Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills - What's the Difference? (With Examples)

Soft skills and hard skills. You’ve probably heard of them, but perhaps you’re not quite sure of the difference, or how that matters to your job search.

Well, they do matter. Much more than you think.

Understanding the difference, and learning how to showcase them effectively in your resume and cover letter, is the key to landing that interview.

Because without them, you’re just another unappreciated printout on the recruiter’s desk, waiting to be filed in the shredder.

And we don’t want that.

So let’s dive in and demystify what the dynamic duo of soft and hard skills are, and how each plays a unique role in your professional success.

What exactly are hard skills?

Hard skills are the tangible, teachable abilities that you can quantify and measure. Unlike soft skills, they’re objective and easily proved. They’re like the bricks that construct the foundation of your professional expertise.

Examples include proficiency in a particular technical skill, or expertise such as project management, team leadership, data analysis, or training delivery. These are provable abilities that you’ve undertaken in your career, regardless of how well you did them.

Here are some you’re likely to see in different job descriptions:

Hard Skills Example 1: Data Scientist

• Machine Learning (proficiency in implementing machine learning algorithms for data analysis and predictive modeling)
• Big Data Technologies (experience with tools like Apache Spark or Hadoop for processing and analyzing large datasets)
• Data Visualization (mastery in using tools like Tableau or Power BI to create insightful and compelling data visualizations)

Hard Skills Example 2: Senior Marketing Manager

• Marketing Analytics (utilizing tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to measure and analyze marketing performance)
• Strategic Planning (developing comprehensive marketing strategies aligned with overall business objectives)
• Brand Management (overseeing the development and maintenance of a consistent brand identity across all marketing channels)

Hard Skills Example 3: Project Manager

• Program Management (managing complex programs involving multiple interconnected projects)
• Risk Management (identifying and mitigating project risks to ensure successful project delivery)
• Stakeholder Management (building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve project goals)

Soft skills – the invisible glue

Now, let’s talk about the actually not-so-invisible glue that holds your career aspirations together – soft skills. These are the interpersonal, emotional, and social intelligence qualities that make you a great team player, an effective communicator, and an adaptable professional.

Soft skills encompass things like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, and leadership.

Compared to hard skills, soft skills are harder to quantify. Which is why they’re considered more subjective. They’re often demonstrated through your behavior, attitude, and approach to work.

Unlike hard skills, those around you can perceive your soft skill abilities differently (you may think you need to improve your time management skills, but your former colleagues may say you were always on time – if not a few minutes early – for meetings and generally hit your deadlines).

Let’s take a look at some examples:

Soft Skills Example 1: Team Leader

• Communication (e.g. clearly conveying expectations, actively listening to team members’ input, and facilitating open communication channels to ensure everyone is on the same page)
• Conflict Resolution (e.g. proactively addressing conflicts within the team, mediating disputes, and finding constructive solutions that maintain a positive team dynamic)
• Problem solving (e.g. identifying challenges within the team or projects, analyzing root causes, and implementing effective solutions that enhance team efficiency and overall performance)

Soft Skills Example 2: Accountant

• Attention to Detail (e.g. demonstrating precision in financial record-keeping, catching errors in financial reports, and ensuring accuracy in all aspects of accounting processes)
• Analytical Thinking (e.g. applying a systematic approach to analyze financial data, identify trends, and provide insights that contribute to informed decision-making)
• Time Management (e.g. effectively managing time to meet deadlines for financial reporting, tax filings, and other accounting responsibilities, ensuring timely and accurate financial information)

Soft Skills Example 3: Graphic Designer

• Creativity (e.g. generating innovative and visually appealing design concepts, pushing creative boundaries, and adapting to various styles and preferences)
• Collaboration (e.g. working seamlessly with cross-functional teams, incorporating feedback from clients and colleagues, and contributing positively to a collaborative and creative work environment)
• Adaptability (e.g. adapting to changing project requirements, embracing new design trends and technologies, and remaining flexible in the face of evolving client needs)

How to Incorporate Key Skills in Your Resume and Cover Letter

Now for the big question: how to incorporate those hard skills and soft skills quickly and relevantly in your resume and cover letter to grab the hiring manager’s attention?

Great question! And of course, we’ve got the answer.

Check out the specific examples and tips below to help you weave your skills into your resume and cover letter like a pro.

Resume

Let’s start with your resume.

Hard skills, rather than soft skills, are better suited to your resume. While you can certainly include a sprinkling of soft skills in the summary section, your resume should be primarily dedicated to hard skills.

That’s because at this first stage filtering, recruiters and ATS typically look for these tangible, quantifiable skills that are essential to doing the job. You can be a great communicator (soft skill), but if you don’t have project management experience and that’s what they need, then you’re not going to be able to do the job.

On the other hand, over in your cover letter, your soft skills can help to differentiate you from other applicants with a similar professional background and hard skills. We’ll get to cover letter shortly.

There are two ways to incorporate hard skills in your resume. We recommend including a key skills box under your resume summary. This box contains important hard skill keywords that recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS) look for when considering your application. It also makes it very easy for you to tweak your resume for specific job applications, increasing your match rate for that role.

