Researchers have long been fascinated by the differences between hard and soft skills – and how they affect your chances of having a successful career.
The latest research suggests that soft skills are just as important as those hard skills we spend years acquiring at school or university. Some studies even suggest that soft skills, such as having good teamwork, will get recruiters’ attention more than having a degree. So, what’s the full story?
Hard Skills Vs Soft Skills
Hard skills are the types of skills that we have to learn, such as coding, plumbing or spelling. These skills must be learned, and they are always measurable. For example, someone may have a certificate in coding that is a level above or below another professional coder.
Soft skills are different, they are things that we can learn through experiences but often stem from our personality. Unlike the above, they are also easier to apply to multiple jobs. Some examples include leadership, empathy, negotiation and communication. All of these can contribute to an overall skill of being able to work together effectively.
Why Soft Skills Make Us More Employable
It can be easy to assume that the qualification we spend years working towards is what will make the difference in our careers. Throwing a graduation hat into the air will be a cornerstone moment which puts us on a path for a new challenge with improved wealth.
However, research has found that developing soft skills like working in a team may be better for our careers than those hard qualifications. One study even found that recruiters now value soft skills above hard skills. And another piece of research even uncovered that soft skills and hard skills both increase income by around 9%.
The bottom line is that having good teamwork, which is required in many professions from courier services to marketing teams, will make you more employable – and maybe even more so than expensive qualifications!
Demand for Hard Skills Changes
Hard skills change quickly as demands from the job market move rapidly. A recent survey carried out by LinkedIn found that blockchain development is the most demanded hard skill of recent times, despite it not even being on the radar 12 months before.
This makes soft skills such as teamwork even more important. Although industries may require new professionals with trailblazing hard skills, soft skills remain consistent throughout time. Ultimately, having good soft skills puts you in the running for jobs over the long term.
How to Develop Your Teamwork Skills
If the thought of edging ahead in the jobs seeking race with soft skills gets you excited, you will be pleased to know that developing teamwork is not as costly or difficult as hard skills. There are courses out there you can try, but developing teamwork can also be achieved through:
- Grasping opportunities to work in teams
- Volunteering for groups
- Taking up sporting activities
- Asking your employer for resources
Whatever you do to improve your teamwork skills, make sure you reflect on experiences and identify ways to improve going forward.