What are hard and soft skills?  

Hard skills are more tangible, they give a specific type of technical knowledge, whereas soft skills refer to more of a personality trait.

I have provided examples below:

Examples of Hard Skills: 

• High School Diploma
• College Degree
• Certificate
  • Massage Therapy
  • Management
  • Grad School
• Foreign Language
• Software knowledge
  • Microsoft Word
  • Propriety Software
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
• Certifications
  • Accounting
  • Completion of a computer Course
• Ability to operate machinery/computers
  • Forklift
  • Remote control cranes
  • Typing speed (40-45 words per minute)
  • Operating a cash register

Examples of Soft Skills:

• Effective communication skills
• Organizational skills
• Leadership qualities
• Research techniques
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Problem Solving or Troubleshooting
• Conflict Resolution

**** When you put soft skills on your resume, make sure you can explain them in detail!  The person or people who interview you will expect you to provide solid examples of how you might possess good leadership qualities, how you might handle conflict, and what types of research techniques do you utilize for certain projects.  Anyone can put these on their resume, but you have to be certain that you actually possess this skill!

Combining hard and soft skill keywords, examples:

• Project Management and Client Relations
• Employee Supervision and Scheduling
• Team Leadership and Data Analysis
• Training and Teamwork
• Business Development and Personal Presence
• Qualitative Research and Writing Skills

For more information, visit:

• Fingerprint for Success: “Hard skills vs. soft skills: Which matter more in the future of work?”
• Find My Profession: “Most Important Skills for a Resume (Hard & Soft Skills)”
• Job Scan: “Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills (and How to Use Them on Your Resume)”
• Indeed: “Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills”
• LinkedIn: “The Most In-Demand Hard and Soft Skills of 2020”

Judy Jones

Judy is a certified Career Facilitator. She has worked with many patrons over the past four years assisting them in writing effective resumes and cover letters. She has guided individuals through the online job application process and has helped them register for Ohio Means Jobs. If you need assistance or would like to send her your resume for review, please email her at jjjones@libraryvisit.org. If you would like to call her to book an appointment, please call 330-744-8636. Judy in also an avid Anglophile! She likes to read British History, fiction and non-fiction, likes to watch TV shows and movies related to British History and often likes to pick at the historical accuracy of such shows.