Soft & Hard Skills to Make You More Employable

When you’re applying for a job, there are two main things that employers will look for: soft skills and hard skills. Even if you’ve got all the technical knowledge, aka hard skills, you may not have the soft skills they are looking for. 

So, what’s the difference between the two, and which skills will ultimately make you more employable? 

The Difference Between Soft Skills and Hard Skills

Soft skills can be defined as personality traits and abilities that are attribute driven. They cannot necessarily be measured, nor are they something you would get certification for. That said, you can train and develop your soft skills. Some examples would be organization, excellent communication, patience, etc. 

Hard skills are measurable and can be taught. They don’t come naturally and must be learned, whether that’s through an online course or training guide. Certain jobs will require you to have experience in a niche area and possess particular hard skills. Some examples would be computer coding, mathematics, writing or budgeting. 

Find out more about the differences between the two skill types here

Which Soft Skills Make You More Employable?

Soft skills are generally learned through life-events and develop over time according to your personality. There are specific skills that employers will look for in general that are beneficial and will make you a better employee. If there are any of these areas where you struggle, you can develop your soft skills by enrolling in training at corporatecoachgroup.com

 

1. Multi skilled

The ability to be multi-skilled a sought-after quality among employers. Most jobs will require you to do more than one task. Especially if you’re working for a smaller company, you’ll likely need to juggle many things at once.

The ability to complete tasks quickly and efficiently, without getting overwhelmed, show that you are a strong multi-tasker. Beyond that, even if your job is quite linear, being able to multitask will exemplify that you have potential and help you progress faster. 

 

2. Communication Skills 

The skill to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, will make you much more employable. Regardless of the job or industry, all positions will require communication. It’s crucial for staff to explain things simply and with confidence. Your employer and colleagues will take you seriously and have more respect for you if you speak with conviction. 

3. Work Well with Others

All jobs will require working with others, whether directly or indirectly. Employers appreciate the ability to be a team player. No one is perfect, but working together with your colleagues will ensure everyone is successful in their positions. Those who struggle to work well with others can cause conflict in a business setting. 

Other soft skills to develop include: Dependability, Organization skills, and Adaptability.

Which Hard Skills Make You More Employable

There are thousands of hard skills and the ones preferred for each job will vary. Depending on your industry, employers will require you to have a different range of hard skills. That said, there are specific hard skills that are generally beneficial to possess. 

1. Computer Technology Skills

With the world going digital, having expertise in computer technology is pretty much essential. Investing in some computer training and learning new software will always be beneficial to you.

For example, currently, the Azure data engineer role is one of the most demanded jobs. Since data acts as a superpower in the modern technological scenario, it becomes important to collect appropriate and relevant data that can help businesses to improve. Moreover, the proper use of information can also enhance customer service. That is one of the reasons why there is a sudden rise in the demand for data engineers. Hence, those looking for better employment opportunities and promising job prospects could try acquiring a certificate in this field by giving an exam (you can search for dp-200 online to know more about this exam). But before that, it would be prudent for the interested parties to gather proper knowledge regarding this subject matter.

2. Languages

Global opportunities are increasing, and it’s favorable to companies that they employ people who can speak multiple languages. The skill to speak another language fluently is sought after by many employers.

3. Marketing Skills

Every business needs marketing. Whether you’re applying for a marketing-driven position or not, understanding how it works is a huge asset. Marketing equals growth, and if you can bring those skills to the table, you will be much more employable in general. 

Other hard skills that employers look for include: Data Analysis, Project Management and Design skills.