Examples of Soft Skills That Every Employer Wants to See on Your Resume

In today's job market, employers are increasingly looking for candidates with strong soft skills. But what exactly are soft skills? Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to your ability to interact with others and get work done. They're also sometimes called "people skills" or "interpersonal skills."

Some examples of soft skills include:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Conflict resolution

While hard skills are important, employers often place more emphasis on soft skills because they're more difficult to teach. That's why it's important to highlight your soft skills on your resume. Here are some examples of how you can do that.

1. Use action verbs.

When describing your experiences, use action verbs like "collaborated," "coordinated," "facilitated," and "led." This will help bring your experiences to life and show employers what you're capable of. For example, rather than simply saying "I was part of a team that organized a company-wide event," you could say "I led a team that organized a successful company-wide event." The latter example is much more powerful and will make a lasting impression on employers.

2. Provide specific examples.

Employers want to see evidence that you have the right soft skills for the job. The best way to provide that evidence is by sharing specific examples of times when you've used those skills in the workplace. For instance, if you're applying for a job that requires excellent communication skills, you could share an example of a time when you had to deliver bad news to a coworker or client in a delicate situation. Or if you're applying for a job that requires excellent teamwork skills, you could share an example of a time when you went above and beyond to help a teammate meet a deadline. These types of specific examples will help employers see the value you would bring to their organization.

3. Highlight relevant experiences.

When determining which experiences to highlight on your resume, always keep the job requirements in mind. If a certain soft skill is required or preferred, make sure to draw attention to any relevant experiences you have—even if they're not directly related to the job itself. For example, if you're applying for a customer service position but don't have any direct customer service experience, you could highlight any experiences you have dealing with the public, such as volunteering at a local non-profit or working as a server at a restaurant. These types of experiences can be just as valuable as direct experience in the eyes of an employer.

4. Use keywords wisely.

In order for your resume to be found by employers conducting searches, it's important to use the right keywords throughout your document—including in the section where you list your soft skills. For example, if you're applying for a job that requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills, make sure to mention those exact phrases in your resume so that employers will be able to find them easily. You can also try using synonyms for these keywords so that your resume doesn't seem repetitive (just don't go overboard—employers can spot keyword stuffing from a mile away).

Conclusion:

In today's competitive job market, it's more important than ever to showcase your soft skills on your resume. By using action verbs, providing specific examples, highlighting relevant experiences, and using keywords wisely, you can make sure that your soft skills aren't overlooked by potential employers—and that's one step closer to landing the job of your dreams!