Top 7 Soft Skills for Resumes: A Detailed Guide

Once upon a time, soft skills languished in the background, never daring to be talked about in the world of work. They were only fit-for-purpose during socializing or when undertaking a hobby or an interest outside of work.

So much has changed. Now, soft skills on a resume are there to be celebrated, not dismissed.

Soft skills are often front and center when it comes to highlighting a 360-degree skillset, combining them with hard skills that have always been at the forefront.

It’s time to be loud and proud about your soft skills and sing their praises to the skies!

In this detailed guide, you will be able to access pertinent information regarding soft skills on your resume, including 

• Why they’re increasingly more important in the workplace

• The 7 top soft skills

• How to incorporate them into your resume — with examples 

What are soft skills?

A simple explanation of soft skills for resumes is that they are “personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people,” according to Oxford Languages. Sounds great, doesn’t it? In terms of day-to-day life, that’s as far as it goes.

However, in the workplace, soft skills take on a whole new meaning. They are vital. In fact, a recent survey from BestColleges.com found that

1 in 3 Americans believe that soft skills are the most important in the job market. It also revealed that jobs that rely on soft skills, such as critical thinking and creativity, often have higher pay.

Think about it.

The soft skills you possess are in use for most of the day when you’re at work. So, if you’re determined to land another position, it makes sense to note that soft skills are going to be important in your next role as well.

How do they differ from hard skills?

Put simply, hard skills can be defined as being the technical requirements that you need in order to perform your job to the best of your ability. They are gained through education, job-related courses and workshops, and that all-important experience of being on the job. Hard skills are easily quantified, whereas soft skills… not so much.

As mentioned previously, hard skills were always the more valued out of the two. But as we know, the times, they are a-changin’, with workers and employers placing soft skills much higher up the list than before, with 38% of students and leaders considering soft skills to be vital in the current job market. That’s opposed to just 21% believing that hard skills make applicants more competitive.

Why are soft skills important at work?

Employers love their workers to possess soft skills. In fact, they generally look for an even mix between soft and hard skills, so make sure your soft skills stand out on your resume.

Let’s look at why they are so vital in the workplace. Nurtured well, they can:

• Increase productivity

• Improve on leadership

• Build on collaboration and teamwork between colleagues

• Improve the service provided to customers

• Enhance the company culture

• Boost a positive attitude

• Monitor and measure teamwork

What are the 7 essential soft skills?

It’s time for the dog to see the rabbit, as it’s time to clearly and concisely lay out the top 7 soft skills for resumes.

It goes without saying that there are other soft skills available! So much so, that we’ve added a cheeky bonus section at the end, which covers five other sought-after soft skills for a resume.

So don’t worry. We’ve got you covered from all sides. There’s also plenty of examples you can choose from as to how to present soft skills on your resume.

Organization

If you thrive with a messy desk, or piles of paper that slither onto the office floor go unnoticed, then you’re probably not that organized! The phrase, “A tidy desk is a tidy mind,” illustrates how being neat in your workplace extends further than you think. A tidy desk prevents the mind from being distracted. 

If you’re rummaging around for ages while Gavin from Accounts waits patiently for those figures he’s been asking for since a week last Thursday, it might cause some frustration and friction with colleagues.

However, if you’re the organized type, you want to shout about it. Your level of organization will determine how well you manage your workload and if you’re able to deliver projects on time.

Examples of organization as a soft skill for your resume

Below are some bullet point examples of how to showcase your organizational skills on your resume:

• Synthesize learning and technical skills to achieve organizational objectives.

• Demonstrate the organization and prioritization required to achieve tight deadlines and complete set tasks efficiently.

• Deploy a proactive and flexible attitude to effectively manage workload, incorporating excellent organizational skills and acute attention to detail.

Check out these other skills that relate to organization –

• Document Keeping

• Strategic Planning

• Multitasking

• Delegating

• Analytical Thinking

• Proactivity

• Perceptiveness

Problem Resolution

Nothing ever runs smoothly… be that a project, a marketing strategy, or the office photocopier! Problems and issues will always need to be solved, and that’s where you come in. 

If you have ways in which to illustrate your problem-solving attributes, all the better. Those candidates who can tackle problems, identify simple solutions, and come out the other side smelling of roses, are always going to succeed. So you want to hone your critical thinking and analytical capabilities.

Examples of problem resolution soft skills for your resume

Consider customizing the below examples of problem-solving attributes within your resume:

• Demonstrate a logical and analytical approach to solving complex problems.

• Adopt a calm and logical attitude when dealing with any problems or issues, reaching rapid and satisfactory resolutions for all concerned to maintain excellent staff and stakeholder relations.

