Soft Skills vs Hard Skills: What's the Difference and Examples

Soft skills vs hard skills: read the text and find out what they are, and also check out some examples that will help you better understand the subject. 

Have you ever heard of soft skills and hard skills? These terms have been used a lot lately, especially in job descriptions. 

However, many professionals still do not know what they mean, their importance and what the difference is between these two terms. 

To get started, I would like to point out that, despite having terms that are difficult to pronounce, they are much simpler than you might imagine. 

Continue reading and find out what they are and some examples. 

What will you find in this text?

• Soft skills vs hard skills: what are the differences?
• Examples of soft skills;
• 1. Creativity;
• 2. Persuasion;
• 3. Proactivity;
• Examples of hard skills;
• 1. Fluent English;
• 2. Office package;
• 3. Information Technology;
• Conclusion. 

Soft skills vs hard skills: what are the differences?

The main difference is that the soft skills refers to the behavioral skills a person has. 

These can be personality traits, qualities, strengths, social or emotional skills (further examples).

You soft skills are closely linked to how we treat people and also how we behave in situations, which is why companies value some things a lot. soft skills.

This is because they are very important for the development of the organization, achieving goals and also ensuring harmony among team members. 

Generally, soft skills are much more in demand than hard skills. To understand this better, you need to find out what they are. hard skills.  

Hard skills are the technical skills or competencies that a professional possesses and can be proven by diplomas, certificates, courses, time of experience in the portfolio, etc. 

As I said before, soft skills are more valued because they are linked to a professional's interpersonal skills.

For example, what's the point of having a professional with a degree on the team, but who doesn't have emotional intelligence, doesn't know how to work in a team or listen?

Certainly, the entire team will be affected, and as a result, the company's development will be affected as well. 

Examples of soft skills

As already said, soft skills are behavioral skills, in particular, interpersonal. 

Therefore, they are increasingly valued by large companies, including transferable skills, that is, they can be used in different professions or careers. 

Therefore, if you want to stand out in the job market and make your CV more competitive, see below some examples of soft skills most desired by recruiters. 

1. Creativity

Creativity is a skill that is highly sought after by large companies. Having creative thinking will give you more prominence and success in the development of your activities. 

It can be a natural talent, however, it can also be acquired with practice and persistence. 

Read the text and find out🔜 how to develop creativity at work.

2. Persuasion 

Persuasion is a skill that is necessary in all areas of our lives. In the job market, a persuasive professional can be a great asset to a team, especially in the sales department. 

A persuasive person has the power to engage and convince with great ease and charm. 

In fact, this skill can also be developed by taking a few steps. Read the text and find out What is the power of persuasion and how to exercise it during your career. 

3. Proactivity

A proactive person can anticipate problems and present solutions effectively and quickly. 

Furthermore, this professional knows how to organize their ideas and plan the next step efficiently. 

Certainly, a team greatly benefits from a proactive employee, it is no wonder that this soft skill is highly valued by companies. 

Read the text and find out🔜 How to be a more proactive person in the workplace, thus making your professional profile even more competitive. 

In addition to the options mentioned above, there are other behavioral skills required by large and small companies, for example:

• Empathy;
• Leadership;
• Teamwork;
• Communication;
• Positivity;
• Emotional intelligence;
• Motivation;
• Patience;
• Transparency;
• Time management.

Examples of hard skills

Soft skills vs hard skills: important behavioral and technical skills in your career

To the hard skills are technical skills that can be learned and proven in different ways, for example, courses. 

Therefore, anyone can develop it too. There are some hard skills that can also be transferable. 

See some examples.

1. Fluent English

Being fluent in English can provide you with many benefits in your career, including: 

• Better opportunities and salaries;
• Stand out from the rest;
• Build international career.

This technical competence can be easily acquired through technical courses or even graduation. 

You can even find free basic or even intermediate level courses on the internet. 

Being fluent in English can certainly be useful in a variety of careers and professions, and can also facilitate a career transition with better conditions. 

2. Office Package

The Office suite is a program with several office applications with different productivity sub-programs. Professionals who master these tools know how to process texts, create spreadsheets, metrics, graphic presentations and much more. 

This skill can be useful in different professions and will also make your professional profile more attractive. 

You can learn how to use the Office Package through free courses, for example, at Bradesco Foundation. 

CONTINUE

3. Information Technology

This professional can work in different areas and perform various functions. This career is very popular and there is a demand for candidates with this hard skills is very big. 

Therefore, it is worth getting to know the profession and seeing if you are technically compatible with any of the functions. See below for other examples of hard skills:

• People management;
• CSS Mastery;
• Project management;
• Image editing;
• Operation of machines and systems;
• Creative or technical writing;
• Mathematical calculation skills;
• UX Design.

Conclusion

As you can see soft skills and hard skills are essential for our career. In the past, recruiters selected professionals based on their technical skills, that is, hard skills. 

However, in the new job market, behavioral skills are highly valued and can even be eliminatory in a selection process. 

Therefore, study and always seek to improve your resume, however, do not forget to know yourself to know how to highlight your behavioral skills in a job interview. 

Nara Sampaio July 5, 2022