Soft skills: what they are and how they can change your relationship with the job market
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 8:16 am
In recent years, universities and other segments of the corporate world have encouraged discussions about the importance of developing more effective human capital. This position reflects the need for employees to meet these work demands more assertively. Therefore, it has become important for today's professionals to also develop aspects that go beyond the technical dimension.
Soft skills vs. hard skills
The word “skills” comes from English and is translated as the ability or skill to do a good job. This skill can be divided into two areas: interpersonal and technical. Soft skills are subjective interpersonal skills, difficult to identify and directly related to people’s emotional intelligence, and are defined as “non-technical skills related to work”. These are usually acquired through experiences over time, and not in books and courses. They are different from the so-called “hard skills” – those that are specific to each area, usually included in the curriculum and learned in courses, colleges, schools or other jobs.
Hard skills are technical skills, abilities that can be taught and developed student database in corporate training or qualifications to improve professional qualifications. Examples include proficiency in a foreign language, a degree, computer-related skills, among others.
4 soft skills that every good professional should have
After understanding the difference between the two terms, it is important to highlight the benefits of developing soft skills. According to Forbes magazine, soft skills are no longer desirable and have become essential when it comes to hiring new employees for a company, which reinforces the importance of the new generation of professionals adapting to market demands. With this in mind, we have selected some essential interpersonal skills.
1. Working under pressure : good professionals know how to manage stress without losing focus. This skill is directly related to adaptability in the face of changes and everyday obstacles, and also has a connection with resilience, a term that was constantly addressed throughout 2020.
2. Interpersonal communication : professionals who convey information or ideas clearly while knowing when to listen and doing so attentively are recognized for this. This skill is related to the practice of active listening and feedback.
3. Team leadership : people who know how to engage, motivate, inspire and develop talent are highly valued professionally, as every organization needs leaders. In this sense, it is important to emphasize that good leaders are concerned not only with results, but with the individual development of the team.
Soft skills vs. hard skills
The word “skills” comes from English and is translated as the ability or skill to do a good job. This skill can be divided into two areas: interpersonal and technical. Soft skills are subjective interpersonal skills, difficult to identify and directly related to people’s emotional intelligence, and are defined as “non-technical skills related to work”. These are usually acquired through experiences over time, and not in books and courses. They are different from the so-called “hard skills” – those that are specific to each area, usually included in the curriculum and learned in courses, colleges, schools or other jobs.
Hard skills are technical skills, abilities that can be taught and developed student database in corporate training or qualifications to improve professional qualifications. Examples include proficiency in a foreign language, a degree, computer-related skills, among others.
4 soft skills that every good professional should have
After understanding the difference between the two terms, it is important to highlight the benefits of developing soft skills. According to Forbes magazine, soft skills are no longer desirable and have become essential when it comes to hiring new employees for a company, which reinforces the importance of the new generation of professionals adapting to market demands. With this in mind, we have selected some essential interpersonal skills.
1. Working under pressure : good professionals know how to manage stress without losing focus. This skill is directly related to adaptability in the face of changes and everyday obstacles, and also has a connection with resilience, a term that was constantly addressed throughout 2020.
2. Interpersonal communication : professionals who convey information or ideas clearly while knowing when to listen and doing so attentively are recognized for this. This skill is related to the practice of active listening and feedback.
3. Team leadership : people who know how to engage, motivate, inspire and develop talent are highly valued professionally, as every organization needs leaders. In this sense, it is important to emphasize that good leaders are concerned not only with results, but with the individual development of the team.