"Soft Skills" are super important skills you need to do well in any job, no matter what kind of work you do. These skills include things like being good at communicating with others, working together as a team, thinking carefully to solve problems, and understanding yourself better. These are different from job-specific skills like knowing how to code, weld, drive a forklift, take blood pressure, change a tire, or do graphic design.

But here's the tricky part: People call these skills different names. Some call them "Employability Skills," others say "Non-Cognitive Skills," and there are many more names like "21st Century Skills," "Portable Skills," Durable Skills," and so on. It can be confusing because everyone uses different words to talk about the same thing.

So, when employers want to find people with these skills, it's not easy for them. There's no one set definition for what these skills should be called or how to describe them. This makes it hard for employers to know how to look for these skills when they are hiring.

Remember, no matter what they are called, these skills are super important for any job you might have in the future. That's why we like to call them "Essential Skills." They are becoming more and more important, and research shows that if you have these skills, you can make more money throughout your life. So, if you focus on developing these skills and show that you have them, you will stand out and be better prepared for any job you want to do in the future!

Watch the videos below to better understand what is trying to be conveyed when people say "soft skills." Additionally, see some infographics that convey the importance of these skills. 

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Hard Facts Soft Skills

Infographics