While hiring prospective employees, every company looks for a hire who possesses technical know-how to carry out the task. This is something that must be present. However, above this, an employer should not overlook the presence of some personality traits that will direct the organization on the path of success. Soft skills pertaining to communication, problem-solving, teamwork, conflict resolution, etc. are quintessential to cultivate especially in the new hires. A perfect amalgamation of both hard skills as well as soft skills will let you successfully perform and advance in most jobs.
How both the skills differ from each other? Have a look at the underlying differences between both.
Understanding the Concept
Hard Skills
Hard skills are termed as technical knowledge or abilities required to perform a specific job. They are easy to quantify and measure. For an instance, to become a Mathematics teacher you need to be well versed with the subject’s concepts and terminology. Usually, hard skills are honed with continuous study, experience, and certifications.
Soft Skills
Soft Skills are termed as interpersonal skills, personality traits, and a person’s abilities that ensure how long you will stay connected in your workplace. Skills like leadership traits, problem-solving, teamwork, etc. not only create a positive and functional work environment but also make the company highly competitive.
Instances
Hard Skills
Every job requires a certain hard skill to accomplish task. For example, if you are in the retail sector, you should be well acquainted with the point of sale system. However, if you are in the accounts department, you need to be familiar with computer software.
Here is a list of some of the common hard skills that are highly in demand.
- Mobile development
- User interface design
- Database management
- Adobe software suite
- Network security
- Programming languages
Soft Skills
Listing soft skills in your resume, demonstrating them in an interview, and developing them in the workplace can support your career and open you to new opportunities. In every department and job role, employees must hone their interpersonal skills.
Below is a list of top online soft skills which are highly in demand in every job sector.
- Communication
- Team Work
- Leadership
- Conflict Resolution
- Critical Thinking
- Adaptability
- Empathy
Why are they Essential?
Hard Skills– Hard Skills are required to get the task done as it is supposed to be. You wouldn’t hire a plumber if he doesn’t know how to fix a faucet or get the leakage repair done. Or you wouldn’t visit a doctor if he doesn’t possess the necessary knowledge and degree to treat the patient. Therefore, the hard skills ensure that the person is professional in his field.
Soft Skills– As per the 2021 Outlook survey, it has been revealed that recruiters chose soft skills topped by dependability, teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving as the most important skills they are seeking in new hires. If you want to stay in a job for a long span of time and take the company to the next level, soft skills play an indispensable role.
For example, if you don’t know how to communicate with the manager and adapt the new policies of the company, you might fail as an employee.
How they are gained?
Hard Skills – Hard Skills are gained through formal academic education or a training program that caters to developing the knowledge and technical skills of a person. A previous work experience also counts in the development of hard skills.
Soft Skills– Every organization must custom make a soft skill training program to inculcate those skills in their new hires. This requires expert assistance who can design the soft skill course as per the needs and requirements of the specific employee. You can also consider e-learning options that start with the proper analysis that can help the developers decide which approach will work best.
Balancing Hard skills and Soft skills
To progress in your career, you need to have a blend of both hard skills as well as soft skills. Hard skills are quintessential to excel in a task and perform it with perfection while soft skills will let you retain in that task. In today’s competitive world, every employer looks for a candidate expert in a certain hard skill required by the position. However, if that person is unable to work well in collaboration with others, then no matter how talented he is, there are going to be problems.
If you are planning new hiring of long-term employees, get in touch with Dynamic Pixel. We tailor-make soft skill training courses that work perfectly well for your organization’s goals.