Soft Skills to Include on Your Resume (With Examples)

By: Flavored Resume

In a world where technology evolves faster than job titles, soft skills remain timeless. While hard skills prove what you can do, soft skills show how you do it — how you lead, communicate, collaborate, and adapt in the face of change.

Recruiters and hiring managers consistently rate soft skills as equally (if not more) important than technical expertise. In fact, a LinkedIn Global Talent Trends report found that 92% of talent professionals consider soft skills critical to hiring success.

If you’ve ever wondered which soft skills to include on your resume — and how to present them convincingly — this guide breaks it down with real-world examples that you can adapt for your own career.

Why Soft Skills Matter More Than Ever

Technology is transforming how we work, but not who we are. Even the most technical roles — from data scientists to engineers — require communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Employers are no longer just hiring for capability; they’re hiring for collaboration.

Soft skills make you more adaptable, coachable, and effective in dynamic environments. They help teams function smoothly and enable leaders to inspire trust. In a hybrid or remote world, where miscommunication can derail productivity, the ability to connect and empathize is invaluable.

Simply put: soft skills turn knowledge into impact.

How to Showcase Soft Skills on Your Resume

Listing soft skills isn’t enough. Anyone can claim to be a “team player” or “great communicator.” The key is to demonstrate these traits through achievements and examples.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

  1. Integrate soft skills into your work experience.
    Instead of listing “leadership” as a skill, show how you led:

    “Led a team of 10 to deliver a cross-functional product launch two weeks ahead of schedule.”

  2. Use keywords that match job descriptions.
    Hiring systems (ATS) often scan for soft-skill phrases such as “communication,” “organization,” or “collaboration.” Include them naturally in your resume.

  3. Quantify the impact of your soft skills.

    “Improved team collaboration efficiency by 25% through structured weekly stand-ups.”

  4. Reflect them in your summary and cover letter.
    Your resume summary should give a sense of your personality and professional style — not just your technical strengths.

With that in mind, let’s look at the most valuable soft skills to include on your resume in 2025.

1. Communication Skills

Communication consistently ranks as the #1 soft skill employers seek. It includes both verbal and written communication, active listening, and the ability to tailor your message to your audience.

Effective communicators ensure clarity in projects, align stakeholders, and reduce misinterpretations. In distributed teams, clear writing and digital communication are even more crucial.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Delivered weekly project updates to 50+ stakeholders, ensuring transparency across departments.”
  • “Simplified complex technical concepts for non-technical clients.”
  • “Authored user guides that improved product adoption by 40%.”

2. Teamwork and Collaboration

No one achieves success alone. Employers want professionals who work well with others, resolve conflicts constructively, and support group goals.

In cross-functional teams, collaboration involves respecting diverse opinions and leveraging everyone’s strengths. A Harvard Business Review study found that effective collaboration increases innovation and employee engagement.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Collaborated with engineers and designers to deliver a new feature serving 100K users.”
  • “Worked with marketing and analytics teams to boost campaign ROI by 35%.”
  • “Partnered with HR and operations to streamline onboarding for 200+ employees.”

3. Adaptability and Flexibility

Change is the only constant in modern work. Whether it’s shifting market trends, new technologies, or organizational restructuring, adaptability signals that you can thrive under uncertainty.

Employers value candidates who remain positive, resourceful, and proactive in dynamic environments. Adaptable professionals don’t just survive change — they lead it.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Adapted project timelines and strategies during a 2023 supply chain disruption.”
  • “Successfully transitioned from in-office to hybrid work while maintaining 100% project delivery.”
  • “Learned new data visualization tools to meet emerging client needs.”

4. Leadership and Influence

Leadership isn’t limited to management positions. It’s about motivating, guiding, and empowering others to achieve shared goals.

Strong leaders foster trust, encourage accountability, and communicate vision clearly. Even if you haven’t held a formal leadership role, you can demonstrate influence — the ability to inspire action and alignment.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Mentored three junior analysts, improving their performance scores by 15%.”
  • “Led cross-departmental initiative that cut reporting time by 30%.”
  • “Spearheaded employee engagement program adopted company-wide.”

