Soft skills are the REAL hard skills

soft skills Jun 12, 2024
Soft skills are the REAL hard skills

Soft Skills Are the REAL Hard Skills. 👌

People get jobs because of their 'hard skills'—expertise, knowledge, certifications, and qualifications. You'd think that's enough.

Nuh-uh. 🙅‍♀️

People get "let go" because of their 'soft skills'... or lack thereof. 😳

 

It's because the people skills needed for "people-ing"—working with their team, managing clients and their expectations, communicating clearly, being self-aware and introspective, having a curious and growth mindset—aren't quite there.

Job descriptions are notorious for playing down these human skills. 😑

Look at the training programs available, like Trailhead and other commercial training. There are far more that teach you how to pass that cert and get that job (interview skills, LinkedIn, and CV polishing services) than how to not only keep but thrive at the job with people you enjoy working with.

I know so many incredibly smart people—so brainy, so techie, so clever! But who are just awful to work with!

💩 Arrogant: They love to show how smart they are by making people feel dumb and small.

💩 Selfish: They hoard information because sharing it threatens their status.

💩 Lacking self-awareness and openness to sincere feedback: They believe they are right and everyone else is wrong.

There are also those who don't keep their word and don't communicate, making project work incredibly difficult.

Those who approach life and people with curiosity, empathy, kindness, and an open mind, along with some badass hard skills, are the ones I absolutely want on my team. 😍

And of course, having a sense of humor and playfulness makes life so much more fun! 🥰

Recruiters and hiring managers, ensure your job description isn't just filled with lists of boring 'hard' skills. Write it in a way that attracts people who excel at the human side of things too.

 

What other skills do job roles NOT highlight but are important?