Skills are the only thing that will get you hired. No matter the industry, there is always work for people with the right skills. But which would you consider 'right'? As a highly rated professional resume writing service, we usually split skills into two categories – soft skills and hard skills, which sometimes confuses job hunters, and they end up unsure which to list on their resumes.
The simplest answer would be to focus on those which are lacking in the company you're applying for. Obviously, if you're unique with your skills, it will be easier to get hired. However, from a candidate's point of view, it's hard to identify missing skills in an organization, and even that doesn't guarantee they'll have any unique ones.
As the largest professional resume writing service in Phoenix AZ, we'll go for the second best answer, which is to focus on hard skills. Those will get you hired faster. Also, you're increasing your chances of coming with skills which are missing in the organization. Let's take a look at what soft and hard skills are, why they're important and how to obtain them.
What Are Soft Skills On A Resume?
Soft skills are character traits – interpersonal skills which basically show that you're a civilized human being that knows how to behave in the modern society. They are harder to quantify and measure, and usually not require any particular knowledge. However, they are an important asset to candidates – especially when they're applying for a position within a large(r) team.
Soft skills usually include being able to communicate well, being a team player and being able to work well under pressure. They also include having a flexible, positive attitude and being able to deal with people. Should I list soft skills on a resume? We'd argue no, but that definitely depends on the hiring manager.
What Are Hard Skills On A Resume?
Hard skills are the things you learn at school, college, through various tutorials and on different courses. Examples of these skills would include knowing a programming language, knowing how to operate construction machinery, or being good at math.
Unlike soft skills, these are quantifiable and easily measured. They are also the skills you will be using every day to complete your tasks. Are hard skills necessary to add on your resume to get hired? Definitely. Without them, you wouldn't be considered an asset to a company.
How To Add Hard Skills Onto A Resume
Now that we know what soft and hard skills are – one thing becomes clear. Hard skills are a much more important trait, as those are the ones you'll be using every day, and those are the ones which will bring results to the company. However, that doesn't mean you should list as many as you have on a single resume. Maybe your hard skills are divided into multiple industries. Perhaps you're good at roofing, but that skill won't help you if you're applying for a software developer position.
Always keep in mind that hiring managers are busy people with very little time on their hands. Save them the trouble by creating a resume with relevant hard skills.
How To Add Soft Skills Onto A Resume
There are situations where soft skills can be considered an important asset and in those cases, you should definitely list them on your resume. If you are applying for a team leader position, where you'd need to manage human resources, being able to communicate well and being able to deal with people can be essential. The same goes for nursing positions, or journalism.
Keep in mind, without hard skills for each industry, you can't expect to get hired. But complementing them with soft skills can sometimes tilt the balance in your favor.
Balance Hard Skills & Software Skills On Your Resume
It's one thing to list all the various skills and competencies you as a job candidate have. It's a completely different one to actually be able to put them to good use. Don't overdo it with listing skills – previous experience and achievements are equally important. Between two candidates coming in with the same skills, both hard and soft, it's the more experienced one which will get hired.
Conclusion
When applying for a new job, having soft skills is important, but not essential. Hard skills, on the other hand, are crucial, and you cannot expect to get hired without them. It is also important to know exactly which hard skills are in demand, and which are needed by the company you're applying for.
Make sure to list the in-demand hard skills, and add soft ones only if you truly believe the company can benefit off them. And don’t forget to list your previous experiences and achievements, they are the best proof of the quality of your skills.