Unlock your potential. How soft skills can give you an edge in today's job market

Soft skills are a mix of psychophysical traits, like personality and emotional intelligence, along with social skills, which enable the management of one's technical skills in a given situation. Soft skills make it possible to utilize acquired knowledge effectively and at the most fitting moment.

Soft skills prove to be beneficial when applying for diverse roles. They are particularly essential when applying for management positions or roles that involve extensive human interactions. In any job that requires working with people, soft skills are prioritized.

Soft skills are imbibed in our psyche and can be divided into two groups:

The first group comprises personal skills, which are abilities required for effective self-management. These include attributes like emotional intelligence, stress resistance, creativity, and assertiveness.

Interpersonal skills form the second group, which involves communication abilities crucial for engaging with others. These include competencies like self-presentation, teamwork, task delegation, and conflict management in a team.

- Stress management abilities,

- Logical thinking,

- Friendliness,

- Positivity, optimism,

- Creativity,

- Innovation,

- Flexibility,

- Ability to work under pressure,

- Communicativeness,

- Desire to maintain a cordial workplace atmosphere,

- Punctuality,

- Time management skills,

- Conflict-resolution capabilities,

- Personal etiquette,

- Focus,

- Persuasiveness,

- Openness,

- Willingness to take on new challenges,

- Patience,

- Independence,

- Negotiating skills,

- Teamwork abilities.

Unlike hard skills, soft skills can't readily be quantified or documented. Hard skills represent a blend of substantial knowledge with practical abilities. These quantifiable skills are validated by a diploma, certificate, or some other document. In simple terms, these are skills gathered through education, work, training, or studies.

These skills are important to employers as they outline the competencies we possess and identify areas for potential training, if required.

Training in soft skills can be highly advantageous, impacting not just our professional lives, but our personal lives as well. Various training programs and dedicated courses are available to assist in improving these abilities.

Popular courses include assertiveness, teamwork, and task delegation training. Some programs even offer training in emotional intelligence, which is applicable to human interactions.

Many individuals prefer training geared towards improving time management and self-presentation. Public speaking, often seen as challenging, is another area where courses are readily available.

Soft skills training programs offer a broad spectrum of skills to learn. Choosing the right course is ultimately a personal decision; however, it’s best to opt for a course that addresses our weaknesses.

Prior to deciding on a soft skills training program, it's a good idea to assess your current abilities. This can be achieved independently by self-reflecting: What am I good at? What do I struggle with? What are my inclinations? After compiling your list, it will be easier to tailor the right training program.

Soft skills can be enhanced through on-site training, online courses, as well as weekend or longer-term programs. Some companies offer these trainings as part of their job benefits, so it's always worth inquiring with your employer about them.