As well as a key skills box, ensure the most prominent hard skills for your job type are sprinkled authentically throughout your resume. That way, the recruiter won’t think you’ve tweaked the key skills box to get their attention, without actually having the required abilities.

With keywords, it’s important to be specific and avoid generic terms. Instead of saying, “proficient in Microsoft Office,” specify “advanced proficiency in Excel for data analysis and reporting.”

Here’s how the above job seeker incorporated important keywords in her resume from the job she was applying for. The include ‘product development lifecycle’, brand guidelines’, ‘branded treatments’, and ‘React’:

• Led product development lifecycle for cross-client front-end component library and parent container for micro-frontends: built/deployed application in 1 month, enabling teams to independently release solution 5x faster

• Following delivery issues with high-end branding agency, created brand guidelines/branded treatments via rapid workshopping; designed system from scratch; personally implemented certain custom treatments in React

Now it’s your turn. Ensure that your summary, key skills box, and job descriptions include the major hard skills that are important for the types of job you’re applying for.

If you’re not sure what these are, we recommend doing an online search for similar job descriptions. Identify the most common hard skills and ensure these are incorporated wherever relevant to your own experience. Or use an AI tool such as ChatGPT to identify these for you.

Next, we’ll look at how to showcase both hard and soft skills in your cover letter.

Cover Letter

While resumes are the best place for hard skills, your cover letter is your opportunity to share insights into your key soft skills that are relevant to that job and company. They also give clues as to what you’re like to work with.

Companies often mention soft skills in their job descriptions, usually in the essential or desirable requirements section. For example:

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree in Accounting strongly preferred; with 2+ years relevant experience
• Excel: formulas, pivot tables, general analysis
• Proficiency in the use of relevant software applications, databases, and spreadsheets.
• Knowledge of accounting and financial statements, with the ability to analyze accounting transactions and financial statements
• Must be a motivated self-starter who possesses effective written and verbal communication skills
• Must be able to thrive in a deadline-oriented environment with proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy and ability to build relationships and manage conflict

Let’s see how Rhonda Williams, an experienced accountant, incorporated the most relevant soft skills in this job description in the narrative of her career:

Example Soft Skills

As you can see, it’s fairly easy to incorporate the relevant soft skills into your cover letter once you have a template. Simply tweak these for specific opportunities, aiming to match their phrasing wherever possible (so the human eye and ATS can detect a closer match). Ensure that the anecdote or example you’re giving matches the specific keyword.

You’ll notice that Rhonda Williams has also pointed out the most important hard skill keywords again, too. Although these are covered in her resume, it packs a double whammy when they’re also referenced in your cover letter.

Wherever possible, link your soft skills to specific successful outcomes, for example solving a complex problem or improving a process.

Example Hard Skills

Conclusion

Once you get the hang of it, spotting relevant hard skills and soft skills in job descriptions (and incorporating these in your resume and cover letter) becomes a breeze.

While it may seem like a small thing, in actual fact including hard skills and soft skills in your job application can make the difference between your resume being seen, or landing in the rejection pile.

Remember, the goal is not just to get the job, but to find the right fit where your skills and the company’s culture align. So go ahead, polish those soft and hard skills, and let your unique professional brilliance shine through!

Key Takeaways:

• Hard skills are specific, quantifiable abilities acquired through education or experience, forming the core professional expertise crucial for job performance
• Soft skills encompass interpersonal qualities like communication and adaptability, enhancing collaboration and contributing to overall professional success
• Tailor Your Approach: Customize your resume and cover letter for each job application, focusing on the skills most relevant to the position.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Use specific examples and anecdotes to demonstrate your skills. This not only adds credibility but also makes you more memorable to employers.
• Balance is Key: A combination of both soft and hard skills is often what employers are looking for. Strive to strike a balance that aligns with the requirements of the job.

For more insights, tips and strategies related to this topic, be sure to read our other articles: 5 Successful Upskilling Strategies for Career Pivoting & 6 Effective Methods to Learn and Upskill While Sleeping & What is Emotional Intelligence & How Can EQ Boost Your Career

Related questions

What should I include in my resume to highlight both soft and hard skills?

To highlight both soft and hard skills in your resume, create a "Skills" section where you list hard skills relevant to the job, such as technical abilities or specific software proficiencies. Integrate soft skills like communication or leadership within your job descriptions by providing examples of how you used these skills in past roles. Tailoring these sections to match the job description increases your chances of catching the employer's attention.

How can I develop soft skills to enhance my job prospects?

Developing soft skills involves seeking feedback, participating in teamwork opportunities, and engaging in activities that require communication and problem-solving. Workshops, online courses, and reading relevant books can also help. Regularly practicing these skills in various settings, such as volunteering or part-time jobs, can improve your proficiency and make you more attractive to potential employers.

Why are both soft and hard skills important in the workplace?

Both soft and hard skills are important in the workplace because they complement each other to enhance overall job performance. Hard skills provide the technical knowledge required for specific tasks, while soft skills facilitate effective communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Together, they ensure you can perform your job duties efficiently and collaborate well with colleagues, leading to a more productive and harmonious work environment.

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