The Hard Facts about the Importance of Soft Skills in Your Career Irene Castañeda Director, Workforce Partnerships, College to Careers August 21, 2014

Presentation Overview What are Soft Skills? How do I learn Soft Skills? Why are Soft Skills Important?

What are Soft Skills? The character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's relationships with other people resulting in improved outcomes. In the workplace, soft skills are considered a complement to hard skills, which refer to a person's knowledge and occupational skills. Soft skills are a critical factor for success in your life & career, regardless of the industry.

Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills Soft skills are a part of the emotional quotient (EQ) Soft skills are “who we are” Hard skills are a part of the intelligence quotient (IQ) Hard skills are “what we know”

List of Soft Skills (10 most common) Strong Work Ethic Positive Attitude Good Communication Skills Time Management Abilities Problem-Solving Skills Acting as a Team Player Self-Confidence Ability to Accept and Learn From Criticism Flexibility/Adaptability Working Well Under Pressure

How Important are Soft Skills in your Career? Within the context of your career, soft skills are necessary for: Developing relationships Obtaining an interview Interviewing well Gaining employment Sustaining employment

How Important are Soft Skills in your Life? Within the context of your non-professional/personal life, soft skills are necessary for: Developing relationships Creating support networks Building a reputation Maintaining a reputation Being a productive member of society

Are Soft Skills Really that Important? Research tracked 20,000 new hires, 46% of them failed within 18 months When new hires failed, 89% of the time it was for attitudinal reasons and only 11% of the time for a lack of skill “The attitudinal deficits that doomed these failed hires included a lack of coachability, low levels of emotional intelligence, motivation and temperament.” -Forbes, 2013

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How Can One Learn to Master Soft Skills? Practice! Practice! Practice! Develop communication skills Practice active listening skills Attend networking events Step out of your comfort zone Find a mentor Sign up for soft skills courses (ESSP) Build relationships Practice leading on campus or at your job Take initiative Visit College to Careers in 1140

Conclusion Soft skills are a critical success factor in your career and your life Soft skills are not learned in a book; they are learned through engagement and practice Soft skills are not learned once; they are observed, imitated and applied over time, constantly improving with practice Soft Skills+ Hard Skills = Success

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