However, this does not mean that without a degree or certification that these hard skills cannot be learned. You can gain these skills from extensive work experience in the field, qualifying you in these hard skills e.g. project management, change management, process implementation etc.
Soft skills on the other hand are those that are part of you. If you are shy, your communication skills might not be as established compared to someone who is outgoing and bubbly. Soft skills are developed depending on the people that you work for and the culture that you are in. You might be an excellent communicator with your friends and team members, but when it comes to presenting your reports to senior management, you might struggle.
Begin Your Career
Short List of Soft Skills
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Presentation
- Industry Foresight
- Patience
- Persistence and Perseverance
- Stress Management
- Negotiation
- Industry Networking
Short List of Hard Skills
- Process Implementation
- Market Research & Analysis
- Financial Costing & Analysis
- C+, Java & SQL
- Microsoft Office
- Project Management
- Quality Assurance/Control
- Health & Safety Legislation
- Business Development
- Change Management
Top Tips
- You should include a mixture of hard and soft skills
- You should reword soft skills to make them more attractive e.g. “Good Communicator” can be changed to “Relationship Management” or “Relationship Building” or “Team Management”
- You should develop your soft skills through team projects, sports or other social activities
- You should build on hard skills if you feel you’re lacking ability
- Don’t overload the CV with skills – 10 to 12 will suffice
- Name the section either Skills, Core Competencies or Areas of Expertise. You can also include additional sections like Technical Skills for programmers or Trade skills for tradesmen