We’ve all worked with someone who is excellent at engaging with colleagues and is always dependable. This individual has honed their personal skills. They communicate effectively with others, self-express, and self-manage. Your personal skills shape not only your professional trajectory, but your private life as well. Overall, employers look for job candidates with strong personal skills because they positively contribute to the office culture, and are reliable in a variety of ways.
What Are Personal Skills?
Unlike hard skills that can be measured, like computer programming skills or legal knowledge, personal skills are soft skills—intangible qualities or traits that enhance our interactions. Compared to hard skills, soft skills are just as, if not more, important to employers, though you’ll need a mix of both. Those with strong personal skills can communicate ideas clearly and listen well to others. They also exude a positive attitude at work, which is key to any healthy company culture. Company leaders seek employees with personal skills because they are better able to implement positive outcomes for their companies. These individuals are typically more reliable, meet deadlines, and complete tasks. In addition, these subjects are motivated and passionate about their work, which contributes to their success.
Types of Personal Skills
Here’s a list of the most important personal skills that most employers look for. It also includes sublists of related skills that employers tend to seek in job applicants. Develop and emphasize them in job applications, resumes, cover letters, and interviews.
Critical Thinking
Employers want candidates who can solve problems on their own using creative thinking and make informed decisions using thoughtful analysis. Critical thinkers are useful in every industry, from healthcare and engineering to education. Whether you are a restaurant manager, an engineer, or a teacher, you need to be able to understand problems, think critically, and devise solutions. Skills required for critical thinking include creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity.
Artistic aptitude Creativity Critical observation Critical thinking Curiosity Design aptitude Desire to learn Flexibility Innovation Logical thinking Problem-solving Research Resourcefulness Thinking outside the box Tolerance of change and uncertainty Troubleshooting Value education Willingness to learn
Problem Solving
How well do you problem solve? Problem solving is going to come up in virtually every job. Employers value strong problem solvers, as they effectively and swiftly make decisions while largely keeping their emotions at bay. They gather as much information as they can and let intuition, logic, and innovative thinking drive the best solution. Being a great collaborator who is open to the ideas and opinions of others is also very important. So be sure to highlight your ability to work with others to find the best solution.
Accuracy Assertive Conflict management Decision making Diplomatic Ethical Humble Influential Insightful Intuitive Listening Patience Perceptive Practical Realistic Reflective Teamwork
Flexibility/Dependability
Dependability and flexibility work in tandem, as flexible employees are always dependable, and vice versa. Employers hire candidates who demonstrate reliability, responsibility, and trustworthiness. Flexible employees can adapt to change, take on projects outside of their scope, and shift their schedules if necessary. A flexible and dependable employee is also willing to help their colleagues with projects, even when the subject matter is unfamiliar.
Accountable Adaptability Capable Competence Dynamic Helpfulness Honesty Loyal Punctual Reliable Responsible Teachable Trustworthy
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills, also known as people skills, are those related to how you communicate and interact with those around you. Employers want employees who are compatible with their employers, their colleagues, and clients. It is a particularly important trait when collaboration is encouraged, and those who embody it will climb the ladder more quickly than their counterparts. Being a good listener is key to being a strong communicator. Employers want employees who can both share their own ideas and also listen empathetically to others. Listening is a very important skill in customer service, human resources, and in all leadership positions. Displaying such skills will impress your potential employer and could lead to future opportunities for promotions and raises.
Articulate Attentiveness Collaborative Conscientiousness Considerate Empathy Encouraging Inclusive Leadership Listening Management Negotiation Nonverbal communication Persuasion Professional Relationship building Respectful Sense of humor Sincere Sociable Storytelling Teaching Training Understanding Verbal communication Relationship building Storytelling
Intrinsically Motivated
Employers seek employees who are positive and passionate about their jobs and are motivated by internal forces. These individuals tend to put the most effort into their work and learn from their mistakes and failures. These individuals also tend to enjoy the process far more than those motivated by money and glory, thus making these candidates more pleasant to work with and trustworthy in the eyes of employers.
Ambition Alertness Amiability Confidence Dedication Dependability Determination Energy Hardworking Independent Life skills Optimism Positive Resilience Strong work ethic Productive Enterprising Visionary Passion
More Personal Skills
Take a look at some additional personal skills for resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interviews. Required skills will vary based on the job for which you’re applying, so also review our list of skills listed by job and type of skill.
AssertivenessCompassionateEffective communicatorEthicalFunctions well under pressureGenerosityGood attitudeHigh emotional intelligenceHonestIndependentIntegrityInterviewingKnowledge managementMeets deadlinesMemory skillsMotivatingPersonal developmentOutgoingPerformance managementPositive work ethicProcess improvementQuick-wittedResults-orientedSelf-awarenessSelf-supervisingStress managementTeam playerTime managementTolerantTrainableTrainingTroubleshootingWilling to accept feedbackWillingness to learnWorks well under pressure
