Soft Skills – Definition & Beispiele - Definition & 12 Beispiele

Have you ever heard of soft skills? Find out what this term means here. We also have some examples and explain why soft skills are at least as important as hard skills when evaluating a candidate.

Definition: What are soft skills?

Was sind Soft Skills? — *(Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/still-life-business-roles-with-various-puzzle-pieces_24749612.htm by @freepik)*

Soft skills are personal, non-technical skills and characteristics that affect the way we interact with other people and act in social or professional situations. In contrast to Hard skills, which concern specific, measurable skills and qualifications, they are more subtle in nature and can have a significant impact on interpersonal relationships and personal development. Soft skills can be used to improve the way people work and Cultural Fit of a candidate.

Soft skills are often just as important as hard skills and can significantly impact success in both professional and personal life. They enable people to communicate effectively, build relationships and adapt in different social and professional contexts.

Soft skills: three areas

Soft skills can basically be divided into three areas:

The Personal competence describes the values you represent and the experiences that shape you. They are linked to your approach and attitude to your work. These include, for example, perseverance, ambition and passion.
To the social skills These include communication skills, helpfulness, empathy, loyalty and the willingness to work in a team. However, aspects such as the ability to accept criticism, dealing with conflicts and the ability to interpret non-verbal signals are also important.
At the methodological competence It is the ability to put the acquired hard skills into practice and to apply the acquired knowledge.

Examples of soft skills

Here are 12 examples of soft skills:

Communication skills: The ability to communicate clearly, effectively and respectfully is crucial in any social or professional situation. This includes both listening and expressing thoughts and ideas.
Teamwork: The ability to work in a team, resolve conflicts and collaborate successfully with others is important in many professional environments.

(Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/group-people-working-out-business-plan-office_5495105.htm by @senivpetro)
Conflict resolution: The ability to address conflicts constructively, mediate and find solutions without escalation or inappropriate behavior.
Empathy: Empathy means being able to put yourself in the shoes of other people and their feelings and perspectives. This allows for better understanding and more sensitive interaction with others.
Flexibility: The ability to adapt to new situations and changes is of great importance in an ever-changing world.
Problem-solving skills: Soft skills such as critical thinking, creative problem solving and decision making help to overcome challenges and find innovative solutions.
Self-regulation: The ability to control emotions and manage stress is critical to healthy and effective interactions with others.
Time management: The ability to organize time efficiently and prioritize tasks and projects contributes to productivity.
Self-motivation: Self-motivated people can set their own goals and work towards them independently, without constant supervision or external incentives.
Negotiation skills: Negotiation skills are important in professional and personal situations to achieve win-win solutions and compromises.
Empowerment: Empowerment refers to enabling others to develop their abilities and potential and creating a positive and supportive environment.
Social competence: This includes the ability to interact effectively with different types of people and to build and maintain relationships.

Further examples can be found in a statistics which examined which soft skills were most frequently required in online job advertisements in 2021.

What is clear is that many of the examples mentioned are important not only for typical employees, but also explicitly for managers. They have to keep teams together and coordinate them, for which soft skills such as teamwork, conflict resolution and social skills, but also the ability to accept criticism are essential.

Soft skills vs hard skills – which is more important?

The importance of soft skills and hard skills depends greatly on the specific job, industry and individual goals. Both types of skills are important, but they have different applications and values. Here is a comparison:

Hard skills are specific technical skills that are essential in a particular job or industry. For example, a programmer needs hard skills such as proficiency in programming languages, while a surgeon needs specific surgical skills. Hard skills are critical to being able to work effectively in a particular job, and they are often measurable and demonstrable.

Soft skills are general social and interpersonal skills that are relevant in many professional situations and in our daily lives. These include the examples given above. Soft skills affect how well we work with others, how we communicate and how we deal with challenges. They are harder to measure and prove because they can be interpreted differently in different contexts.

In terms of importance, one can say that …

Hard skills are essential in jobs or industries where specific technical knowledge and skills are crucial. For example, an engineer will not be able to perform his or her duties effectively without the necessary engineering knowledge and skills.
Soft skills are important in almost every professional activity. Even in technical professions, soft skills such as teamwork and communication are important for success. In addition, soft skills play a crucial role in management positions, as they influence interpersonal relationships and employee motivation. In addition, with the help of strong soft skills such as creativity and the ability to learn, certain hard skills can be quickly acquired.

In many cases, both hard skills and soft skills are important. Ideally, they complement each other. For example, a talented software developer with excellent hard skills but who has difficulty communicating with his team or ideas may not be as successful as a developer who has both good hard skills and strong soft skills.

The relative importance of hard skills and soft skills depends on the specific professional situation, but overall both types of skills are important and can influence success in different professional fields and positions.

How can soft skills be formulated in a CV?

As already mentioned, soft skills are difficult or impossible to prove. So how can candidates score points with them in their application letter or CV?

Here are some tips on how to phrase soft skills in your resume or cover letter:

Frau formuliert Soft Skills im Lebenslauf — *(Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/young-concentrated-businesswoman-glasses-striped-shirt-working-with-papers-home_7725040.htm by @drobotdean)*

Use precise examples: Statt allgemeine Behauptungen zu machen, zeige deine Soft Skills anhand von konkreten Beispielen auf. Du kannst etwa schreiben: „Erfolgreiches Teammitglied in einem Projekt zur Umsatzsteigerung, bei dem ich meine Teamfähigkeit und Kommunikationsfähigkeiten unter Beweis gestellt habe.“
Use meaningful verbs: Verwende aktive Verben, um deine Soft Skills zu betonen. Zum Beispiel: „Ich kommunizierte effektiv mit Kunden, um deren Anliegen zu lösen.“
Adapt soft skills to the job description: If you're applying for a specific job, tailor your soft skills to the job requirements and emphasize those that are particularly relevant to the position. For example, if the job posting emphasizes teamwork and communication skills, you should highlight those in your resume.
Mention soft skills in the cover letter: The cover letter is another opportunity to highlight your soft skills. Here you can focus on specific examples and explain how those soft skills will help you meet the job requirements.
Be honest: It's important to be honest and authentic when presenting your soft skills on your resume. Don't overdo it and make sure your soft skills match your actual skills and experience.

Overall, it is of course challenging to present personal skills in writing. The best way to demonstrate your soft skills is during a trial period and in an interview.

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