During a recruitment process , the professionals in charge of choosing the right person for the job make a complete evaluation of this person. They do this based on an analysis of their curriculum and on the interview with the candidate for the position.

But this evaluation is not only limited to his or her training or professional experience. The skills that differentiate this person from the rest are increasingly important. They are known as “hard skills” and “soft skills” but what do these skills consist of and what are they different from?

Soft skills” and “hard skills” in the world of work

Despite the fact that both “hard skills” and “soft skills” are acquired throughout life and not only in education or formal training, they are made relevant in the world of work, specifically in the selection processes of personnel and in the development of work tasks.

1. “Hard skills”

By “hard skills” we mean all the knowledge acquired through formal educational training, as well as through professional experience. These skills can be taught in academic settings.

Generally, the person learns the “hard skills” in the classroom, through the use of a book or other materials , or at work through constant repetition of the task. We can say that hard skills are all those concrete abilities that allow a certain task or job to be carried out.

Finally, these skills are easy to quantify, so they tend to stand out in resumes and cover letters. In addition, they are easily recognizable by the people making the selection.

Among the “hard skills” we find:

  • Academic degrees or certificates
  • Foreign language skills
  • Typing skills
  • Computer programming
  • Handling of industrial machinery

2. “Soft skills”

On the other hand, “soft skills” are much more difficult to quantify and refer to the interpersonal and social skills that the person who opts for the job has. These soft skills are manifested in the different ways in which someone relates to and interacts with others.

These skills are not learned in academia, but are acquired throughout a person’s life, in their day-to-day lives. Moreover, they are directly related to the concept of emotional intelligence and are conditioned by the person’s personality and the development of his or her social skills.

Some examples of “soft skills” are:

  • Communication skills
  • Flexibility
  • Leadership skills
  • Motivation
  • Patience
  • Persuasiveness
  • Problem solving skills
  • Teamwork
  • Time management
  • Work ethic

Key differences between them

Although with the mere description of these we can already get an idea of the main differences between “soft skills” and “hard skills”, there are three key differences between them that make them more or less important depending largely on the position for which you are applying and the type of career you want to develop.

1. Each requires different intelligences

Traditionally, being good at hard skills is associated with general intelligence or IQ level, while being good at soft skills requires more training or emotional intelligence.

2. Hard skills” are considered equally in all companies

Hard skills are skills where the rules or consideration tend to be the same in most companies that require them . In contrast, soft skills are abilities or skills that are considered differently according to the culture of the company and the people with whom you work.

3. They require different learning processes

As we mentioned, “hard skills” can be learned in schools, academies and universities. That is to say, they start from a regulated training and there are different levels of competence, as well as a pre-established path to learn each one of them.

In comparison, there is no standardized path or procedure for the acquisition of the interpersonal skills typical of “soft skills”. Most soft skills must be learned in contexts of human interaction and almost always by trial and error.

However, there are many books and guides that allow people to know and practice the basic aspects of social skills, although they will always be conditioned by the personality of the subject.

Which are more important?

The answer to this question will depend, to a large extent, on the job you aspire to and the career you intend to pursue.

There are three different types of careers that can be classified into the following categories:

1. Careers that require high “hard skills” and few “soft skills”

Such as careers within the world of theoretical research. In this environment those people with brilliant knowledge but who may not work well in a team or with other people usually fit in.

2. Careers that require both skills

This category includes most jobs . In them, workers must possess knowledge related to their field, but also possess social skills that allow them to perform their work effectively. Examples of these careers are law, clinical psychology or business administration.

3. Careers that require more “soft skills” than “hard skills”

Within this group we can find jobs as salespeople, salesmen or customer service ; since their work depends more on the abilities to communicate and connect with people, but also on persuasion and quick problem solving skills.