Whether you’re a fresh graduate or simply looking to explore new opportunities in your career, you’re likely to check job postings once in a while. Aside from keeping you up to date with possible job vacancies, online resources can also help you be more aware and informed of what companies are looking for right now, from different roles they need to be filled in their organization to specific credentials and qualifications.
When companies are looking for a candidate to join their organization, HR managers start by assessing the qualifications and skills of an applicant to ascertain whether or not they’re a good fit for the job and meet the requirements. They’ll also conduct a series of interviews to get to know the candidate better and ask what they can offer to the company and what skills they have that can help them fulfill the role more effectively.
During such instances, it can be common to have a bit of a hard time thinking and discussing what your skills are. For one, people usually associate skills with things they are good at, something they excel at and can showcase to others. And while it’s good that you talk about your hard skills, don’t forget about discussing your soft skills, too.
Suppose you’re wondering about the difference between hard skills vs soft skills. In this article, we’ll define what each skill is and how they differ. Read on to learn more.
Defining Hard Skills And Soft Skills
To start, skills are a set of things that one is capable of doing. These things can be innate and learned and are made to execute actions with pleasing results and commitment. Skills are categorized into two, which are hard and soft skills.
Hard skills pertain to someone’s capacity that they have acquired through education and experience with their previous works and endeavors. This type of skill is generally more inclined to technical things or abilities that can be used on career-specific tasks. Moreover, these skills are usually specific and measurable.
On the other hand, soft skills are abilities that are more on the personal attributes a person holds that can make them succeed in their workplace. This skill focuses more on the interpersonal qualities a person has, how reliable they can be at work, how they will communicate and build professional relationships with their team, and their leadership skills and style.
With the brief definition mentioned above for the two different skills, you now have more or less a general understanding of the difference between the two. But now, it begs the question: Which skill is more important for you to have and possess to progress in your career?
Hard Skills Versus Soft Skills: Which Is More Important?
Some people tend to compare whenever two concepts are introduced to them. They have this automatic response of weighing options, determining which makes more sense and holds greater power over things.
If things will be decided according to statistics, a study done by LinkedIn shows that 91% say that soft skills are very important for the future of recruiting and Human Resources. Aside from that, whenever companies have bad hires, 89% of this is because of a lack of soft skills that the employees possess.
Despite the statistics about the importance of soft skills, some people still find this set of skills as something unnecessary when doing their job. They believe that acquiring soft skills is not as essential. And so, they’d rather learn and polish their technical skills instead, especially since most companies choose and hire potential candidates with impressive credentials and hard skills. However, that’s not always the case, as soft skills are equally important.
Hard Skills Examples
Since hard skills are mostly career-specific abilities, they are essential to help you deliver results and accomplish tasks and perform your functions more efficiently and seamlessly. And as for career growth, becoming excellent at technical aspects can take you far in your profession and expose you to more opportunities in your chosen field.
Here are some of the hard skills worth learning:
- Computer Skills
- Presentation Skills
- Programming
- Analytical Skills
- Project Management
- Cloud Computing
- Writing Skills
- Design Skills
- Industry-specific Software Skills
Soft Skills Examples
As much as hard skills are critical in your career performance, it’d be worth noting, too, that your soft skills can significantly influence your overall success in your profession. For one, soft skills are more personal and will reflect in your work habits and how you interact with your colleagues.
For instance, having high emotional intelligence. Being emotionally intelligent can make you more aware of your strengths and weaknesses. This, in the long run, will allow you to make sound business decisions as needed. And despite having a rough day, being emotionally intelligent can enable you to become professional and stay level-headed because you have the capacity to manage your emotions and feelings.
Aside from that, here are some more highly in-demand soft skills that companies nowadays look for:
- Communication Skills
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Strategic Thinking
- Time Management
- Interpersonal Skills
- Creativity
- Organization
- Leadership Skills
Final Thoughts
To address the question of which skill is more essential that you should possess and holds more value, the short answer is both. Both skills have their respective strengths and weaknesses. Just imagine the competitive advantage you can gain and the feats you can achieve by having good control over your soft and hard skills. It can make you flourish in your profession, attend to your job responsibilities more efficiently, and help you build professional connections.
And so, whether you’re a new graduate looking to find your first job or a professional exploring other opportunities in your field, equipping yourself with the right skills can take you further in your industry. This endeavor may take time and resources; after all, nothing comes easy when it comes to improving oneself and boosting your qualifications for career progression. But with patience and determination, it’s not impossible. And developing your soft and hard skills can be a good start.
