What are "Hard Skills"?
Hard skills are technical abilities required to complete tasks using a predefined process, methodology, procedure, or technique. They usually involve the use of tools, software, or some form of technical equipment.
These skills are typically acquired through professional, technical, or academic education, often leading to certification. Certification is awarded after passing an exam or assessment. This leads us to another characteristic of hard skills: they can be easily measured, tested, and classified.
Hard skills are industry-specific. Therefore, they are not easily transferable across organizational roles or industries. However, in some cases, transferability is possible.
Some examples of hard skills include foreign languages, university or college degrees, industry certifications, programming, SEO, accounting, driving, cooking, and so on.
What are "Soft Skills"?
In contrast, there are the so-called "soft skills," also known as "personal attributes." These do not require the use of machinery or technical knowledge. They can be learned through experiences from the very first day of our lives and are easily transferable. Some people are naturally better at mastering certain soft skills. Some examples of soft skills include communication skills, leadership qualities, analytical thinking, proactive abilities, teamwork, self-motivation, and so on. In recent years, employers have increasingly valued soft skills, considering them a reliable indicator of success.
Hard skills are crucial in a resume as employers demand them to see if you have the necessary expertise for the job. However, they alone do not guarantee a successful match with the position or determine future success. If you want to be a desirable candidate, you should create a comprehensive resume that includes both hard and soft skills.
Common pitfalls when dealing with hard skills
Include relevant hard skills: The biggest misconception is about which skills to include in your resume. Most people simply include everything they have. Remember that the hiring manager has only a few seconds to decide if you are worth further screening. Focus on quality, not quantity. Include only skills that are relevant to the job posting.
PRO TIP: This advice applies only to the SKILLS section. Do not leave empty fields in the work experience section. This is a red flag for the hiring manager. However, to avoid overwhelming the hiring manager with a wall of text, highlight the relevant work experience in more detail while providing an outline for the irrelevant ones.
Avoid difficult skills you are not proficient in: As mentioned earlier, difficult skills can be easily tested and measured, so it's a good idea to avoid skills you are not proficient in. You might get unlucky and be tested on the exact skill you are not good at, which could negatively impact your overall performance.
How to list internet, computer, or MS Office skills: To avoid your skills being seen as fluff, you should not include commonly expected skills like Excel, Word, etc. These skills are expected of everyone, just as we expect everyone to be able to read and write.
But what if the job description mentions some of them? In that case, you should definitely list them, providing specific and relevant details. For example, when talking about computer or internet skills, be specific and list things like MySQL, CSS, WordPress, HTML, etc.
Do not list outdated skills: Do not include software or programming languages in your resume that are no longer in use today. The employer will get the impression that you are not willing to learn new things or lack adaptability. Read the job posting carefully and exclude outdated programming languages.
How to include a foreign language: There's a good chance that an interviewer speaks a language you list and tries to start a conversation. Languages that you have elementary knowledge of are irrelevant to the employer in a professional context.
PRO TIP: Avoid including these language classifications in your resume: Beginner (A1), Basic Proficiency (A2/B1)
Summary
The truth is, no matter how good your hard skills are, you won't get the job or at least won't keep it for long if you don't also possess the necessary soft skills that help you make the most of your hard skills.
The keywords here are "combination" and "balance." What good is it if you are fluent in a language but lack good communication skills? Regardless of the hard skills you have, you always need to support them with certificates and examples. Make sure to write a high-quality resume that is tailored to the job posting, rather than creating a self-promoting, egocentric brochure.