The difference between soft skills and hard skills lies in their nature and how they are acquired and used in the workplace. Hard skills are technical knowledge or training that a person gains through education, training, or specific life experiences. They are measurable and job-specific competencies, such as knowing how to use software, programming languages, accounting, or operating machinery. Hard skills are often listed in job descriptions and can be tested or evaluated during hiring processes. Soft skills, on the other hand, are personal habits, traits, and interpersonal abilities that influence how an individual works with others and manages tasks. These include communication, leadership, adaptability, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Soft skills are less tangible and harder to quantify, often developed over a lifetime through experiences and social interactions. They are transferable across different jobs and industries. In summary:

• Hard skills = technical, teachable, measurable, job-specific (e.g., coding, accounting)
• Soft skills = interpersonal, personality traits, difficult to measure, transferable (e.g., communication, empathy)

Both types of skills are essential for success in most jobs, as hard skills enable one to perform specific tasks, while soft skills help in effectively collaborating and navigating workplace dynamics.