20 Soft Skills Employers are looking for in 2022

Employers recognise the importance of soft skills in the workplace, so it's important for people to put soft skills at the forefront of job applications. Soft skills are the more intangible and non-technical abilities that are looked for from candidates, for example:

• Communication

• Teamwork

• Problem-solving

• Leadership

• Responsibility

Soft skills are sometimes referred to as transferable, interpersonal, or meta skills. These skills are less specialised, less rooted in specific vocations, and more aligned with the individual attributes and personality of a candidate.

Soft skills relate to a candidate’s attitudes and intuitions. As soft skills are less about qualifications and more about personality, it is important to consider what soft skills are and how they might be evidenced when applying for a job.

Soft Skills vs Hard Skills

It is important to distinguish between soft skills and hard skills, both of which are valuable and required by employers across all industries and working environments.

While soft skills are more to do with personality and non-technical abilities, hard skills can be taught through formal education or training.

These skills might be developed through university or college attendance, online courses, on-the-job training, or other classes and training environments.

For example:

• A programming role requires the technical skill of being able to code in a specific or varied coding language

• An accounting position requires strong accounting skills

• A graphic design position may require knowledge of specific design software

• An electrician needs to know how to install electrical

Hard skills are generally straightforward to evaluate or measure. For instance, employers may ask for a demonstration of a particular skill or to see formal certifications proving that a skill has been obtained. Alternatively, they may examine a candidate's work history and experience.

In contrast, soft skills are not formally taught within a class or course. They require a certain degree of emotional intelligence but can be developed or improved through observation of others, self-reflection and proactive personal development.

Increasingly, employers recognise that the ideal workforce is more than a list of qualifications and work experience. They are individuals with varying personalities and traits.

Soft skills fill in the gaps between jobs and courses. It is this complete picture that more readily demonstrates a candidate’s suitability for the job and potential as an employee.

https://www.wikijob.co.uk/interview-advice/competencies/soft-skills