Hard skills and soft skills are both important in the workplace, but they represent different types of abilities that someone can bring to the table. Here are the key differences between hard skills and soft skills:
Hard Skills
- Teachable and measurable abilities, such as writing, reading, math, or ability to use computer programs
- Usually obtained through hands-on experience or education
- Job-specific abilities acquired through education and training
- Easier to quantify than soft skills
- Often applicable to a certain career
Soft Skills
- Personal qualities and traits that impact how you work
- More akin to personality traits that you have naturally developed throughout your life
- General personality traits, such as leadership, communication, teamwork, critical thinking, integrity, adaptability, professionalism, creativity, resilience, dependability, empathy, and organization
- Necessary for most jobs
- Transferable to any type of job
While hard skills are important for performing specific responsibilities, soft skills are highly valued by employers and can have a significant impact on a persons ability to work effectively in a team, communicate with others, and adapt to new situations. Its important to have a good mix of both hard and soft skills in every employee so that they can be successful in their role.