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The Hard Facts about the Importance of Soft Skills in Your Career
Irene CastañedaDirector, Workforce Partnerships, College to Careers
August 21, 2014
Presentation Overview
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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
Videos
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0voPlW2pSs
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnilMf30Fuc
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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
Q&A