94% of Employers Want to See These 11 Soft Skills on Your Resume

When it comes to landing a job, technical skills and experience are important, but employers are increasingly emphasizing soft skills. According to recent studies, 94% of employers want to see these skills on your resume because they show not just what you can do, but how you do it. These abilities are crucial for working well with others, solving problems, and adapting to changing environments.

Below, we’ll explore 11 of the most in-demand soft skills that can help you stand out, along with examples of how to highlight them effectively on your resume.

1. Influence

Why It’s Important: Influence is one of the most essential leadership skills. It allows leaders to persuade others to adopt new ideas, solve problems, and maximize resources by getting others on board with their vision.

Keywords: Negotiate, Persuade

Example for Your Resume:
Convinced a team to adopt a new project strategy, resulting in a 20% increase in project efficiency.

By showcasing how you’ve used your influence to create change, you signal leadership potential and the ability to drive results.

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2. Flexibility

Why It’s Important: Today’s workplace is fast-paced, and the ability to adapt quickly to new situations, technologies, and workflows is critical.

Keywords: Adapt, Adjust, Prioritize, Quick Learner

Example for Your Resume:
Quickly adjusted to a new workflow system, improving team efficiency by 15% within two weeks.

Highlighting your flexibility shows employers that you can thrive in dynamic environments and contribute effectively even when circumstances change.

3. Listening

Why It’s Important: Good communication starts with listening. Active listening means hearing words and truly understanding and absorbing the speaker’s message. This is crucial for collaboration, conflict resolution, and customer service roles.

How to Showcase It:
Demonstrate moments when listening allowed you to understand a problem deeply or improved team dynamics. It’s more than a skill – it’s an attitude toward working with others.

Example for Your Resume:
Effectively listened to client concerns, which led to identifying key issues and improving customer satisfaction by 10%.

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4. Teamwork

Why It’s Important: Collaboration is at the core of almost every job today. Whether you’re working in a small project team or across departments, being able to work well with others is crucial for success.

Keywords: Morale, Support, Encourage, Collaborate

Example for Your Resume:
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to successfully launch a product campaign, increasing market share by 12%.

Teamwork is not just about getting along with others; it’s about working toward shared goals while supporting and lifting those around you.

5. Communication

Why It’s Important: Clear, accurate communication can make or break projects. Whether it’s presenting ideas to stakeholders, writing reports, or negotiating with partners, communication is a foundational skill that bridges gaps.

Keywords: Presenting, Negotiating, Stakeholder Engagement

Example for Your Resume:
Led presentations during monthly meetings with key stakeholders, facilitating smooth project execution and timely decision-making.

Effective communication can be the difference between success and failure in almost every workplace interaction.

6. Analytical Thinking

Why It’s Important: Analytical thinking is the process of gathering and analyzing information to make decisions or solve problems. In today’s data-driven world, employers value those who can assess situations logically and come up with actionable insights.

Keywords: Research, Data Analysis, Develop Strategy

Example for Your Resume:
Analyzed customer feedback data, leading to the development of new product features that increased user retention by 18%.

Showing your ability to make data-driven decisions demonstrates that you are results-oriented and can contribute to the strategic goals of a company.

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7. Writing Effective (and Professional) Emails

Why It’s Important: Communication in the modern workplace is often driven by email. A well-written email can boost productivity and ensure clarity, while a poorly crafted one can cause confusion and delays.

Key Tips for Professional Emails:

• Clear Subject Line: Summarize the email’s purpose.
• Polite Greeting: Use respectful salutations.
• Concise Message: Get to the point and stay on topic.
• Proper Formatting: Break text into paragraphs or bullet points for easy reading.
• Clear Call to Action: State what you need or expect.
• Proofread: Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
• Polite Closing: End on a courteous note like “Best regards.”

Highlighting your ability to write effective emails may seem small but it demonstrates attention to detail, professionalism, and communication efficiency.

8. Presentation Skills

Why It’s Important: Being able to present ideas clearly and engagingly is a critical skill for leadership, sales, and customer-facing roles.

Key Strategies for Great Presentations:

• Organize Content: Have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Engage the Audience: Use stories, examples, and visuals to captivate listeners.
• Be Concise: Stick to key points to avoid losing attention.
• Practice Delivery: Rehearse to ensure smooth, confident delivery.

Example for Your Resume:
Delivered a compelling presentation to potential clients, securing a new contract worth $150,000.

Employers are always looking for candidates who can deliver their ideas clearly and convincingly.

9. Problem-Solving

Why It’s Important: Employers highly value the ability to find solutions to difficult challenges. Problem-solving involves creativity, logic, and patience, making it a top skill across industries.

Keywords: Resolve, Improve, Optimize

Example for Your Resume:
Identified and resolved a recurring production issue, reducing downtime by 25%.

Showing your ability to think critically and develop solutions will set you apart in almost any role.

10. Conflict Resolution

Why It’s Important: In any team environment, conflicts are inevitable. Being able to navigate disagreements and find mutually beneficial solutions can enhance team morale and productivity.

How to Showcase It:
Demonstrate a time when you mediated a disagreement or found a resolution to a complex issue.

Example for Your Resume:
Mediated between two departments to resolve process bottlenecks, improving collaboration and reducing project delays.

This skill not only shows emotional intelligence but also positions you as a peacemaker and leader.

11. Boundary Setting

Why It’s Important: Knowing how to set boundaries is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and ensuring you can be productive without burning out.

Keywords: Assertive, Consistent, Self-Awareness

Example for Your Resume:
Set clear boundaries with clients to manage workload and ensure timely project completion without compromising quality.

Setting boundaries shows self-awareness, confidence, and respect for your time and energy.

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Incorporating these soft skills into your resume can significantly boost your appeal to employers. Remember to provide concrete examples and use action verbs to highlight how these skills have contributed to your success in previous roles. Mastering and demonstrating these 11 soft skills will make you a standout candidate in the job market.