Do you have the skills it takes to be successful?

As a business student, you have already begun to build your skillset.  Identifying which skills are needed to be successful in a particular role can be facilitated by reviewing job descriptions, where employers often list a combination of soft and hard skills required. From there you can manage your career plan to both develop your skills as well as communicate more clearly to differentiate yourself and be competitive in the market.

When discussing skills, you may hear them called hard/technical skills and soft/transferable skills; what do these mean? Hard skills are related to specific technical knowledge and training, while soft skills are personal abilities, such as leadership, communication and time management. Both types of skills are necessary to successfully perform and advance in most jobs.

Take a look at 10+ job descriptions and see what hard and soft skills are consistently listed, then assess what you have already mastered and what you still need to refine.  Do you have all needed skills? If so, how can you demonstrate them to an employer? If you do not have a necessary skill, what are you beginning to do to develop it? Take a look at the below resources and set-up a meeting with your Career Coach to discuss further.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What are They and How Can You Show Them Off in Your Job Search

Transferable Skills Definition and Examples

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What’s the Difference?

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Read More Here

 

By W. P. Carey Career Services Center
W. P. Carey Career Services Center