Soft skills are a set of behaviors and personality traits that individuals use daily. They are invaluable in any career, including food and drink, project management, and health sciences. Soft skills can help individuals in the job search process, present themselves as competitive candidates in the job market, and move up the ladder. Soft skills remain with individuals throughout their career and can be built on in the workplace.
Some examples of soft skills include:
-
Communication: Proves that individuals can work well with multiple people in a setting, by listening to others, showing respect, and communicating quickly and clearly.
-
Adaptability: Demonstrates that individuals can adjust to new situations and environments, and can learn new skills and processes quickly.
-
Productivity: Shows that individuals can manage their time effectively, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
-
Emotional Intelligence: Helps individuals increase confidence and trust among stakeholders, detect and handle friction with criteria, and generate respect with their message.
-
Leadership: Is the key ingredient in the essential skillset for becoming a successful product manager, and includes delegation skills, setting the example with actions, and generating respect with the message.
Soft skills are increasingly valued in research and policy implementation in the European Union, and are a priority in relation to its Sustainable Development Goals. Projects, such as "Soft Skills," financed by EU funds, highlight the relevance of these types of soft skills in the current context.
