When most people sit down to update their resume, they focus almost entirely on their technical skills. They list out the software they know, the certifications they worked hard to earn, and the years of experience they’ve gathered along the way. All of that matters, of course, but in today’s job market, there’s something else that really separates a good candidate from a great one. It’s not just what you can do. Soft skills for career success are often the difference between someone who simply gets the job done and someone who makes a meaningful impact, which is why they deserve more attention than many of us give them.
Your soft skills, how you communicate, solve problems, adapt, and collaborate, are what employers remember. The most recent Job Outlook 2025 report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) makes this crystal clear:
- 88.6% of employers want candidates who can solve problems
- 80.6% look for teamwork and collaboration
- 75.9% prioritize strong written communication skills
- And more than two-thirds value initiative and analytical thinking
Functional expertise might be what gets you in the door, but it’s usually your soft skills that actually get you hired and eventually promoted. These are the qualities that show employers how you work, communicate, and handle real challenges on the job.
Here are 10 reasons why your soft skills deserve to be front and center on your resume, along with how tools like The Birkman Method can help you understand and highlight them in a way that feels authentic and confident.
1. Soft Skills Are What Employers Want Most
NACE research backs up what hiring managers have been saying for a long time. Companies aren’t only looking for people who can check off technical boxes. They want people who can think through problems, work well with others, and communicate clearly. Skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication consistently appear at the top of their wish lists. These abilities are what help you succeed in a fast-moving, collaborative workplace, and they matter just as much as the tasks you can perform.
2. They Reveal How You Work, Not Just What You’ve Done
Your resume lists your accomplishments, but your soft skills explain your approach. Did you lead through empathy? Did you build cross-functional alignment? Did you stay calm under pressure?
When you highlight these attributes, employers can visualize you in action rather than just on paper.
3. Skills-Based Hiring Is the New Normal
According to NACE, almost two-thirds of employers now use a skills-based approach when they’re hiring for entry-level roles. This practice means they’re looking closely at qualities like adaptability, communication, and leadership rather than relying solely on degrees or years in the field. When you highlight your soft skills clearly on your resume, you give yourself a real advantage because you’re showing employers you can handle the kinds of situations they care about most.
4. They Differentiate You in a Sea of Similar Qualifications
When you’re up against twenty other candidates who all have the same degree, the same title, or very similar experience, it can feel hard to stand out. What really sets you apart is your ability to work well with diverse teams, communicate clearly and thoughtfully, and approach problems with sound critical thinking. These soft skills are what help your technical abilities shine, and they show employers what it’s actually like to work with you day to day.
5. Assessments Like The Birkman Method Help You Identify Your Superpowers
Many people struggle to put their soft skills into words, mainly because these qualities can feel abstract. That’s where tools like The Birkman Method can make a huge difference. Birkman digs into your natural behaviors, what motivates you, and the kind of work environment you prefer. It can help you understand whether your strengths lean toward things like strategic thinking, empathy, decisiveness, creativity, or collaboration. Once you have a clearer picture of these personal “superpowers,” it becomes much easier to talk about them on your resume and during interviews in a way that feels genuine and confident.
6. Soft Skills Predict Leadership Potential
Employers often hire you because you can do the work, but they promote you because you show signs of real leadership. Qualities like emotional intelligence, active listening, and the ability to encourage and motivate others are at the heart of strong leadership. When you highlight these traits, along with real examples of times when you guided, coached, or influenced the people around you, you’re showing employers that you’re not only capable of doing the job but also capable of leading the team that does it.
7. They Build Trust and Collaboration, Especially in Hybrid Work
In today’s remote and hybrid work environments, where you may not see your teammates in person very often, soft skills matter more than ever. Reliability, empathy, and clear communication become the glue that holds a team together when everyone is working from different places. These qualities help create psychological safety and trust, which are essential for any team that wants to perform at a high level. If you’ve ever led a virtual team, coordinated projects across time zones, or built strong relationships without relying on in-person conversations, make sure that shows up on your resume. It’s a modern soft skill that employers truly value.
8. They Drive Creativity and Innovation
Real innovation rarely happens when someone is working alone. It grows in environments where people are curious, open to new ideas, and willing to try things that might not work the first time. When you highlight soft skills like creativity, adaptability, and resilience, you’re showing employers that you can look at problems from different angles and learn quickly when things change. You’re also signaling that you can turn uncertainty into an opportunity, which is exactly the mindset organizations need in industries that move fast and evolve constantly.
9. They Demonstrate Cultural Fit and Emotional Intelligence
NACE’s research shows that employers are paying closer attention to more than just what you can do. They also want to know whether you’ll fit into the culture and work well with the people around you. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, plays a considerable role here. It’s your ability to read the room, handle conflict thoughtfully, and adjust the way you communicate depending on who you’re talking to.
These qualities make a big difference in how smoothly teams operate. On your resume, it helps to include examples of times when you collaborated with diverse groups, mentored someone, or handled challenging situations with patience and diplomacy. Showing your EQ tells employers you’re not only capable but also emotionally aware and mature, which they value just as much as technical skills.
