Summary: This reading is based on a study of a survey given out to business executives. The survey asked what were the top soft skills employers hoped new employees would posses. This article also makes an interesting argument that states soft skills are better predictor of job success over hard skills.Soft skills are skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, and certain attributes such as integrity. Hard skills are those skills which are technical and knowledge based. Business executives value individuals with strong soft skills and the 10 in order of how much they were listed by executives from most to least follows: Integrity, Communication, Courtesy, Responsibility, Interpersonal Skills, Positive Attitude, Professionalism, Flexibility, Teamwork Skills, Work Ethic. The article goes on to say soft skills are very valued because they help build strong relationships in the work place and are very transferable across industries.
Author: Dr. Marcel Marie Robles is a professor at Eastern Kentucky University. Her credentials include a PHD, a masters of science, and a bachelors of business administration. She has many years experience as a teacher and is a member of various professional and academic organizations. She has served as the department chair of the information systems and business education department at the University of North Dakota. She has written many articles and received many awards for her work.
Key Terms:
Soft Skills: personal attributes including interpersonal skills and communication skills. It might be wrong to call these skills because they are more concerned with attributes such as ones ability to work with others and effectively communicate. However it may be appropriate to call them skills because they can be taught and developed. Overall these skills are personality driven.
Hard Skills: Technical skills and knowledge required to do a job. These are the abilities for an individual to do their job well. Ties in with competencies as well.
Quotes 1- Much research has been done on the importance of soft skills in the workplace
(Klaus, 2010; Maes, Weldy, & Icenogel, 1997; Mitchell et al., 2010; Nealy, 2005;
Smith, 2007). One study found that 75% of long-term job success depends on people
skills, while only 25% is dependent on technical knowledge (Klaus, 2010). Another
study indicated that hard skills contribute only 15% to one’s success, whereas 85%
of success is due to soft skills (Watts & Watts, 2008, as cited in John, 2009). (Page 454).
2- Companies are continuing to rate their employees’ interpersonal skills as more
important than their analytical abilities (Klaus, 2010). It is often said that hard skills
will get you an interview but you need soft skills to get (and keep) the job. (page 460)
3- In addition to interpersonal skills, soft skills
include personal qualities and career attributes (James & James, 2004; Nieragden,
2000; Perreault, 2004). Personal attributes might include one’s personality, likeability,
time management prowess, and organizational skills (Parsons, 2008). (page 457).
Value: Being in a fraternity has developed my soft skills a great deal more than any class could have. This article has a lot of value for my paper because it verifies through many studies and individuals the importance of these soft skills and how they can translate to success in the business world. This helps my overall research paper because I can use the findings in this paper to explain the importance of soft skills in acquiring and keeping a job.
Excellent. I see your project shaping up already, and I like the focus on "soft skills," which is becoming a hot keyword in discussions of employee success.
ReplyDeleteOne question you might consider is whether fraternities improve soft skills in members or if they just serve business as a screening mechanism for those who have good soft skills -- or if it is a little of both.... And, if fraternities are more screening mechanism than training ground for soft skills, then how can they become better at building that area for members?
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