Soft & Hard Skills You Need In Today’s Job Market

A few weeks ago, we hosted a Co-op Panel, at which ARBUS students shared their past experiences regarding applications and interview processes. Now, let’s dive a bit more into the employment opportunities and focus on the specific skills to add to your resume that will make you stand out to employers.

Below are the top 5 soft and hard skills that are essential in the current job market.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills, sometimes referred to as interpersonal or transferable, are the non-technical skills that relate to your emotional intelligence and are not limited to one specific job. Regardless of your seniority level or the industry in which you wish to enter, soft skills are necessary and play a big role in how employable you are as a student. They influence how well you are able to communicate with other employees, how effective you can be at your job, and how far up you can go as a leader.

Though there is a wide variety of soft skills that you may need to acquire, below are five that every employer wants to see when hiring:

1.   Communication

The ability to communicate well is essential in every single job, as it allows for you to understand and be understood by others. The great thing about communication is that we all do it already. This could involve communicating ideas to our group members during a team project, writing reports to our professors for an assignment, or even following instructions from a manual.

Some examples of communication skills include, but are not limited to active listening, verbal and written communication, presentation skills, and being able to give and receive constructive feedback.

2.   Flexibility

Flexibility simply means being able to adapt to new circumstances. As a result of the pandemic, we have all been forced to adapt to new things such as hybrid and remote learning. In a workplace, being flexible allows you to handle unexpected problems or rapid changes, specifically in fast-paced environments.

Being flexible means that you can take on new skills and tasks without being overwhelmed, which is a trait that stands out to employers and can lead to possible promotions.

3.   Teamwork

The ability to work collaboratively with others is a skill that many employers look for. Regardless of the industry, teamwork is crucial, as all businesses thrive due to a joint effort from multiple departments that keep it running.

Teamwork is built on the desire to achieve a common goal. When everyone wants their team to succeed, differences are put aside, and rather, everyone’s strengths are piled together for an effective result.

4.   Time Management

As a university student, you may already have mastered the art of time management as you juggle school, work and your social life. And if not, it’s never too late to start.

Time management is the ability to properly allocate enough time and energy towards different activities. This is where the phrase, “Work smarter, not harder” comes into play.

Completing as many tasks as you can is not necessarily an indicator of managing your time well. Sometimes, spending more time on tasks and producing quality over quantity can actually be a better indicator of good time management.

5.   Critical Thinking

This is the process of skillfully analyzing and evaluating information and using that to make an informed decision. Workplaces are filled with situations and problems that require you to be innovative and think outside the box. Thinking critically enables you to consider various perspectives, provide alternative solutions, and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each solution you propose. Employees who are capable of thinking critically have a great chance of succeeding in their careers.

What Are Hard Skills?

Hard skills are learned abilities that are often taught to us through education, mentors, and job experiences, and unlike soft skills, may only be required for specific jobs. In resumes or interviews, hard skills are demonstrated to employers through certifications, degrees or specific experiences in which these skills have been used. As we continue towards a competitive and constantly-evolving job market, it is essential that we acquire some hard skills to accompany the soft skills that we may already have.

1.   Data Analysis

Data analysis is the collection, analysis, transformation and presentation of data. Data analysts are often hired by businesses to analyze and evaluate useful information, from which important decisions can be made.

Every industry relies on data to succeed, so there are many industries in which this skill can be applied, and it’s a career that will most likely always be in demand.

Analysts must think critically, have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and must have an excellent understanding of Microsoft Excel.

2.   Microsoft Office

Software such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook may be familiar to you, as they are some of the most used computer software in the world, specifically in the workplace.

When you search for jobs, proficiency in more than one Microsoft Office product is very common to see and this is not just a coincidence. Due to how accessible Microsoft Office is worldwide, it’s normal that the majority of people know the basics of using them.

However, being an expert in more than one of their products is guaranteed to make you stand out in the workplace. It is much better for you to be an expert in one product than a beginner in all products. So, it would be in your best interest to pick one product and dedicate time to becoming a master at it.

3.   Coding

Coding is by far, one of the most essential skills to have in our current job market. It is the creation of written instructions that help a computer operate. In the past few years, it has remained one of the most in-demand skills and will remain that way for quite a long time.

Every tablet, phone or computer we use relies on code to operate. Not only does coding help you gain a better understanding of the tech industry, but it also promotes analytical and strategic thinking.

Coding can be used in jobs like technical writing, business analysis, and so much more. Rather than simply consuming technology, it would be great for you to learn coding and someday, be the one to create it.

4.   Digital Marketing

As we continue to move towards a tech-based future, we have reached the point at which offline marketing is not as effective as it used to be. Marketing is essentially forming a bond with your audience and nowadays, there is no better place to do that than the internet. Digital marketing is using online channels such as social media, websites and apps to connect customers with your product. There are many jobs that can be found in digital marketing, such as content management, marketing analysts, SEO specialists, and much more.

5.   Foreign Language Skills

Being bilingual or trilingual is one of the greatest advantages an employee can have in a workplace, now more than ever. The increase in remote and hybrid work lessens the geographical constraints that once held the job market, which means that working in a different state or country is now a possibility.

Although knowing multiple languages cannot replace the importance of other skills, it does give you many more opportunities in the workplace, especially now that there is a growing acceptance and understanding of cultural diversity.

If in addition to having other technical skills, you are also bilingual, you will almost always be considered over other monolingual applicants, even though you are equal at every other skill.

You may not yet be an expert at many of the skills listed and that is completely okay. There is so much time for you to learn and there are so many opportunities for you to showcase them in the future. The best way to build the skills you need is to prioritize which ones are important to the career you are exploring, make a list of goals, and give yourself a timeframe. Having this documented makes it much easier for you to stay on track!

In addition to learning from the courses offered in the ARBUS program, I encourage you to take advantage of LinkedIn Learning, which is free to all students at the University of Waterloo and offers a wide variety of knowledge. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to the ARBUS Society. We are always eager and willing to help!