Top 10 Soft Skills for Your Resume with Examples
Kathy, a UX designer, had been struggling to land interviews despite her impressive technical skills. Realizing her resume lacked personality, she decided to emphasize her soft skills. In her next application, Kathy showcased her ability to communicate by detailing how she presented user research findings to a room of stakeholders, resulting in a strong consensus for expedited execution. She also illustrated her teamwork skills, explaining how she collaborated with developers and product managers to meet a tight three-week deadline for a major feature launch. These changes not only landed Kathy an interview but also gave her the confidence and talking points she needed to ace it, ultimately securing her job.
Soft skills are the glue that holds your professional persona together. They’re the traits and abilities that define how you interact, solve problems, and contribute to a team. Highlighting these skills on your resume can make a lasting impression on hiring managers, especially when paired with relevant examples.
These are the top 10 in-demand soft skills, but avoid listing them on your resume without examples: communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, time management, leadership, customer service, work ethic, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution.
1. Communication
Why it matters: Clear communication is essential in nearly every job.
How to showcase it:
Use bullet points that highlight achievements involving presentations, reports, or collaboration.
Example: “Drafted and delivered concise weekly team updates to 20+ stakeholders from different departments to improve cross-functional alignment on project goals”
2. Teamwork
Why it matters: Employers value individuals who can work well with others to achieve a common goal.
How to showcase it:
Focus on collaborative achievements.
Example: “Collaborated with a cross-functional team of 12 members, including marketing, design, and engineering, to launch a new product, achieving a 15% increase in sales.”
3. Adaptability
Why it matters: Being flexible and open to change is critical in fast-paced environments.
How to showcase it:
Highlight experiences where you adapted to new tools, processes, or roles.
Example: “Learned and set up ActiveCampaign automation flows within two weeks, automating customer service email and reducing response times by 20%”
4. Problem-Solving
Why it matters: Employers want staff who can identify and resolve challenges effectively.
How to showcase it:
Use examples that emphasize innovative or efficient solutions.
Example: “Implemented a just-in-time inventory system for outsole production, resolving delays and reducing delivery times from 10 days to 8 days.”
5. Time Management
Why it matters: Deadlines are a reality in every workplace, and managing your time effectively is key.
How to showcase it:
Highlight instances where prioritization or scheduling led to success.
Example: “Managed 3 projects for Nike’s seasonal product launches using Asana for detailed scheduling and milestone tracking, delivering all projects on time.“
6. Leadership
Why it matters: Leadership isn’t just about titles; it’s about taking initiative, driving projects forward, and influencing outcomes.
How to showcase it:
Include examples of mentoring, guiding teams, or leading initiatives.
Example: “Led a team of five to execute a marketing campaign for Nike’s annual running event, generating 100,000 social media engagements and driving 2,000 event sign-ups within two weeks.”
7. Customer Service
Why it matters: Customer satisfaction directly impacts a company’s reputation and success.
How to showcase it:
Focus on how you built relationships and resolved issues.
Example: “Resolved an average of 10 customer complaints per day with a 95% satisfaction rate”
8. Work Ethic
Why it matters: Employers value reliability and dedication.
How to showcase it:
Highlight achievements that required perseverance or going above and beyond.
Example: “Volunteered for additional responsibilities during a staffing shortage, ensuring projects remained on track.”
9. Emotional Intelligence
Why it matters: The ability to manage emotions and empathize with others is vital for workplace harmony.
How to showcase it:
Use examples that reflect interpersonal awareness and sensitivity.
Example: “Mediated team conflicts effectively, resolving communication breakdowns during a high-pressure product launch to maintain a productive work environment.”
10. Conflict Resolution
Why it matters: Disagreements are inevitable; what matters is how they’re handled.
How to showcase it:
Share instances where you turned conflicts into productive outcomes.
Example: “Negotiated a solution between departments, avoiding delays and saving the company $10,000.”
Final Tips
Soft skills can make a real difference in how employers perceive your fit for a role, but they need to be presented effectively. Keep these tips in mind when adding them to your resume:
Be specific: Vague claims like “strong communication skills” don’t carry weight without examples. When having to list it as a line item, pick a very specific communication skill, e.g., public speaking.
Tailor to the job: Highlight the soft skills most relevant to the role you’re applying for.
Integrate into achievements: Instead of listing skills separately, weave them into your work experience and accomplishments.
By thoughtfully incorporating soft skills into your resume, you’ll present yourself as a well-rounded candidate who’s ready to contribute effectively to any workplace.
