughtful questions, and find resources.
Monash University defines critical thinking as “a kind of thinking in which you question, analyse, interpret, evaluate and make a judgement about what you read, hear, say, or write.” Critical thinking is involved with virtually all aspects of someone’s work. For instance, when discussing an issue with a colleague, you must think critically about the problem and about how to interact with that coworker. If you need to find a subject matter expert, you need to research candidates and make sure they’re the best fit.
7. Problem-solving
What it is: Finding actionable ways to address challenges.
Why it matters: Every company encounters problems that need to be solved.
How to show it: Troubleshoot tech issues, research solutions, and suggest improvements.
Whether it’s a hiccup or a longstanding challenge, thinking of fixes can make everyone’s lives easier. Effective problem-solvers look at issues from multiple angles before testing solutions. Researching the problem can help – no need to reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to. While being able to solve problems is essential, be sure the issue at hand is yours to fix. Always be respectful.
8. Leadership
What it is: Guiding teammates in an appropriate, courteous, and effective way.
Why it matters: It drives performance, helps teams overcome hurdles, and may boost morale.
How to show it: Volunteer for leadership roles, mentor others, and set a positive example.
Leadership doesn’t have to mean you want to be a manager or supervisor, though it certainly can. The best leaders take charge when needed, help newcomers, and operate as mentors.
9. Detail-oriented
What it is: Paying close attention to accuracy and the small elements of a project or task.
Why it matters: Polished and error-free work makes you and your company look great.
How to show it: Check your work, follow directions, and fix mistakes.
Being detail-oriented means reviewing your work as you go and again before declaring the job done. Make sure everything is correct and understandable, with each step supporting the next. If something isn’t working at any point, asking for help can further show your dedication to the details.
10. Lifelong learner
What it is: Being willing and eager to learn new things.
Why it matters: Business expectations, best practices, and technology evolve all the time.
How to show it: Listen to new information, ask questions, and proactively learn more skills.
Each day is an opportunity to learn something new or improve upon a skill. Stay aware of industry shifts, take classes, and ask questions.
A major part of this is being willing and able to learn about and adapt to changing technologies. “Tech-savvy” is a common job requirement, but it doesn’t mean you have to be a computer whiz. Instead, the organization likely wants you to understand everyday technology. Being tech-savvy means you may be able to adapt to new software or methods without a ton of training.
11. Creativity
What it is: Coming up with new ideas or problem-solving methods.
Why it matters: It helps with innovation, overcoming challenges, and productivity.
How to show it: Share ideas and actively participate in brainstorming sessions.
Everyone is creative! If you’re involved with a brainstorming session, you’re being creative. When you see a problem and find a solution, you’re being creative. And, of course, if you create visual or written content, you’re definitely being creative.
12. Organization
What it is: Keeping track of your work and time.
Why it matters: It keeps projects on track and lowers stress.
How to show it: Meet deadlines, use work or project management tools, and plan ahead.
Organized workers know what they’re doing now, what they’re doing next, and where to find what they need. They also ensure their team can easily access shared resources. While organized professionals may have neat and tidy desks, not all do. Organization is more about how easy it is for them to complete tasks without delays.
13. Multilingualism
What it is: Ability to communicate in more than one language.
Why it matters: It helps your company work with more people.
How to show it: Help translate, talk with customers and international teammates, and teach colleagues basic terms.
Multilingualism is a soft skill because it transfers seamlessly across industries. Speaking and writing in more than one language can help your company be more competitive. Information can reach more people through translated internal and external communications. It also lowers the risk of miscommunication.
Don’t speak an additional language? Consider learning Mandarin, Spanish, or another international business language suggested by Rosetta Stone.
