Hard and Soft Skills
Hard skills are usually related to professional knowledge, tools, or techniques that allow us to work within our profession. Hard skills are learned. You are taught them in school or from books. They are a way of doing something; a procedure, a best practice. Some examples of hard skills are designing a bridge; developing software; applying taxation laws; and injecting a vaccine. (Lipton, 2014, p.4)
Soft skills are more difficult to quantify. These skills are personality qualities, habits, attitudes, and even social graces. Unlike hard skills, which can be evaluated by a logic intelligence test (IQ), soft skills tend to use your heart, and conversely would be evaluated by an emotional intelligence test (EQ). This is ‘right brain’ stuff. Some examples of soft skills are anticipating risk; motivating others; teamwork; innovating; listening; and communicating. (Lipton, 2014, p.8)
When it comes to why I think college grads are lacking in hard and soft skills and not employment ready is that they are being taught conflicting ideas about what is most important out in the job world. I believe they are lacking in motivation, interpersonal skills, appearance, punctuality and flexibility; they have no type of discipline. Pamela Jung, and Colleen Jones of Workforce Solutions Group in St. Louis Community College found that more than 60 percent of employers said applicants lack “communication and interpersonal skills” — an increase of about 10 percentage points in just two years. (Jung & Jones, 2008, p. 33) Many managers also said that today’s applicants can’t think critically and creatively, solve problems or write well. A wide range of businesspeople, corporate recruiters, academics and others interviewed for the study agree that recent college graduates deserve a grade of “C” or lower for their preparedness for their first job. (Mielich, 2012, p. 75)
The three hard skills I believe I have demonstrated well in either school or work are:
1. Computer and Technical
Soft skills are more difficult to quantify. These skills are personality qualities, habits, attitudes, and even social graces. Unlike hard skills, which can be evaluated by a logic intelligence test (IQ), soft skills tend to use your heart, and conversely would be evaluated by an emotional intelligence test (EQ). This is ‘right brain’ stuff. Some examples of soft skills are anticipating risk; motivating others; teamwork; innovating; listening; and communicating. (Lipton, 2014, p.8)
When it comes to why I think college grads are lacking in hard and soft skills and not employment ready is that they are being taught conflicting ideas about what is most important out in the job world. I believe they are lacking in motivation, interpersonal skills, appearance, punctuality and flexibility; they have no type of discipline. Pamela Jung, and Colleen Jones of Workforce Solutions Group in St. Louis Community College found that more than 60 percent of employers said applicants lack “communication and interpersonal skills” — an increase of about 10 percentage points in just two years. (Jung & Jones, 2008, p. 33) Many managers also said that today’s applicants can’t think critically and creatively, solve problems or write well. A wide range of businesspeople, corporate recruiters, academics and others interviewed for the study agree that recent college graduates deserve a grade of “C” or lower for their preparedness for their first job. (Mielich, 2012, p. 75)
The three hard skills I believe I have demonstrated well in either school or work are:
1. Computer and Technical
References: Jung, P., & Jones, C. (2008, August 20). About Workforce Solutions Alliance Partners. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from http://www.workforcesolutionsgroup.com/sbc.php Lipton, L. (2013, April). 2 Steps To Understanding Your Hard and Soft Skills | Digital Attitude: Becoming Eminent. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from http://thedigitalattitude.com/2013/04/25/2-steps-to-understanding-your-hard-and-soft-skills/ Mielich, D. (2012, September 13). College Grads Facing Challenges in Job Search. Retrieved July 6, 2014, from http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/3130-graduate-job-search.html HardSoftSkills. (2013). Retrieved from Clark College website: http://www.clark.edu/student_services/employment http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/01/29/Surprising-Reason-College-Grads-Can-t-Get-Job#sthash.Cyiddahn.dpuf