Career Development What Do Employers Want in Employees? “ Soft Skills” versus “Hard Skills By: Mr. Breitsprecher

Soft Skills Ability to interact and communicate positively and productively with others Sometimes called “character skills” Relates attitudes and outlooks on life Learned as we grow up Often not directly taught in schools Difficult to explain, but we know when we see effective “soft skills”

Ability to interact and communicate positively and productively with others

Sometimes called “character skills”

Relates attitudes and outlooks on life

Learned as we grow up

Often not directly taught in schools

Difficult to explain, but we know when we see effective “soft skills”

Hard Skills Specific skills, task or job oriented Technical skills & academic skills Easy to define Observable Measurable by performance, tests or quizzes Directly taught in schools

Specific skills, task or job oriented

Technical skills & academic skills

Easy to define

Observable

Measurable by performance, tests or quizzes

Directly taught in schools

Soft versus Hard Skills Soft skills make us teachable Able to work and share with others Ready to learn & work Hard skills let us get things done Performance based Focus is on accomplishments We need BOTH soft and hard skills!

Soft skills make us teachable

Able to work and share with others

Ready to learn & work

Hard skills let us get things done

Performance based

Focus is on accomplishments

Employers Say… Soft skills as important as hard skills Can teach hard skills to those with soft skills Probably cannot teach soft skills on-the-job Hard skills/technical skills do not matter without soft skills

Soft skills as important as hard skills

Can teach hard skills to those with soft skills

Probably cannot teach soft skills on-the-job

Hard skills/technical skills do not matter without soft skills

What do YOU think? Before we go forward, what skills or qualities do you think are most important? Take out piece of paper, write down your ideas Feel free to discuss it with a partner if you wish When everyone is done, we will review what a recent national survey said.

Before we go forward, what skills or qualities do you think are most important?

Take out piece of paper, write down your ideas

Feel free to discuss it with a partner if you wish

When everyone is done, we will review what a recent national survey said.

Number 1 Positive Attitude Cheerful Upbeat “ Can Do” attitude Sense of humor

Positive Attitude

Cheerful

Upbeat

“ Can Do” attitude

Sense of humor

What Do You See OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE Attitude It Makes All The Difference!

OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE

Number 2 Communication Skills Written Verbal

Communication Skills

Written

Verbal

English Classes Learn what you can in school Reading, writing, speaking are all related Building skills in one area builds skills in all three Build vocabulary & grammar skills Write clear, concise sentences Organize thoughts and presentations

Learn what you can in school

Reading, writing, speaking are all related

Building skills in one area builds skills in all three

Build vocabulary & grammar skills

Write clear, concise sentences

Organize thoughts and presentations

Number 3 Computer skills Keyboarding Office applications Multi-Media Internet Web Design Graphics

Computer skills

Keyboarding

Office applications

Multi-Media

Internet

Web Design

Graphics

Number 4 Strong Work Ethic Honest day’s work Work smart Efficient On-time Commitment Complete tasks

Strong Work Ethic

Honest day’s work

Work smart

Efficient

On-time

Commitment

Complete tasks

Number 5 Honesty & Integrity Do not lie, cheat, or steal Give a day’s work for a day’ wages Don’t make personal phone calls

Honesty & Integrity

Do not lie, cheat, or steal

Give a day’s work for a day’ wages

Don’t make personal phone calls

Number 6 Punctuality Be on time Don’t take long breaks Return from breaks, lunch on time

Punctuality

Be on time

Don’t take long breaks

Return from breaks, lunch on time

Number 7 Flexible and adaptable Ready to make changes Adapt quickly, easily Cooperative

Flexible and adaptable

Ready to make changes

Adapt quickly, easily

Cooperative

Number 8 Problem Solving Skills Creative Open minded Practical Helpful

Problem Solving Skills

Creative

Open minded

Practical

Helpful

Number 9 Interpersonal Skills Kind Friendly Relate to others Treat others as you want to be treated

Interpersonal Skills

Kind

Friendly

Relate to others

Treat others as you want to be treated

Number 10 Team Work Respectful Collaborate Cooperate Share Contribute Accomplish Goals

Team Work

Respectful

Collaborate

Cooperate

Share

Contribute

Accomplish Goals

Number 11 Initiative, Motivation Self-starter Opposite of lazy Self-directed Self-motivated Look for things to do

Initiative, Motivation

Self-starter

Opposite of lazy

Self-directed

Self-motivated

Look for things to do

Number 12 Loyalty Speak well of others Positive about organization Positive about job Keep confidential information confidential

Loyalty

Speak well of others

Positive about organization

Positive about job

Keep confidential information confidential

How About You? Which of these areas do YOU stand out in? Where are some areas that you could improve? Would YOU hire you?

Which of these areas do YOU stand out in?

Where are some areas that you could improve?

Would YOU hire you?