When working with our students on work ready skills it’s important to differentiate between soft skills and hard skills as both are crucial for their personal and professional development.
Hard Skills:
Hard Skills are learnable skills that enable individuals to perform job-specific tasks, or that may be required for a specific job. They can often be learned through formal education, training, or hands-on experience. Examples of hard skills for adult students might include:
- Language proficiency (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation)
- Computer literacy (using software, typing, internet navigation)
- Job-specific skills (e.g., accounting, coding, nursing skills)
- Writing professional emails or resumes
Soft Skills:
These are more about how people interact and work with others. Soft skills are harder to gauge but are critical for workplace success and everyday interactions. Examples of soft skills relevant to adult learners include:
- Communication skills (clear expression, active listening, non-verbal cues)
- Adaptability (adjusting to new environments or unexpected situations)
- Teamwork (collaborating with others, cultural sensitivity)
- Time management (organizing tasks, prioritizing, meeting deadlines)
- Problem-solving (critical thinking, finding solutions to challenges)
Why Both Matter:
- Employability: Hard skills get people the job, but soft skills help them keep it. Many employers look for candidates who not only have the technical ability to do the job but can also communicate effectively, can work in teams, and adapt to changes.
- Language Learning: Soft skills like communication, empathy, and cultural understanding are crucial for our learners to engage in meaningful conversations and integrate into different settings.
- Classroom Learning: While adult students need hard skills (e.g., learning English, Reading, Writing, etc), soft skills (like confidence and persistence) help them overcome language and social barriers in order to thrive in both personal and professional contexts.
When working with your students you can design activities that focus on both:
- For hard skills: Focus on language drills, grammar exercises, and job-specific vocabulary.
- For soft skills: Role-playing, group projects, and discussions that build communication, teamwork, and adaptability.
Both sets of skills are key components of our students success not just in the workforce but in their personal lives.
Resources
Red and Black Banter: Real-life sisters talking about soft vs hard skills in the workforce https://www.redandblackbanter.com/soft-skills-workplace-life-essential-2665592336.html
Soft Skills for Adults: Has resources for soft skills and hard skills for specific work industries https://kera.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/ketae_instr/t/workready/soft-skills/
Soft Skills Workbook from Los Angeles Division of Workforce Services: A large workbook available for printing that features role-play scenarios, guided writing exercises, and other wonderful resources for use in the classroom. https://4.files.edl.io/0f21/03/13/20/205337-98314617-a4d8-4e75-b6a6-4d887384647e.pdf
