Soft skills is a term often associated with a person's "EQ" (Emotional Intelligence

Quotient), the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language,

personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with
other people. Soft skills complement hard skills which are the occupational
requirements of a job and many other activities. They are related to feelings,
emotions, insights and (some would say) an 'inner knowing': i.e. they provide an
important complement to 'hard skills' and IQ.

A person's soft skill EQ is an important part of their individual contribution to the
success of an organization. Particularly those organizations dealing with customers
face-to-face are generally more successful, if they train their staff to use these
skills. Screening or training for personal habits or traits such as dependability and
conscientiousness can yield significant return on investment for an organization.
For this reason, soft skills are increasingly sought out by employers in addition to
standard qualifications.
Hard Skills
Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that are based in fact. Some
examples include:



programming



skills)

Soft Skills
Soft skills are subjective and may or may not be true. They are often
associated with personal attributes and character. Some examples include:




responsible, committed
During the job application and interview process, employers look for
applicants with two skill sets: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are
teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Examples of hard
skills include:
Proficiency in a foreign language
A degree or certificate
Typing speed
Machine operation
Computer programming
These hard skills are often listed in your cover letter and on your resume,
and are easy for an employer or recruiter to recognize.
Soft skills, on the other hand, are subjective skills that are much harder to
quantify. Also known as "people skills" or "interpersonal skills," soft skills
relate to the way you relate to and interact with other people. Examples of
soft skills include:
Teamwork
Communication
Flexibility
Patience
Time management
Motivation

Soft skills are personal attributes that describe an individual's ability to interact with
others. Soft skills, also known as people skills, complement hard skills to enhance
an individual's relationships, job performance and career prospects. It's often said
that hard skills will get you an interview but you need soft skills to get -- and keep --
the job.

Unlike hard skills, which comprise a person's technical skill set and ability to
perform certain functional tasks, soft skills are interpersonal and broadly
applicable across job titles and industries. Many soft skills are tied to an individuals'
personalities rather than any formal training, and are thus considered more difficult
to develop than hard skills.

Soft skills are often described in terms of personality traits, such as optimism,
integrity and a sense of humor. These skills are also defined by abilities that can be
practiced, such as leadership, empathy, communication and sociability.

















, vh