The Tribune

Business leaders and those charged with the responsibility for hiring workers have an old saying that sums up the proficiencies needed for employment. “Hard skills will get you the interview; soft skills will get you the job."

Both hard and soft skills play an equal role in employment. But, as companies worldwide continue to shift to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), the world of work will look very different in the future. Hard and soft skills will still be necessary for employment, but they will differ from those required today.

So, if you wish to take your career to the next level, you will need to showcase your development in both skill areas. Hard skills are often applicable to a certain career, whereas soft skills are transferable to any type of job. What is the difference?

Hard skills, also known as technical or tangible skills, are specific abilities that can be quantified, measured and often acquired through formal education, training programmes or practical experience. These skills are typically job-specific and revolve around a particular set of knowledge or expertise. They can be learned and perfected over time. Nonetheless, soft skills are more difficult to acquire and change.

Soft skills lean more to “who” people are than what they know. As such, they encompass the character traits that decide how well one interacts with others, and are usually are a definite part of an individual’s personality. Moreover, soft skills, often referred to as interpersonal or people skills, are the non-technical personal attributes and qualities that individuals use to navigate social interactions, work effectively in teams and enhance their overall professional and personal relationships.

Unlike hard skills, which are specific to a particular job or industry, soft skills are highly transferable and are valued across various professions and contexts. These skills are essential for building strong workplace relationships, communicating effectively and demonstrating emotional intelligence, all of which contribute to career success and personal growth.

Each generation of workers focuses on building different skills. Moreover, desired skills change over time as those required by workers at the beginning of their career will be much different than the skills required 20 years later. 'Generation Z' is more likely to be interested in building their creativity and technology-related skills far more than any other generation.

To date, Millennials and Gen Xers are focused on developing management and leadership skills, as many are becoming new managers or executives. While employees of all generations want to learn, their interests vary. When employers are interviewing potential employees, they are not just trying to fill an empty seat; they are on the hunt for staff members who fit the company’s culture.

Ultimately, hard skills come as a result of education or technical training, while soft skills evolve as a result of life experiences. Both are essential for companies to achieve their goals and objectives, even though soft skills are more important than hard skills. This is because it is easier to teach hard skills, but tougher to train employees in soft skills. Soft skills are increasingly becoming the hard skills of today's workforce. It is not enough to be highly trained in technical skills without developing the softer, interpersonal and relationship-building skills that help people to communicate and collaborate effectively. Until we meet again, fill your life with memories rather than regrets. Enjoy life and stay on top of your game.

NB: Columnist welcomes feedback at deedee21bastian@gmail.com

Deidre M. Bastian is a professionally-trained graphic designer/brand marketing analyst, international award-winning author and certified life coach