The Difference Between Hard and Soft Skills
Stand out resumes are the best way to ensure a candidate will be considered for the best jobs they qualify for. However, many candidates struggle to highlight their successes, soft skills, and other important attributes that will set them apart from other candidates. Simply listing job descriptions will not be enough to grab a hiring manager’s attention. It is important to know what skills to include on a resume, how to properly describe them, and where to list them on a resume to grab an employer’s attention.
An important first step is to understand that there are two different types of skill sets: Hard Skills and Soft Skills:
Hard Skills
Hard skills are technical skills and abilities a candidate needs in order to carry out a specific job.
Examples of Hard Skills:
- Accounting
- Graphic Design
- Copywriting
- Data Analysis
- Event Planning
Depending on the position the candidate is applying for, skills in these tech tools may also be required:
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Microsoft Programs: Excel Spreadsheet, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Word
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe InDesign
Soft Skills
Soft Skills include more generalized skills, or what people refer to as “social skills” or “people skills”
Examples of Soft Skills:
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Time Management
- Adaptability
- Self-Motivation
- Decision Making
- Communication
It is vital to include both Hard Skills and Soft Skills on a resume because as both skill sets are of equal importance, a candidate with several soft skills would likely receive an interview over a candidate with only hard skills listed. Reason being, soft skills are hard to teach and define and a list of both shows that a candidate possesses more attributes than just the required technical skills for the job.
