Top 12 Soft Skills for 2025 (for a Resume & Career)

When it comes to writing a resume, showcasing your soft skills can make all the difference. Employers are looking for candidates who not only have technical expertise but also excel in communication, leadership, and time management.

This article is all about including the right soft skills for resume success. Read on to discover the top soft skills and how to use them to elevate your job application.

On this page, you will find:

• Insight on why employers appreciate soft skills on resumes.
• Top soft skills for a resume, valuable for any job role or industry.
• Tips on how to feature your soft skills in your job application.

What Are Soft Skills on a Resume?

Soft skills are personal attributes and traits that help you work well with others and adapt to different situations. Think of them as the qualities that make you a good team player, a strong leader, or someone who can handle tough situations. 

Rather than being learned job skills, soft skills are linked to an individual’s character and can be equally important in the workplace. Leadership, communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving are all examples of soft skills. Employers look for soft skills on your resume, cover letter, or resume cover page, to see if you’re easy to work with.

So, how do they differ from hard skills?

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge that you can quantify, like coding, writing, or data analysis. These are usually gained through formal education, training, or hands-on experience.

Soft skills, on the other hand, are more about how you interact with people and manage your work. They include traits like communication, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability.

When it comes to hard vs. soft skills, remember that soft skills are transferable skills that can be applied across any industry. On the other hand, hard skills are connected to certain industries or job roles. Both types of skills work together to strengthen your resume and show employers that you’re a well-rounded candidate capable of adapting to various challenges and environments.

So, here’s a curated list of soft skills for resumes:

Best Soft Skills for a Resume in 2025

Skill-first talent pool in the US has increased 19 times, showing the importance of skill-based resumes. But which soft skills are the most valued by employers? Here they are:

1. Communication

Communication is one of the most crucial soft skills to include on a resume because it impacts every aspect of your professional life. Strong communication skills show that you can convey ideas clearly, collaborate with teammates, and engage with clients or customers positively. Prospective employers can even verify the effectiveness of your communication skills just by reading your resume, cover letter, or during the job interview process. 

Communication skills can be separated into written and verbal, but in most circumstances, you won’t have to differentiate between these two. However, in some cases, you might want to highlight related soft skills like Presentation Skills and Active Listening separately.

Some of the resumes that benefit from listing communication skills are: copywriter resume, nurse resume, and police officer resume.

2. Teamwork

Working with your colleagues and teammates to achieve a work goal is common across hundreds of industries. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, solving problems, or completing a group project—highlighting teamwork skills tells employers that you’re adaptable, can communicate well with others, and contribute positively to the team dynamics.

Some related skills you might want to present separately include:

• Delegation

• Conflict Resolution

• Collaboration

Resumes that need great teamwork skills are: project manager resume, chef resume, and firefighter resume.

3. Leadership

Leadership skills are crucial for guiding your team and leading projects to success. These soft skills show that you can motivate others, make strategic decisions, and navigate various challenges. Leadership skills are most important for all sorts of managerial and team-leading roles.

Teamwork and leadership skills overlap on some levels. For example, delegation and collaboration could be included in both of these groups. Some more leadership-specific soft skills are Motivation and Team Management.

Our study found that about 74% of workers considered quitting their jobs because of their manager’s negative behavior. That’s why it’s important to keep honing your leadership skills and seeking feedback from your teammates and colleagues.

Leadership is a skill needed on resumes such as: CEO resume, warehouse manager resume, and coach resume.

4. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking skills are all about analyzing information, thinking logically, and approaching challenges from multiple angles. These soft skills signal to employers that you’re capable of making thoughtful, reasoned decisions under pressure and adapting to complex situations. They pair well with leadership skills.

Here are some related skills that demonstrate critical thinking abilities:

• Analytical Thinking

• Decision-Making
• Detail-Oriented

Critical thinking is an important soft skill for a: data analyst resume, pharmacist resume, and financial advisor resume.

5. Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is an invaluable soft skill that highlights your ability to approach problems and tasks from new perspectives. It helps you develop innovative solutions, think outside the box, and adapt to changing situations.

This soft skill is also vital for all sorts of creative-type jobs, such as writers or graphic designers. Here are some related skills that showcase creative thinking:

• Idea Generation

• Innovation

• Creative Writing

Creative thinking skills shine on resumes like: filmmaker resume, game design resume, and brand manager resume.

