Most Valuable Career Skills for 2024 - Investopedia
Healthcare is a field offering tremendous opportunities in terms of job growth. · Sustainable energy and statistics are also fields where jobs are expected to ...
hard skills
A mix of both hard and soft skills will be in demand in 2024. On the <anchor>hard skills</anchor> side, employers may be looking for candidates who possess advanced tech skills, including programming and coding skills. On the soft skills side, good communication skills and the ability to think critically and creatively are important.
Hard Skills: Definition, Examples, and Comparison With Soft Skills
- SearchSearch

Please fill out this field.

SearchSearch

Please fill out this field.

Investing

Simulator

Banking

Personal Finance

Economy

News

Reviews

Follow Us

Table of Contents

Expand

Table of Contents

# Hard Skills: Definition, Examples, and Comparison With Soft Skills

By

Wendy Connett has 20+ years of experience as a financial journalist and editor. Her subject-matter expertise includes wealth management, asset management, hedge funds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, defined-contribution and pension plans, compliance, regulation, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. She has a BA in journalism from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and has also written and served as editor for Institutional Investor News and Family Wealth Report.

Updated August 22, 2024

Reviewed by

Reviewed byDavid Kindness

David Kindness is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an expert in the fields of financial accounting, corporate and individual tax planning and preparation, and investing and retirement planning. David has helped thousands of clients improve their accounting and financial systems, create budgets, and minimize their taxes.

Hard Skills: Technical skills required for a job.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Hard-skills_final-c3f4727c2449404095ad770595a5a2a4.png)

Michela Buttignol / Investopedia

Close

## What Are Hard Skills?

Hard skills are technical skills required for a job. They are learned abilities acquired and enhanced through education and experience. Hard skills are important for your resume, as employers look for them when hiring.

Hard skills alone don’t translate into success, as employees also need other skills, such as soft skills. Unlike soft skills, hard skills can be quantified. For example, a hard skill might be proficiency in a second language, while a soft skill could be the ability to work well on a team.

### Key Takeaways

- Hard skills are technical skills required for a job.
- Hard skills are acquired through education and experience.
- Soft skills are behavioral, such as being a team player.
- Unlike soft skills, hard skills can be easily quantified.
- Employers typically look for a combination of hard and soft skills.

## Understanding Hard Skills

Hard skills are technical skills needed to perform a job or land a new one. They are typically industry-specific. For example, a financial analyst would need a different set of hard skills from a carpenter. However, hard skills can also be valuable across industries. For example, fluency in a second language could potentially benefit both the analyst and the carpenter.

Employers and recruiters look for hard skills listed on your resume and during the interview process. It’s best to back up your hard skills with a certificate, degree, or other qualification that shows a level of achievement.

Experience is also seen as a qualification that validates expertise in hard skills. Some prospective employers test the hard skills of job candidates. Someone interviewing for an editing job, for example, might have to take an editing test.

Hard skills focus on practical abilities and skills, whereas soft skills focus on behaviors and personalities, such as social and communication skills. Soft skills are less tangible and harder to teach.

Employers typically look for a hybrid of hard and soft skills. Soft skills are more intrinsic to personality and difficult to judge quickly, but they may be as important on the job over time.

Hard and soft skills are critical for success at almost any job, and having both on your resume is essential when job hunting.

## Types of Hard Skills

The types of hard skills needed to be qualified and successful in a job depend on the industry. Employers typically list the hard skills required in job descriptions. Common hard skills include:

### Common Hard Skills

- Computer software knowledge
- Graphic design
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Marketing
- Copywriting
- Computer programming
- Foreign languages
- Search engine optimization (SEO)

According to LinkedIn, the top hard skills are:

### Top Hard Skills

- Customer service
- Sales
- Accounting
- Business development
- Marketing
- Digital marketing
- Sales management
- Finance
- Social media
- Sales and marketing
- Financial analysis
- Engineering
- Social media marketing
- Structured query language (SQL)

## Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Hard skills generally have rules that remain the same regardless of the business, industry, or even culture in which they are practiced. The rules of soft skills can change depending on company culture and the expectations of colleagues.

For example, the rules for how a programmer creates code are the same regardless of where the programmer works. However, a programmer may communicate effectively with other programmers about technical details but struggle when communicating with senior managers about a project’s progress or support needs.

Hard skills can be learned via education, training, or apprenticeships, and on the job. The levels of competency can be defined, and there is a direct path to achieving them. For example, in the field of accounting, you can take basic and advanced accounting courses, earn a degree, gain work experience, and pass the certified public accountant (CPA) exam.

Soft skills are not often found in the curriculum of a school or college. However, they are taught in programs that help people develop communication skills, teamwork, or people management skills. Some common soft skills include:

- Communication
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving
- Conflict resolution

### Note

Ask your employer if they offer or pay for any leadership training or team-building programs for employees. If your employer wants you to improve one of your hard or soft skills, many companies will cover hard- and soft-skill programs for their employees.

## Example of Hard Skills

Accounting is a profession that requires a relatively rigid set of hard skills. Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel, is a given. Familiarity with industry-specific software, such as tax preparation software and Intuit’s QuickBooks, is also required.

Accountants need to know how to prepare and interpret financial statements and other accounting reports, develop efficient financial reporting mechanisms, and plan and implement accounting controls.

Some of the other skills that accountants need might be categorized as soft skills. They must be able to communicate effectively with clients and be diplomatic when dealing with external auditors.

## What Are Hard Skills to Include on a Resume?

If you are listing hard skills on a resume, include any technical skills you have acquired and any foreign languages. List hard skills relevant to the position for which you are applying. These are typically spelled out in job postings.

## How Can I Acquire Hard Skills?

You can acquire hard skills by taking online or in-person classes at a university or other training program, practicing these skills before applying them to a job, and gaining experience by using the hard skills in the workplace.

## Is Critical Thinking a Hard Skill?

No. Critical thinking is an important soft skill. You can study and practice critical thinking, but it cannot be “learned” in the same way you can teach yourself to use accounting software.

## The Bottom Line

Every job, from firefighting to being a marketing executive, calls for a specific skill set often made up of a combination of hard and soft skills. Whether you are considering a new job or applying for your first job, knowing which hard skills are needed, and obtaining those skills, means you will have a better chance of being hired or promoted in your field of choice.

Some hard skills—such as being proficient in using a computer, analyzing data, or understanding at least the basics of using social media—will often be useful in many different jobs and careers. Many trades call for particular hard skills that are required for employment in construction, architecture, plumbing and electric, and engineering.

To get hired and be successful in the workplace, you’ll need a combination of hard and soft skills, both of which you can continually build on and develop.

Article Sources

Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our
editorial policy.

Take the Next Step to Invest

Advertiser Disclosure

×

The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.

Related Terms

An associate in claims (AIC) is a professional designation for professionals with enhanced skill training to handle different types of claims.

A Chartered Market Technician (CMT) is a professional financial technical analyst who has earned the preeminent CMT designation awarded by the CMT Association.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) refers to a designation issued by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

Terms of employment are the responsibilities and benefits of a job as agreed upon by an employer and employee at the time of hiring.

An accountant maintains and analyses financial records for companies or individuals, keeping track of income, expenditures, and tax liabilities.

Technical job skills refer to the talent and expertise a person possesses to perform a certain job or task.

Related Articles

Partner Links

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies