Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

In resume writing, you are required to list your most relevant skills. Although each skill is important, they are not all equal.

There are actually two types of skills that employers want you to include in your resume—hard skills and soft skills. Understanding the difference between hard skills vs soft skills will not only make your resume easier to scan, but also tell the recruiter that you know what you’re talking about. This, in turn, will help you stand out from the pack. Below, we’ll explain the difference between hard and soft skills, provide examples, and show you how to highlight your skills on your resume and in interviews.

What Are Hard Skills?

Hard or technical skills refer to the specific knowledge and training you've acquired through various life experiences, including education and career. They are abilities that one learns from school, training, seminars, and other learning resources. These skills are often measurable and specific to particular tasks, and recruiters frequently use them to select and hire applicants. If you want to work as an IT technician, for instance, you will typically need a Bachelor’s degree in a computer field, and even job experience for a certain number of years.

Each career demands particular technical skills tailored to its industry. For some professions, like lawyers and doctors, you need advanced degrees and rigorous testing to prove your hard skills. For others, like web developers or copywriters, you can learn the skills on your own or on the job and prove your hard skills with a portfolio of work.

Examples of Hard Skills:

Here's a short list of hard skills you can put on a resume:

• Experience with certain platforms or software

• Ability to work with different programming languages (JavaScript, etc.)

• Statistical and data analysis

• Copywriting

• Healthcare-related certifications or licenses

• Coding

• User interface (UI) design

• Budgeting

• Copyediting

• Speaking foreign languages

• Working with certain machinery

Hard skills are also especially important to applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen your resume and determine if it deserves to be seen by a recruiter. The importance of hard skills on your resume cannot be overstated because they are considered ‘keywords’ by ATS, so when writing hard skills for a resume, be sure you write them exactly as they’re written in the job posting to boost your chances of passing the ATS screening.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills, also known as ‘people skills,’ ‘personality traits,’ are the abilities you develop throughout your entire life. They relate to how you interact with others and why you are motivated to do certain things. Examples of soft skills include:

• Adaptability

• Conflict resolution

• Communication

• Teamwork

• Leadership

• Work ethic

Although these interpersonal skills are unmeasurable, they are still valuable in the workplace.

Difference Between Hard and Soft Skills

The key differences between hard and soft skills lie in how you acquire them and use them at work. Aside from being teachable, hard skills are quantifiable. It’s easy for recruiters to know you have them because learners can be certified, licensed, or registered. For instance, coding is a hard skill learned through courses, training, or practical experience. Certain hard skills may even be required for specific jobs. Coding is crucial for a developer or web designer but less relevant for an administrative assistant or project manager.

In contrast, soft skills are the qualities that make you a good employee because they are more about your personal traits and how you interact with others. Unlike hard skills, you generally don't learn soft skills through formal education or training — they develop naturally over time. However, you can still improve your soft skills, just like with hard skills.

Most jobs require some level of soft skills. Some of the hardest jobs in the world, including health care professionals, developers, administrative assistants, project managers, and web designers, all benefit from relationship-building skills, though the degree of necessity may vary.

When you understand the distinction between hard and soft skills, deciding which skills to emphasize on your resume or during an interview will be easier.

List Both Hard and Soft Skills Clearly in Your Resume

To impress a recruiter, ensure your resume highlights your hard and soft skills by detailing your achievements. For instance, instead of saying you were in charge of quality control at your old job, say that your input helped reduce inspection times by 30 percent. Add a separate section for any major award you received so that the recruiter can better understand your capabilities.

Enhance Your Resume With a Smartly Written Cover Letter

Your cover letter is more than just an introduction — it's a chance to emphasize your skills and enthusiasm for the job you're applying for. That said, you must consciously try to avoid repeating what you’ve already said in your resume. Instead, use your cover letter to tell a compelling story that makes the recruiter want to learn more about you. By leveraging executive resume writing techniques, you can craft a narrative that highlights your unique qualifications. Use your story to link your skills with your enthusiasm and motivation to work for them, making your application memorable.

Elaborate on Your Hard and Soft Skills During Your Interview

Once you land an interview, you can shine a spotlight on your hard and soft skills even further. Bring relevant diplomas, certificates, or licenses to demonstrate your hard skills, and be ready to discuss your accomplishments in detail. Meanwhile, you can showcase your soft skills by being punctual, maintaining eye contact, asking thoughtful questions, and answering even the trickiest job interview questions in a positive and confident manner.

Let Resumeble Work For You

All of this can sound overwhelming, but don’t despair. Resumeble has a team of in-house professional resume writers who can work with you one-on-one to ensure your soft and hard skills are presented in the best light possible. Send us your resume today for a free analysis. Our resume writing services come with a 60-day interview guarantee because we’re with you all the way. Contact us today.