• Convert obstacles into attainable challenges using advanced problem-solving techniques honed over the past 10 years.

Other ways in which to illustrate problem-solving qualities are:

• Reasoning

• Lateral thinking

• Persistence

• Initiative

• Negotiation

• Brainstorming

Teamwork

Everyone’s a great team player, right? 

Exactly. And when everyone is a great team player, no one is a great team player. 

To stand out from the crowd, you need to show and tell. 

Being a valued member of a team means you operate well within a group setting, think creatively, and accomplish set tasks efficiently and effectively. So you need to pinpoint examples of when you shone within the team environment; the below examples should help.

Examples of teamwork soft skills for your resume

• Ensure a culture of teamwork and the collective achievement of departmental objectives.

• Promoted over long-standing bank employees due to motivational qualities and outstanding teamwork.

• An influential and hardworking Service Delivery Manager often described as the ‘go-to’ person within a management team for teamworking abilities.

Teamwork can involve a whole load of other skills, so use these within your resume as well:

• Active Listening

• Conflict Management

• Mediation

• Cultural Sensitivity

• Collaboration

• Encouragement

• Cooperation

• Idea Exchange

Time Management

Using your time wisely and productively is so important throughout the working day. Faffing about or running around like a headless chicken ain’t going to cut it. 

If you have great time management skills, it means you work efficiently, effectively, and calmly while prioritizing tasks and delegating when needed.

Examples of time management soft skills for your resume

Have a really good think about how you manage your time and how you can convey this on your resume. The below examples should help.

• Introduced an automated administration system which reduced the time spent answering phones, searching for files, and accounting by 23%.

• Increase the quality of work and staff morale by 38%, due to time saved on the commute, by trialing a project that calculated distance of each employee from work, prioritizing those living nearer for shorter shifts, and delegating longer shifts to those further away.

• Reduce the time it took to load containers from the warehouse by 45% by simplifying the tool packing system.

Further skills that relate to time management include:

• Strategic Planning

• Target Setting

• Prioritization

• Self-Starter

• Stress Management

• Scheduling

Decision-Making

The thought of making a decision fills some people with dread. But it’s an essential tool that you need in your arsenal, especially if you are in a leadership role. 

It’s a simple fact that decisions do have to be made on a daily basis, whether you like it or not, so it’s all about making the best one, and showing that on your resume.

Examples of decision-making soft skills for your resume

Cover all eventualities with the below examples, which can be tailored to your own experience.

• Capitalize on acute observation, research, and analytical attributes to tackle and resolve customer complaints by undertaking decisive action.

• Increase the bottom line by facilitating strategic decisions that led to innovative cost-cutting measures, decreasing expenses by 13%.

• Unafraid of making tough decisions following thorough evaluations of the facts.

Here are other ways of portraying your decisive capabilities.

• Problem-Solving

• Logical Thinking

• Reasoning

• Intuition

• Issue Identification

• Evaluation

Interpersonal Skills

Basically, having great interpersonal skills means you get along with people! It shows you communicate and interact well with others while leaving a positive impression and sustaining beneficial relations. 

While being seen as a cliché to put the words “interpersonal skills” on your resume, they are such an important soft skill that you need to find other ways of portraying this.

Examples of interpersonal soft skills for your resume

The below examples should give you a good starting point.

• Lead, manage, and motivate teams to maximize potential, with the interpersonal qualities to build positive relationships with colleagues at all levels.

• Encourage proactive contribution and effective teamwork across departments by using excellent communication and diplomatic skills.

• Engage in an open two-way communication method to allow a democratic management system that ensures all members feel valued and respected while delivering success to an outstanding standard.

Here are other ways to express your outstanding interpersonal qualities:

• Emotional Intelligence

• Diplomacy

• Empathy

• Mentoring

• Networking

• Patience

• Listening

Work Ethic

Your attitude to work is one of the most widely transferable soft skills there is. It’s a true belief in the fact that working hard while approaching work in a positive and proactive manner, is of huge benefit while strengthening your character and individual abilities. 

Showing off your work ethic proves to prospective employers that you believe in the value of putting your best foot forward.

Examples of work ethic soft skills for your resume

See below for three examples of how your work ethic can be conveyed within your resume.

• Undertake a dual role as a Nurse on a physical activity project and as a Nurse assigned to 4 individuals requiring specific support.

• Demonstrate diligence by evaluating learning goals, monitoring student progress, providing constructive feedback, and assessing any work accurately and promptly in Grade 5.

• Commit to ensuring the smooth running of critical business events and meetings to optimize efficiency and time while showcasing hard work and professionalism at all times.

