When you start career exploration, you will likely begin to brainstorm about a career area based on what you are best at. Finance might draw your attention if you are good with numbers and have high math scores in your class. Exceptional spatial skills may turn you toward architecture or engineering. Technical skills are essential in the workplace, but other skill sets need to be considered. How well do you communicate with a group? Can you multitask? Can others rely on you for important responsibilities? 

When you start career exploration, you will likely begin to brainstorm about a career area based on what you are best at. Finance might draw your attention if you are good with numbers and have high math scores in your class. Exceptional spatial skills may turn you toward architecture or engineering. Technical skills are essential in the workplace, but other skill sets need to be considered. How well do you communicate with a group? Can you multitask? Can others rely on you for important responsibilities? 

While having good grades or technical expertise is important, it is only one consideration for a job or internship. Most people applying for a job or internship have the required skills for the job. However, soft skills may be what gives you an edge over the competition. Soft skills are traits and abilities that help you interact with others–in other words, your people skills. Among others, soft skills include communication skills, the ability to adapt to changing situations, and effective participation in collaborative work. While obtaining a higher level of education or an internship provides an opportunity to learn specific skills that will help you excel in a chosen career, soft skills are needed for success at any job. The same applies to internships. 

Most employers prefer interns with soft skills because they are more likely to succeed in the workplace. Technical skills are a good start, but they won’t get you very far if you can’t communicate with others or work as part of a team. For example, Nate wanted a summer internship as a lab assistant. He earned nearly perfect scores on his AP biology assessment and is a member of the Science National Honor Society at his high school. Nate spends his free time researching academic science journals and watching biology documentaries. When Nate applied to an internship program at a highly-respected university, he was certain he would secure the highly coveted internship. Among the hundreds of applications, Nate’s scores were among the highest and his resume was the longest. He was more than qualified on paper. After the entrance exam and an interview with the lab director, Nate eagerly waited for the congratulatory email. However, Nate got an unexpected response. He did not get the internship, but his classmate Kayla did. Nate couldn’t believe it. Kayla’s GPA was lower than Nate’s and she divides her time playing basketball, running the art club, and volunteering at the local Senior Center. Clearly, she wasn’t as focused as Nate when it came to biology. So why did Kayla get the internship?

Kayla interviewed exceptionally well. During the interview, Kayla maintained eye contact with the interviewer. Nate mostly stared down at the items on the interviewer’s desk or glanced at the clock. While Kayla’s essay had less content than Nate’s, Kayla’s writing was succinct and sharp. When asked about her accomplishments, Kayla spoke of working with and motivating her basketball teammates. In Nate’s example, he described taking over the work in a group project to make sure it was done correctly. Kayla arrived for the interview five minutes early. Nate was one minute late. Nate and others like him who have a track record of academic success also need soft skills to succeed in the workplace.

Understanding how to build soft skills is the first step to mastering them. Here are six examples of soft skills that will help you succeed. 

Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Speak the language of others. Listen. Be a good writer. If you are a technical person, learn how to communicate difficult concepts to others. Show empathy–in other words, try to see something from others’ perspectives. 

Dependability: Be reliable–this includes being on time and turning work in on time. Know how to plan and organize tasks and projects. How long will a task take? What are some possible obstacles, and how can you avoid them? How will you respond if something unexpected causes a delay? Can others rely on you to do your part and on time?

Problem Solving: Identifying problems is simple. Use your knowledge, experience, and information available to solve any issues that arise. Many problems don’t have obvious solutions, so thinking “outside the box” and taking a creative approach is an excellent skill to have.

Adaptability: Change is inevitable–especially in the workplace. Can you quickly switch gears if you need to? Be willing to learn new processes and technology. 

Teamwork and collaboration: Be part of a team. Personal successes are certainly important, but it’s just as important (if not more) to successfully work with others both as a collaborator and as a leader. Give credit where credit is due. 

Accepting and Implementing Feedback: Learning is what happens while you’re becoming an expert at something. The first time won’t always be a success. Learn from mistakes and apply what you have learned the next time you try something. Feedback is meant to be constructive so that you and everyone can continue to improve.