Resume Refresh: The Soft Skills That Make Your Resume Stand Out

When job seekers think about updating their resumes, they often focus on their technical skills, degrees and certifications, and on their work experience. While those 'hard skills' are essential, there’s another factor that employers value just as much—soft skills. In an increasingly collaborative and dynamic work environment, companies are looking for employees who can communicate effectively, work well in teams, and adapt to change. In other words, they’re hiring for potential, not just experience.

If you’re looking to refresh your resume, don’t just list what you did— showcase how you did it. Highlighting your soft skills can help your application stand out and demonstrate how you bring value beyond your job title or previous experiences.

What Are Soft Skills, and Why Do They Matter?

Soft skills refer to the non-technical abilities that shape how you work and interact with colleagues, and how well you navigate workplace challenges. Unlike hard skills, which are job-specific and often measurable (e.g., coding, data analysis, financial modeling), soft skills are transferable and can be applied across roles, departments, and even industries. They make you a more effective employee, team player, and future company leader. If you can read a room and take its temperature or articulate an executive plan for a crucial merge of two departments to your colleagues, you might possess some valuable soft skills indeed.

According to LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends Report, 89% of recruiters say when a hire doesn’t work out, it’s usually due to a lack of soft skills rather than technical ability. Employers understand that hard skills can be taught, but qualities like emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and leadership are more difficult to develop. Demonstrating soft skills on your resume can boost your application!

How to Showcase Soft Skills on Your Resume

Instead of listing soft skills in a generic “Skills” section, weave them into your work experience by showing how you’ve applied them in your work situations. Here are some of the most in-demand soft skills and how you can incorporate them into your resume:

1. Communication Skills

Employers want professionals who can express ideas clearly— through writing reports, delivering insightful and engaging presentations, or navigating workplace conversations professionally. If you can communicate in more than one language, even better! You can make a strong impression on recruiters by highlighting your ability to:

• articulate ideas,

• collaborate with diverse teams, and

• simplify complex information.

✔ Example: Led cross-functional meetings between marketing and sales teams, ensuring seamless project execution and improved communication between departments.

2. Influence and Stakeholder Engagement

Can you rally support for an idea? Can you build relationships with clients, partners, or colleagues to achieve business objectives? If so, you have influence skills—a major asset in any role. Employers seek candidates who can build trust, present compelling arguments, and gain buy-in from key stakeholders.

✔ Example: Spearheaded a company-wide mentorship program, securing executive approval and increasing employee participation by 40% in the first year.

3. Teamwork and Collaboration

Workplaces thrive on collaboration, and companies need employees who can work effectively with different personalities. In other words, employees who can resolve conflicts, lead change in difficult periods, and generally contribute to a positive team culture. Employers value candidates who know how to listen, offer constructive feedback, and encourage a culture of inclusivity.

✔ Example: Facilitated weekly team brainstorming sessions, leading to a 15% increase in process efficiency and stronger cross-departmental collaboration.

4. Adaptability and Problem-Solving

Change is inevitable in any industry. Hiring managers look for candidates who can adjust to shifting priorities, learn new technologies quickly, and navigate uncertainty with confidence. Being adaptable shows that you are resourceful, resilient, and solution-oriented—qualities that employers crave in new hires.

✔ Example: Successfully pivoted a company’s marketing strategy during an industry downturn, leading to a 20% increase in customer engagement despite budget constraints.

To conclude…

Your resume should not only reflect what you’ve accomplished but also how you’ve made an impact. By integrating soft skills into your professional experience, you’re giving hiring managers a clearer picture of your potential as a capable employee.

Final Tip: Before submitting your resume, ask yourself: Does this document reflect the qualities that make me a great team member, problem solver, and communicator? If the answer is “yes”, you’re on the right track!

Need more career insights? Shop our guide: Consciously Quitting! A great book on navigating your next career move!

V.J. Gomes is the co-founder of Consciously Quitting, a career-transition platform. Book her for a strategy session or keynote address.

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