We can all agree on that, skills are a very important section to put on a resumé. However, there are different types of skills that recruiters are looking for in a candidate. Hard Skills, Soft Skills, Mad Skills…what make them both so essential and distinct from one another?
ESILV School of Engineering has its own Soft Skills department to help the students learn about their own personal skills and how to showcase them in a resumé or during a job interview, in addition to the Hard Skills they learn during their formation.
Hard Skills: The Teachable, Technical Abilities
Hard Skills are the skills that you can learn. Nobody was born with those skills, those are abilities that you have to study and train for, in order to apply them to a specific job. Even though you can develop som hard skills from home, by following online courses or tutorials, the best way to get your hard skills stronger is during your education studies in an Engineering school such as ESILV.
Hard Skills directly answer to the recruiters’ needs and are the fruit of your studies. While being necessary to get the job you are applying to, all of the other candidates for the same job will likely have the same set of Hard Skills.
With the job market being more competing each year, it is important to stand out when you apply for a job. Hard Skills are not the abilities that will allow you to get noticed by the recruiters. You will have to put other types of skills on your resumé…
Soft Skills: Your Personal Abilities
Soft Skills are the abilities that define you specifically. Each person can possess different Soft Skills depending on their studies, but also their personality, their experiences, their culture or event the way they were raised.
While Soft Skills are innate, it doesn’t not mean that those skills cannot be trained and improved. Schools like ESILV help students understand and develop their own Soft Skills, with transversal group projects, or the possibility to take the MBTI test with a certified professional.
Some Soft Skills are more or less important depending on the field of work you are applying to. Some others are always appreciated, like leadership, creativity or problem-solving capacities. Keep in mind that you should be able to explain each of those skills to the recruiter during the job interview. For example, you can say that the many group projects you did during your studies justify your strong team spirit.
Mad Skills: The Abilities You Have Developed With Your Hobbies
Nowadays, recruiters are looking for individuals. What better way to stand out than presenting your hobbies? Mad Skills represent all of the skills you have developed thanks to your personal hobbies or the practice of your passions. It will not only allow the recruiter to know you better, but also to show them other skills that have nothing to do with your studies but that can still be useful.
Mad Skills are the abilities that will make you stand out from the other applicants. Through your activities, recruiters can tell a lot about your personality. Moreover, if by chance the recruiter shares the same passion, it will give you a clear-cut advantage. Being part of an association within your campus is a great way to develop Mad Skills.
From banjo playing to TikTok videos, from cosplay to soccer, any activity or passion is good to put on your resumé. However, keep in mind that just like Soft Skills, you should be able to explain in what way your Mad Skills represent a true added value for the company if they hire you.
Interested in Engineering? Check out ESILV’s programmes.