What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal (people) skills, communication skills, listening skills, time management, and empathy, among others.

Hiring managers typically look for job candidates with soft skills because they make someone more successful in the workplace.¹ Someone can be excellent with technical, job-specific skills, but if they can’t manage their time or work within a team, they may not be successful in the workplace.

• Alternate names: Interpersonal skills, essential skills, noncognitive skills²