List of the Top Soft Skills Valued by Employers (To Use On Your Resume)

When looking for the ideal job, candidates must highlight relevant skills on their resume and during an interview. In many cases, soft skills are just as important to a prospective employer as hard skills. Some candidates, however, fail to emphasize their soft skills. You can beat the competition and land the job you want if you understand the top soft skills for resumes, why they are important to employers, and how to sell yours.

What exactly are soft skills?

Soft skills are those that you employ when interacting and collaborating with others. These interpersonal skills enable you to connect with others more effectively, communicate more effectively, and easily assume leadership roles.

Soft skills are essential for a highly functional workplace because they allow people to work together more effectively and efficiently. There will be more misunderstandings and clashes between coworkers who lack soft skills in the office or via remote communications.

While soft skills can be strengthened and developed, the majority of them are “natural,” making them even more valuable to employers. This is one way they differ from hard skills, which can be learned in school or through practical experience.

Should your resume include soft skills?

Some people underestimate the importance of soft skills and do not include them on their resume, or they want to include them but are unsure where to include them. Soft skills can be listed in the “Skills” section. Put them right next to the hard skills.

In addition, include soft skills in your resume’s “Work Experience” section. Because your work experience will include bullet-point statements highlighting your accomplishments, you can mention any soft skills that enabled these.

The best soft skills to have on your resume

Communication

Communication will be a critical component of your success in any job. You must have this soft skill polished, whether it is verbal or written communication, to make things run more smoothly at the office.

Communication is two-way, which means you must also be good at listening. Effective listening skills enable you to pick up on important details from managers, customers, and coworkers. Employers will value those who can communicate effectively and listen to others with empathy.

You can use the following terms or phrases on your resume to demonstrate your communication skills:

• Listening actively
• Communication through speech
• Communication through nonverbal means
• Presentation abilities
• Communication in writing

Participant on a team

Employers prefer an office full of team players. Individuals who can collaborate effectively with a diverse group of people. They are neither too pushy nor too passive. A team player can step up to the plate and take charge when necessary, but they are also willing to step back if that is not their role. These individuals are also willing to negotiate and compromise in order to complete the task.

Employers know they can rely on team members to work well in groups and without complaint.

Terms or phrases that can be used on your resume to demonstrate team player skills include:

• Collaboration
• Negotiation
• Compromise
• Cooperation
• Conflict resolution
• Delegation
• Coordination
• Mediation

Flexible/adaptable

Work, like life, can take unexpected turns from time to time. Employers value employees who can adapt to changing circumstances. Flexibility is especially important in jobs that are influenced by culture or current events, such as marketing, advertising, and public relations.

Terms or phrases that can be used on your resume to demonstrate flexibility/adaptability include:

• Open-mindedness
• Easy-going
• willing to adapt
• Compromise
• Versatile
• Creative
• Calm

Leadership

A strong leader adds value to an organization because they are decisive and accountable. In a crisis, the employer can rely on them and know that they can manage themselves and others. Even if you are not put in a position of leadership, having these qualities can help when problems arise.

You can use the following terms or phrases on your resume to demonstrate your leadership abilities:

• Empathy
• Selflessness
• Dispute resolution
• Management
• Decisive
• Listening
• Mentoring
• Humility

Work morale

Employers want people with a strong work ethic to be a part of their team. These are people who are dependable and responsible. They have good time management skills, complete their tasks on time, and can be relied on.

Work ethic terms or phrases that you can use on your resume include:

• Disciplined
• Take the initiative
• Dependable
• Integrity
• Responsible
• Honesty
• Respectability
• Committed
• Self-motivated
• Professional

Interpersonal abilities

These are the “people skills” that come to mind when discussing soft skills. They entail the ability to easily interact with others and maintain relationships. They entail getting along with people who have different personalities — even if they are not your preferred “type.” Interpersonal skills are important for business dealings and interactions because you may make a bad impression on people if you do not have them.

Interpersonal skills are useful in all professions because you will most likely interact with coworkers, managers, and customers. These abilities are especially important for people who work in industries where customer service is a primary focus.

You can include the following terms or phrases on your resume to demonstrate your interpersonal skills:

• Networking
• Tolerance
• Communication
• Sensitivity
• Empathy
• Mentoring
• Patience
• Diplomacy

Positivity

When someone has a positive attitude, it creates a positive atmosphere throughout the office. Customers and coworkers enjoy being around people who are always cheerful and upbeat. Employers value employees who have a positive attitude in the workplace because it inspires other employees and makes stressful days seem less stressful.

When someone has a positive attitude, they can help solve problems that would otherwise go unsolved. People who are positive and optimistic see only solutions rather than problems.

You can use the following terms or phrases on your resume to demonstrate your positivity skills:

• Confidence
• Solutions
• Cheerfulness
• Optimism
• Energy
• Enthusiasm
• Eagerness
• Friendliness
• Cooperation
• Patience

Other ways to impress prospective employers with your soft skills

Your resume isn’t the only place where you can showcase your soft skills to a prospective employer. In your cover letter, highlight some of these abilities. You can give examples of how you used these skills on the job to achieve your objectives. The reader can see the skill in action as a result of this.