Soft skills: your key to professional success

Are you ready to open the door to your professional success? 

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You have the training, the expertise and the experience... but is there anything else that can set you apart from other applicants? Absolutely! 

In today's working world, "soft" skills are crucial alongside the "hard" facts. These invisible skills are known as soft skills and are your key to opening the door to new career opportunities. Let's take a look at why soft skills are so important and how you can use them effectively in your career.

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What are soft skills?

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Soft skills are abilities and characteristics that go beyond your specialist knowledge. They include everything you need to be successful in your job. 

A distinction is made between 3 categories:

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What is the difference between soft skills and hard skills?

Imagine you are building a house. For a good house, you need both a stable foundation and a protective roof. It's the same with soft skills and hard skills in your application. 

Hard skills are like the foundation: they form the basis on which everything rests. These are your measurable skills that you acquire through education, training and experience. Without a good foundation, the house could not stand.

But just as important is the roof, which is the soft skills. They protect the house and make it habitable. These skills are less tangible, but just as important. They encompass everything that creates a good working atmosphere and makes people work well together.

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What do you need soft skills for?

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Soft skills are the key to success in almost every professional field. Whether you work in sales, in the trades or want to get started in the logistics sector - your soft skills always play an important role. 

But what exactly do you need soft skills for in your application process? Let's take a closer look at some areas of application.

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• Soft skills on your CV: Your CV is your business card for potential employers. It is therefore important to present your soft skills here. If you're unsure how to go about this, don't worry! Just take a look here and discover how you can create your perfect CV.

• Soft skills in your cover letter or letter of motivation: You can also include your soft skills in your letter of application and letter of motivation. Don't just list your skills, but use specific examples to show how your skills will help you overcome challenges. You should always make sure that these match the job advertisement. 

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• Soft skills in the reference: Your soft skills can also be mentioned in your reference. To do this, ask your employer for a qualified reference. This is because your employer will emphasize your skills and characteristics and give specific examples. For example, such a reference could mention how your teamwork helped to complete certain projects.

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Which soft skills are important for specialists?

Not every job requires the same skills. Therefore, the soft skills required in different professions also vary. But how do you know which soft skills are important for your job? The distinction between white collar and blue & grey collar jobs helps you to understand the required skills and develop them in a targeted manner. 

Here are some examples of important soft skills in different professional fields:

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How do I develop soft skills?

Soft skills are like muscles that can be strengthened through exercise. There are numerous ways to develop and improve your soft skills:

• Feedback from superiors and colleagues: Ask for constructive feedback from superiors or colleagues in order to recognize your strengths and work on your weaknesses.
• Company training courses and workshops: Some companies offer special training courses and workshops for employees. Find out more directly from your employer. 
• Self-reflection: What are your strengths and weaknesses? Are there any skills you would like to improve? Answer these questions for yourself and then decide which skills you would like to learn or improve. 

Are you still unsure which soft skills you need for your next job? Then register on WorkerHero today and get support from one of our career advisors. 

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