10. They Reflect Continuous Learning and Self-Awareness
One of the most underrated soft skills is simple self-awareness. When you understand your strengths and also recognize where you might need support or growth, it becomes much easier to seek feedback, adjust your approach, and continue improving over time. Employers really value people who can do this because it shows that you’re willing to evolve rather than stay stuck in old habits. When you participate in things like The Birkman Method, coaching sessions, or leadership development programs, you’re showing that you actively invest in your own growth. It tells employers that you see yourself as a lifelong learner, someone who doesn’t just wait for change to happen but actually pushes it forward.
Final Thoughts
Your functional expertise might be what gets you noticed, but it’s your soft skills on your resume that really determine whether you walk through that door with confidence and stay there long enough to make an impact. In a hiring world where nearly nine out of ten employers say they care most about problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, it’s more important than ever to explain how you think, how you adapt, and how you connect with the people around you.
When you can express those qualities clearly, you show employers not just what you can do, but who you are as a professional, and that’s often what makes the most significant difference. Career Upside can help you develop your value proposition so you can sell yourself more effectively to potential employers, hiring managers, and people inside your target companies, helping you get referred for the right job. Schedule a consultation today and let us help you find some direction and sell yourself as your career coach of choice in Atlanta.
FAQs
What exactly are “soft skills”?
You cannot overstate the importance of soft skills. Soft skills are the personal qualities and interpersonal habits that shape the way you work, not just the tasks you complete. They include communication, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving. Unlike technical skills, which can be measured or certified, soft skills express your attitude, your approach, and how you show up in a professional setting. They’re the human side of your career story.
Why do employers care so much about soft skills now?
Soft skills lead to results that technical skills alone can’t consistently achieve. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2025 found that employers rank problem-solving, teamwork, and communication among their most desired qualities. In many ways, companies can teach you a software program or a process, but it is much harder for them to teach empathy, flexibility, or the ability to work well with others.
What are examples of top soft skills to highlight on a resume?
Some of the most in-demand soft skills across industries include:
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Written and verbal communication
- Leadership and influence
- Adaptability and resilience
- Emotional intelligence
- Time management and prioritization
- Creativity and innovation
- Self-awareness and continuous learning
Choose three to five that feel authentic to you, and make sure you can support them with real examples.
How do I show soft skills on my resume without sounding vague?
Instead of simply listing them, show them through the results you created. For example:
Remove: Strong communicator
Add: Led weekly cross-department meetings that improved project delivery time by 18 percent
This addition turns a general statement into a clear example of how you work.
Where should I include soft skills on my resume?
There are several natural places to weave them in:
- Professional summary: Briefly highlight your working style or most important qualities.
- Experience section: Use accomplishment statements that show how your soft skills contributed to results.
- Skills section: Include your top soft skills alongside your relevant technical skills.
How can I identify which soft skills are my strongest?
Start by reflecting on moments when you felt at your best. Think about what coworkers or managers often praise you for, the types of challenges you handle naturally, or how you tend to approach teamwork and change. If you want deeper insight, an assessment like The Birkman Method can help you better understand your behavior, motivations, and communication style.
How can I describe my soft skills in interviews?
A great way to do this is through the C.A.R. method, which stands for Challenge, Action, and Results.
Challenge: Our department continued to experience communication issues between sales and operations.
Action: I brought the teams together in weekly sync meetings and created a shared project dashboard.
Result: Order errors dropped by 25 percent, and the teams became much more aligned.
This structure shows how your soft skills create real outcomes.
Can soft skills really make me stand out if others have the same experience?
Absolutely. Many candidates might share a similar background, but not everyone works the same way. Soft skills highlight your personality, your emotional intelligence, and your leadership style. They show the “how” behind your work, which often sticks with hiring managers more than the bullets on your resume.
Should I adjust my soft skills to each job application?
Yes, it helps. Look at the job description and think about what the company values most. If they stress collaboration and creativity, those are the qualities you should highlight in your examples. If they focus on analytical thinking or taking initiative, emphasize your problem-solving strengths. Adjusting your examples shows awareness and a thoughtful approach.
How can The Birkman Method help me with my resume and interviews?
The Birkman Method gives you insight into why you behave the way you do by revealing your motivations, needs, and stress patterns. Once you understand those things, it becomes much easier to talk about your leadership style, the way you communicate, and the environment where you do your best work. This awareness helps you present your soft skills in a way that feels genuine and specific.
What’s the biggest mistake people make with soft skills?
Many people treat them like filler words. They list “great communicator” or “team player” without showing any proof. The strongest resumes do not simply claim soft skills. They demonstrate them with real results, like “influenced four departments to align on a new strategy.”
Can I improve my soft skills if they’re not natural strengths?
Definitely, soft skills can grow with practice, just like technical skills. Paying attention to emotional cues, strengthening your listening skills, and getting involved in collaborative projects can all help. Assessments like Birkman give you a starting point to identify which areas will make the most significant difference in your career.
Pro Tip:
When you prepare a professional resume or get ready for an interview, think of your soft skills as evidence of your professional maturity. They demonstrate not only what you achieved but also how you approached the work and how you helped others succeed along the way.
