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The difference
| Hard skills | Soft skills | |
|---|---|---|
| What | Teachable, testable abilities and tools | Ways you work with people and handle tasks |
| Examples | Excel, forklift operation, bookkeeping, SQL, phlebotomy, Spanish | Communication, teamwork, time management, problem solving, adaptability |
| How to show | Skills list, plus a bullet where you used it | A bullet showing it in action |
The UK National Careers Service says soft skills are also called transferable or employability skills, and names communication, leadership, positivity, flexibility and problem solving among those employers look for. O*NET rates skills such as active listening, critical thinking and time management for each occupation it covers (O*NET skills).
Show, don't just list
Listing "great communicator" proves little. A bullet that shows it does more.
Instead of "Strong communicator": "Explained new return rules to customers at the service desk and answered their questions."
Find which ones a job wants
- Read the requirements: hard skills are usually named tools, licences or methods.
- Soft skills often appear in the "about you" part.
- Paste the ad and your resume into the checker on this page to see which keywords match.
Lists by job: resume keywords by job title.
Related: Skills to put on a resume · ATS keywords · Action verbs. Check your resume with the free ATS resume checker.
Sources
- National Careers Service (UK): Develop your soft skills
- O*NET OnLine: Skills (US Department of Labor)
Advice differs by employer and country. Follow the job ad when it asks for something specific.
FAQ
What is the difference between hard and soft skills?
Hard skills are teachable, testable abilities like Excel or bookkeeping. Soft skills are how you work with people and tasks, like communication.
Which matter more?
Most jobs ask for both. Hard skills are often the "required" list; soft skills show how you work.
How do I prove soft skills on a resume?
Write a bullet that shows the skill in action instead of just naming it.
Check your resume against a real job
Paste your resume and a job listing. Get a 0 to 100 fit score, matched and missing keywords, and section checks. Free, no signup, runs in your browser, no AI.
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