Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What to Highlight as a Former Educator

When it comes to employability, there are two types of skills that employers generally look for - hard skills and soft skills.

When building a resume, performing an interview, or even building a LinkedIn profile, you want to hone in on which skills you actually need to highlight and which skills are just taking up precious space.

Hard Skills for Former Teachers

Hard skills are the technical abilities and knowledge required to perform a specific job.

Hard skills are often taught in a classroom or through on-the-job training. Examples of hard skills include proficiency in specific software, knowledge of a particular programming language, or the ability to operate a specific piece of machinery. Hard skills can be quantified and measured, making them easy to assess and evaluate.

Soft Skills for Former Educators

On the other hand, soft skills are more difficult to quantify and measure.

They are the personal attributes that enable someone to work well with others, such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving. Soft skills are often developed through life experiences and personal interactions, rather than formal training.

Which is more important?

While both hard skills and soft skills are important for success in the workplace, many employers place a higher value on soft skills. This is because employees with strong soft skills are often more adaptable, easier to work with, and more effective in communicating with others.

A recent survey even found that 92% of employers believe that soft skills are just as important, if not more important, than hard skills.

So, What do I put on my resume?

This is where it might get confusing. While strong soft skills are crucial to employability, hard skills are going to make you stand out in a stack of applications.

Your soft skills will shine in your cover letters, references, interviews, and online presence, however, things like “good verbal and written communication” and “team player” are very common and, honestly, can’t be wholly conveyed on paper.

Your hard skills - your certifications, courses taken, proficiencies, and work examples - will make you stand out. Don’t take up space on your resume with “organization” when you could mention your certification in Adobe or your course in SEO.