Understanding the Importance of Soft Skills for Career Success
Soft skills are non-technical abilities such as interpersonal behaviors, personality traits, and capabilities that help you excel in your role at work and achieve success in the workplace. These skills are developed throughout life and enhanced during your career. Soft skills are transferable from job to job and across industries, making them critical for career advancement.
A 2018 LinkedIn Learning report revealed that 92% of executives believe soft skills are equally or more important than technical skills. However, 89% of executives find it challenging to find candidates with strong soft skills. Additionally, a 2017 Deloitte Access Economics
report projects that nearly 70% of all jobs in 2030 will require soft skill-intensive occupations, such as engineers, community and personal service workers, and sales representatives. These findings underscore the importance of continually improving and updating your soft skills.
Given the significance of soft skills, there has been a growing focus on identifying the most essential soft skills for employees. The National Skills Commission has outlined ten core competencies, also known as foundational skills, enterprise skills, and employability skills, which are required for every occupation in Australia. Understanding these skills can be highly beneficial when applying for jobs and advancing your career.
The ten core competencies defined by the National Skills Commission are as follows:
| Teamwork | Working effectively with others and personally connecting with others for work and learning.
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| Initiative and innovation | Taking on responsibilities and challenges, being able to start up and carry out projects and generating options to cope with changes.
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| Planning and organising | Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise and complete work and learning.
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| Oral communication | Talking to others to convey information effectively, giving full attention to what other people are saying and understanding the conversation
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| Digital literacy | Identifying and using technology (including hardware and software) confidently, creatively and critically.
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| Reading | Interpreting, comprehending and interacting with written words.
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| Writing | Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
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| Problem solving | Identifying problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
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| Learning | Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
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| Numeracy | Understanding numbers and using mathematics to solve problems.
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Source: National Skills Commission, 2020. A snapshot in time: The Australian labour market and COVID-19
Incorporating Soft Skills into Your CV/Resume
When crafting your CV or resume for a specific job, include a list of relevant soft skills you can offer the employer. While there are no strict rules for showcasing your skills, listing the top four to five soft skills in the Profile or Professional Summary section of your CV or resume is an effective approach.
How to Strengthen Your Soft Skills
If you feel that your soft skills need further development, try Skillset’s suggestions for making some improvements in this area.
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