Other soft skills that relate to your work ethic are:

• Diligence

• Responsibility

• Professionalism

• Trainability

• Integrity

• Eagerness to Learn

• Commitment

How to effectively illustrate soft skills on your resume

Your main aim when drafting a resume is to make a good impression on the person who’s reading it, whether that’s a recruiter or a prospective employer. While your hard skills should take up a large chunk of the section designed to list your key skills, it’s worth incorporating your soft skills, as having a mix is the best way forward.

Follow the three strategies below on how to include soft skills in your resume without it looking like they’ve been shoehorned in at the last moment

1. Study the job description advert

Pick out keywords and phrases from the advert to include in your resume, but only if you possess these skills, of course. If a business is looking for creativity, you could describe yourself as visionary and innovative with creative thinking attributes.

Read through the resume summary below for a PA, where the job requires candidates to be professional, assertive, and supportive.

Example

A proactive, diplomatic, and confident Personal Assistant who showcases a unique blend of transferable skills that combine personal assistance to HNWI with production roles. Deliver exceptional support by taking a level-headed and flexible approach. Quick to grasp new ideas and concepts using superior organizational skills. Remain calm under pressure while combining a self-assured manner with advanced client services.

• Adept at identifying ways in which to improve on efficiencies, then work tirelessly in order to achieve this.

• Demonstrates a great eye for detail and will go the extra mile to get results.

• Resilient and persistent, possessing excellent communication techniques.

2. Hone in on your strengths

While it’s all well and good to match up with job description phrases, you also want to highlight those soft skills that make you unique. 

If your personal assets aren’t put forward in your resume, it’s going to be difficult for an employer to get a sense of the type of person you are.

Do this by mixing hard skills with soft skills in the skills section, which comes under the resume summary, and before the career section.

In the example below of an OT, see how the applicant mixes soft and hard skills to great effect.

Example

Occupational Therapy | Healthcare Management | Healthcare Development | Rehabilitation | Target Setting | Relationship Building | Problem Resolution | Training | Coaching | Teamwork | Team Building | People Management | Patient Management | Patient Engagement | Bilingual | Time Management

3. Back up your claims

To be taken seriously, you need to show concrete evidence of all your skills… both hard and soft. This is best done in the work experience section.

 Resident Engineer                                        Sep 2019-Present

Produced high-quality work and safe operational management/maintenance of 5 bridges on a $13M contract. Cultivate productive relations with the contractor using effective communication to build a strong rapport and nurture profitable relations. Maximize the potential and contribution of 7 staff by using consistent messaging on performance, quality, and standards. Meticulously inspect construction, ensuring the work conforms to contract documents. Review drawings and the progress schedule, recommending viable action when required.

• Complete the project within budget and on time to an exceptionally high standard.

• Install temporary signals and traffic control across all 5 bridges.

• Developed the divisional business into a smoothly run operation by strengthening and building the pre-construction team and improving the bid management process.

• Increased turnover from $10M to $14M and delivered a gross site margin of $1.7M (12.5%) in FY 20/21.

What are some other common soft skills?

The 7 soft skills mentioned in detail above are seen as the standard ones that most people possess and can easily be transferred between roles. However, there are some other common ones that should also be mentioned, such as the 5 Cs of soft skills.

Communication

How you express yourself and any ideas you want to portray when you are with others is very important. Outstanding communication skills allow you, and others, to accurately and quickly understand and gather information. Clear communication avoids any misunderstandings.

Collaboration

Being collaborative requires active listening, pulling together as a team, and working towards common goals. You need to be open-minded and mindful of others’ values and opinions while showing respect.

Creativity

As a broad soft skill, being creative can range from showing divergent thinking — “thinking outside the box” — to creating a mind map when designing a software product.

Critical Thinking

This is all about thinking in a rational, logical way to solve problems in a systematic manner. You can apply critical thinking to collect data, question hypotheses, ponder thoughtful questions, and analyze potential solutions.

Curiosity

We don’t always have to channel Alice falling down the rabbit hole, but being curious can lead to the discovery of great things. If you are curious, you can expand your mind by diversifying run-of-the-mill techniques or enhancing your ability to overcome challenges by asking open-ended questions.

Soft skills really aid your job search

Setting out your soft skills on your resume in a clear and organized manner will really help you in your job search. 

As an extra aid, dive into ZipJob’s free resume review tool, where you can learn how to improve your resume even more. It’s free to use and will give you detailed guidelines on where you might be tripping out, so you can discover why your resume is not performing as it should be. It’s a no-brainer, so give it a try today!

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