Soft skills play an important role in resume writing, interviewing and finding success in communicating with people at work and in other areas of your life. For example, as you look for jobs, you may find that many employers list specific soft skills on their job posts in the ‘required’ or ‘desired’ sections. A job posting for a Human Resources associate may list ‘attention to detail’ as a desired trait, while a job for a Marketing Specialist could list ‘leadership’ and ‘great communication skills’.

Soft skills are often transferable across careers and industries. As a result, you may find that you possess many of the required traits even if you do not match the exact profile in a job description. As you search for jobs, pay special attention to posts calling for candidates with soft skills or traits you possess. Even if the job title is not a great fit, you may find that the description makes sense for you. As you progress through the job search process, keep your resume updated to reflect soft skills most relevant to the jobs you are applying for.

You may also find it helpful to consider how you might showcase your soft skills in an interview. While you can display some skills like good communication, you may consider weaving others into your answers to interview questions. For example, you might talk about your problem-solving skills when answering a question like, “Tell me about a time you overcame an obstacle.” If the employer prompts you to provide references, think of those that can speak about examples that verify your soft skills and other strengths.