Written by:
Maria Sarina, Coordinator of Counselling and Care Centre Manager at Australian Christian College (ACC), Marsden Park, SA
Soft skills, also known as core skills, common skills, power skills, or essential skills, are now recognised as essential abilities for success in the professional world. In contrast to hard skills, which are specific to particular professions or industries, soft skills are versatile and applicable across all areas of work.
Examples of soft skills include communication, time management, teamwork, accountability, creativity, decision-making, problem-solving, goal setting, and work ethic. While we naturally acquire more skills with time and experience, there is a foundational set that is essential as young adults transition from school to the working world.
Building up soft skills
It is essential to remember that accumulating soft skills is a lifelong journey that starts when a student enters school. These skills are acquired indirectly as we progress through the educational system and they are developed through every aspect of the school experience. We should seek to help students build interpersonal skills with classmates at the preschool level, to analytical thinking and problem-solving in high school.
The impact of COVID-19 on soft skill intake
During the upheaval of COVID-19, many of us pushed our existing soft skills to new levels to navigate the unfolding challenges of the global pandemic. These included self- motivation, adaptability, proficiency with technology, trust-building, and nonverbal communication.
As we approach the five-year mark since the start of the pandemic, we now know how our interpersonal skills had to evolve in response to the uncertainty. Looking at a review by CSIRO of more than 12 million job advertisements post-COVID, it’s clear employers have put more emphasis on candidates with strong interpersonal skills. This same report revealed how job postings allowing for remote work were 1.2 times more likely to emphasise the importance of interpersonal skills compared to those for in-person positions – pointing a spotlight on the value of these new and adaptable abilities.
Can schools help teach soft skills?
Schools can help develop communication skills by encouraging open dialogue and creating an environment where students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings, as well as actively listening. To improve problem-solving skills, educators can encourage critical thinking by asking students open-ended questions, implementing self- reflection into work and promoting collaboration. Educators can also provide students with opportunities for leadership roles, such as class captains, organising wellbeing activities, forming clubs, tutoring other students and more.
There is no right and no wrong with soft skills
It is important to note that it is not as much about acquiring skills as it is helping students to improve them. Soft skills are a spectrum where everyone has a differing level of motivation – the trick is to improve that level. The primary soft skill could arguably be ‘curiosity’– the healthy search for knowledge. It is in this place that you will help students pick up and develop the soft or human skills they need to function at an optimum level. After all, there is nothing ‘soft’ about these amazing skills.
About the author
Maria Sarina is a dedicated mental health advocate with extensive academic credentials, including a BA in Social Psychology/Social Research from the University of Western Sydney. She currently serves as the Coordinator of Counselling and Care Centre Manager at ACC Marsden Park. Sarina is also the Director and Founder of Friendship Centre Counselling Services, an organisation offering free mental health support through a network of more than 700 volunteer counsellors and 70+ placement students from leading Australian universities.
She has developed an innovative psychoeducational model that has been successfully implemented by Corrective Services NSW to address negative behaviour and support
client rehabilitation.