6. Adaptability

Adaptability covers a wide range of soft skills, primarily the ability to adjust to new challenges, environments, and conditions. It’s all about being flexible and thriving in a dynamic work environment. Adaptability is invaluable in almost every industry—from being a chef to handling multi-million dollar deals.

Here are some related skills that emphasize adaptability:

• Flexibility

• Resilience

• Learning Agility

Job resumes that require effective adaptability skills are: sales resume, marketing resume, and public relations resume.

7. Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills is another broad term that some people even use interchangeably with “soft skills.” That’s because these soft skills help you communicate clearly, collaborate effectively, and build strong relationships with colleagues, clients, or customers, all qualities mentioned previously.

But, interpersonal skills are not as broad as soft skills are. Here are some of the most common interpersonal skills to add to your resume:

• Empathy

• Conflict Resolution

• Emotional Intelligence

• Negotiation

• Patience

• Customer Service

Job resumes that require effective interpersonal skills are: attorney resume, veterinarian resume, and customer service representative resume.

8. Time Management

Time management skills demonstrate your ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and efficiently manage your workload. This is a critical soft skill in any industry where deadlines, scheduling, and productivity matter a lot.

Related skills include:

• Prioritization

• Scheduling

• Task Management

• Goal Setting

You might want to highlight time management soft skills on a resume like: senior accountant resume, HR assistant resume, and event planner resume.

9. Work Ethic

Work ethic is about dedication, responsibility, and discipline toward work. Employers seek candidates who show commitment, reliability, and a strong drive to get the job done. Soft skills like Responsibility, Dependability, Initiative, and Integrity prove a strong work ethic.

Job resumes that require excellent work ethic are: teacher resume, pilot resume and construction superintendent resume.

10. Problem-Solving

Adding problem-solving as a soft skill for a resume is crucial, as it demonstrates your ability to tackle challenges, develop solutions, and think creatively in difficult situations.

Problem-solving skills apply to nearly every industry, whether you’re fixing technical issues, improving a process, or resolving conflicts. It often pairs well with critical thinking and adaptability.

Related skills include:

• Decision-Making

• Analytical Thinking

• Troubleshooting

• Resourcefulness

Job resumes that require effective problem-solving skills include a consultant resume, plumber resume, and interior designer resume.

11. Attention to Detail

Attention to detail shows employers that you can complete tasks thoroughly and accurately, minimizing mistakes. Mistakes are costly and time-consuming, so it’s no surprise that employers love reliable employees with strong attention to detail.

Whether you’re reviewing documents or completing technical projects, this soft skill ensures high-quality work. You can prove it with soft skills like:

• Precision

• Thoroughness

• Quality Control

• Accuracy

Some job resumes where attention to detail is crucial are: lab technician resume, auditor resume, and carpenter resume.

12. Organization Skills

Employers look for candidates with strong organizational skills because they can maintain productivity, meet deadlines, and ensure projects are completed efficiently. This soft skill is especially valuable in roles that involve multitasking, project management, or maintaining detailed records.

Here are some great soft skills for a resume that prove you’re organized:

• Task Prioritization

• Project Coordination

• Workflow Optimization

• Document Management

You should highlight organization soft skills on a resume like: secretary resume, supply chain manager resume, and property manager resume.

How to List Soft Skills on a Resume

When writing your resume, you don’t just want to create a bland list of abilities. Instead, integrate them throughout your resume to show how these skills have contributed to your professional success. You want to tailor them to the job description and ensure they reflect your ability to handle the specific challenges of the role you’re applying for.

Let’s walk through an example job posting for a Customer Service Representative position and show how to effectively present your soft skills in different sections of your resume.

Let’s say you’re applying for this position:

We’re looking for a dedicated Customer Service Representative to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and a proven track record of working well under pressure. You’ll be responsible for managing customer inquiries, resolving complaints, and providing product support through various channels, including phone, email, and live chat.

Key Responsibilities:

• Handle a high volume of customer inquiries, resolving issues quickly and professionally.

• Troubleshoot and solve customer problems with a focus on finding the best resolution.

• Maintain accurate records of customer interactions using CRM software.

• Collaborate with team members to ensure consistent customer satisfaction.

To be considered for this position, you need an ATS-optimized resume. That’s because most large companies nowadays use Applicant Tracking Systems to scan through resumes and find the most qualified applicants.

They do that by looking for resume keywords and matching them to the job requirements, and many soft skills will be those keywords.

