OK. I admit it. I hate the term “soft skills”. I understand how the term was derived – hard skills being the technical aspects of a function as opposed to soft skills being the personal attributes that enable one to interact effectively with others in the presentation of those technical skills. Sure, it is important to possess the technical skills required to do a job, but that’s just the bare minimum. What good are those skills if their benefits cannot be communicated effectively? How can technical knowledge be passed from one individual to another without the interpersonal skills to successfully relate with others? How can trust be built between those with the technical knowledge and those without it who rely on it?
Soft Skills Deficit
It has been said that the United States is experiencing a widespread skills deficit across industries and that most of the skills lacking are soft skills. It is estimated that about 66% of all new jobs will rely mainly on soft skills such as collaboration, problem solving, and communication. Research suggests that ten years from now, workplace demand for social skills will increase by 26% in the U.S. across all industries.
While recruiters have been hiring for soft skills for some time now, emphasis in the past had traditionally been on hard core technical skills. More recently, institutions of higher learning have now begun to require … yes, require … certain courses to assist business students in gaining better soft skills and help close the skills gap. That’s why you are now being required to take courses in speech communications, composition, organizational behavior, as well as a foreign language.
So, the next time you start to think about that non-core business class you are being required to take as a necessary evil, look at it as an opportunity to gain a skill and set yourself apart from others who will eventually be vying for the same jobs upon graduation … and an opportunity to do your part in closing the skills gap.
