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It’s the SOFT skills that are HARD

It’s been bugging me for a while.

The term ‘soft skills‘.

Often thrown in as an afterthought. Even mentioned with a slight smirk in some cases.

As if  ‘soft skills‘ are nebulous. Not real. Fluffy even. Or, at best, less critical.

Time for a re-think.

Take recruitment as an example (what else:?)

What’s a hard skill in recruitment?

I am sure there are several ways to articulate it, but usually, it refers to things like working the database, constructing a Boolean search string, or following a system.

These ‘hard’ skills are typically focused on specific tasks and processes, such as the use of tools, equipment, or software.

All good. All important

But what of the so-called ‘soft’ skills? You know, the lightweight ‘fluffy stuff’.

Asking great questions. Listening to understand. Not making assumptions. Influencing outcomes. Resolving conflict. Building trust and credibility. Countering a counteroffer. Calming post-acceptance wobbles. Selling retainers. Coaching clients on the market and an improved process.

Do you think these are ‘soft’? As in ‘easy’?

I can’t speak for every job or profession, but I suspect it to be the same as I believe it is in recruitment.

It’s the SOFT skills that are HARD

Hard to learn. Hard to replicate. Hard to coach. Hard to excel at.

And it’s the soft skills that determine success too.

If a person has a moderate level of intellect, enough to learn the hard skills, I always hire on the ‘soft’ skills, or at least the potential to master them, because that’s where the magic lies.

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  • Posted by Greg Savage
  • On August 24, 2021
  • 3 Comments
Tags: recruitment

3 Comments

Lynne Mayer
  • Aug 24 2021
  • Reply
I'm so glad you make this point, Greg. Asking great questions is very important-I have wasted time not doing this, not any more but I sure wasn't great at it years ago. Resolving conflict is a great soft skill; beginners or not so great sales people might panic or get pushy when conflict arises. Funny about people skills or soft skills....they are critical for diplomats, top sales people, psychiatrists, teachers, and certainly - parents. That's the short list.
Paul Hallam
  • Aug 24 2021
  • Reply
Thanks Greg. Insightful as always and I agree that these 'soft skills' are the hardest to learn. I do not like the term soft skills, and I think Simon Sinek, coined the term human or humanistic skills.This is a really good video to watch on this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9uzJ0LgvT0&t=6s Regards, Paul
Alan Allebone
  • Jun 14 2023
  • Reply
Straight to the point Greg! As it should be! Thank you Regards Alan A golden oldie.

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Greg Savage & The Savage Truth

Greg is the founder of leading recruitment companies Firebrand Talent Search, People2People and Recruitment Solutions, and a current shareholder and director of several others, including Consult Recruitment. He is a regular keynote speaker worldwide and provides specialised advice for Recruitment, Professional Services & Social Media companies.





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