1. Mention Soft Skills in Your Resume Profile

Whether you’re writing a resume summary or a resume objective, this part should be the first area where you deliberately mention specific soft skills, showcasing how they align with the job description. Instead of saying, “I have communication skills,” show that you’ve used those skills to drive results in your previous positions.

In this soft skills example for a customer service resume, it could look like this:

Results-driven Customer Service Representative with 3+ years of experience in high-volume environments. Adept at providing clear communication and problem-solving support to customers while consistently meeting service-level agreements. Improved customer satisfaction ratings by 15% through effective communication and swift issue resolution, contributing to repeat business and positive feedback.

This example integrates multiple soft skills (communication, problem-solving, and adaptability) in a way that relates directly to the responsibilities listed in the job posting. By framing these skills in the context of how they deliver value, you help the hiring manager visualize your abilities in action.

Utilize Soft Skills in the Work History Section

In the work experience section, soft skills should be intertwined with concrete examples of how they’ve contributed to your professional achievements. This is one of the most powerful sections of your resume for highlighting soft skills because you can demonstrate how these skills helped you meet or exceed expectations.

Just like in this soft skills sample:

• Managed 80+ daily customer interactions via phone, email, and chat, consistently receiving positive feedback for clarity in communication and problem-solving skills.

• Resolved 95% of customer complaints within the first contact by employing efficient troubleshooting methods, improving customer retention by 12%.

• Collaborated with a team of 15 representatives to reduce response time by 20%, ensuring timely and consistent customer support across all channels.

• Adapted to frequent changes in company policies and product updates, quickly integrating new knowledge to provide accurate support to customers.

Each bullet point ties a soft skill (communication, problem-solving, teamwork) directly to a measurable outcome, making your resume not just a list of duties but a showcase of how you’ve used those soft skills to achieve real results.

Make a Separate Resume Skills Section

The skills section is where you can reinforce the specific abilities required for the role. Focus on adding a balanced mix of soft skills (like communication and problem-solving) and technical skills (like CRM software or industry tools).

In this part, limit yourself to 10 skills. If you have some space left, consider including related skills that were not specifically mentioned in the job posting but are important for the position.

Here is a soft skills section example:

• Communication

• Problem-solving

• Conflict Resolution

• Time Management

• CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce, Zendesk)

• Team Collaboration

• Adaptability

This approach is great if you’re writing a classic chronological resume. But, if you’re using a functional resume format, you’ll need to add a bit more information to your soft skills.

This is how to feature soft skills in a functional resume:

Communication Skills

• Delivered clear, concise responses to customer inquiries, resulting in a 20% improvement in issue resolution time.

• Developed training manuals and led workshops to train new hires on customer service procedures, improving team performance.
• Actively listened to customers and colleagues to ensure an accurate understanding of concerns, leading to effective solutions and increased satisfaction.

In this format, soft skills are emphasized with achievements, allowing hiring managers to see not only the skills but also the impact they have had in real-world scenarios.

4. Highlight Soft Skills in the Resume Education Section

For those early in their career or writing their first resume, the education section is a great opportunity to highlight soft skills you’ve developed through academic or extracurricular experiences.

If you’re further along in your career, focus on key projects or experiences that connect to the soft skills listed in the job posting, or don’t expand this section and focus on other parts of your resume.

See this example:

• Developed strong verbal communication skills by delivering presentations and engaging in public speaking events.
• Worked on group projects, where teamwork and collaboration were essential for achieving top grades.

5. Include Soft Skills in Additional Sections

The purpose of a resume is to show how you stand out from other job candidates, so it helps to add bonus sections to your resume. These sections can be anything ranging from resume certifications, through volunteer work, to foreign languages.

Use them as an opportunity to prove your resume soft skills even further. See the example below:

Volunteer Experience:

• Communicated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, assisting with inquiries and providing support during community events.

• Worked with a team to troubleshoot event-related issues, ensuring smooth operations throughout.

• Managed time effectively by balancing volunteer work with university studies.

Looking for more resume guides? Here are some relevant ones:

• Create the Best Resume for Your Job
• Freelancing On a Resume
• How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
• How to Show Cum Laude On a Resume
• How to Tailor Your Resume
• Resume Mistakes to Avoid
• Tips to Quantify Your Resume Accomplishments
• Two-Column Resume Format
• Unique Resume Templates You Might Want to Try

Sources

• Skills-First: Reimagining the Labor Market and Breaking Down Barriers
• NACE Job Outlook 2024