5. Problem-Solving

Problem-solving reflects creativity, logic, and persistence. It’s about diagnosing challenges and developing effective solutions — quickly and efficiently.

Employers love problem-solvers because they don’t just flag issues; they take ownership and find answers. Whether through data analysis, creative brainstorming, or process improvement, problem-solving drives progress.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Resolved 85% of customer issues on first contact by redesigning support workflows.”
  • “Identified data bottlenecks, reducing processing time by 20%.”
  • “Developed contingency plans that minimized downtime during software migration.”

6. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Emotional intelligence — the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others — has become a cornerstone of professional success. High EQ improves teamwork, leadership, and decision-making.

According to a World Economic Forum report, emotional intelligence ranks among the top ten skills for the future of work. People with high EQ build trust and navigate interpersonal dynamics with empathy.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Mediated team conflicts, improving collaboration and morale.”
  • “Provided feedback constructively, resulting in a 15% boost in team satisfaction.”
  • “Recognized for empathetic leadership and mentorship in 2024 employee survey.”

7. Time Management and Organization

Time management goes beyond meeting deadlines — it’s about prioritization, focus, and consistency. Organized professionals help projects run smoothly and prevent last-minute crises.

In fast-paced workplaces, this skill reflects reliability and foresight. Employers value candidates who can manage multiple priorities without compromising quality.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Coordinated three simultaneous product launches, each completed on time and under budget.”
  • “Implemented task management tools that improved team efficiency by 18%.”
  • “Handled 40+ client deliverables weekly with zero missed deadlines.”

8. Creativity and Innovation

Creativity fuels innovation — and innovation drives business growth. It’s not just for designers or marketers; it’s for anyone who can think differently and improve existing processes.

A creative professional doesn’t wait for direction — they bring fresh perspectives to old problems. In 2025, as automation grows, creativity remains one of the most uniquely human skills.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Developed a new workflow that cut reporting time in half.”
  • “Introduced customer survey design that increased response rates by 50%.”
  • “Conceptualized a cross-platform marketing campaign featured in industry publications.”

9. Critical Thinking

Critical thinkers analyze information objectively, challenge assumptions, and make data-driven decisions. This skill is vital for roles in management, analysis, strategy, and technology.

Employers appreciate professionals who can weigh pros and cons and recommend informed solutions. In a data-rich world, decision quality often determines business success.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Assessed vendor proposals using cost-benefit analysis, saving $120K annually.”
  • “Evaluated project risks and implemented mitigation plans to ensure 98% on-time delivery.”
  • “Identified key market trends through competitor analysis, guiding strategic pivots.”

10. Work Ethic and Reliability

Work ethic may sound old-fashioned, but it’s as relevant as ever. Employers want dependable professionals who take ownership, deliver consistently, and uphold integrity in every task.

Reliability builds reputation — and reputation builds trust. A strong work ethic shows through punctuality, consistency, and initiative.

How to show it on your resume:

  • “Recognized as ‘Employee of the Quarter’ for reliability and client service excellence.”
  • “Maintained 100% attendance and on-time project delivery record for three consecutive years.”
  • “Volunteered for high-priority projects requiring rapid turnaround under pressure.”

Bonus: 5 Emerging Soft Skills for 2025

As workplaces evolve, new soft skills are gaining traction:

  1. Digital Communication – Mastering remote collaboration tools and maintaining clarity across time zones.
  2. Resilience – Bouncing back quickly from setbacks and learning from failure.
  3. Cultural Intelligence – Working effectively across diverse teams and geographies.
  4. Ethical Judgment – Navigating data privacy, AI ethics, and organizational transparency.
  5. Growth Mindset – Embracing continuous learning and adaptability to change.

Including these in your resume — when relevant — demonstrates that you’re future-ready.

Bringing It All Together

When listing soft skills on your resume, the goal is not to say you have them, but to show how you’ve used them to drive results.

Here’s how you can structure your Skills section effectively:

Example:

Core Competencies:
Communication | Leadership | Problem-Solving | Emotional Intelligence | Adaptability | Strategic Thinking

Then, reinforce each skill through examples in your experience section. Recruiters notice when your listed skills are backed by real achievements.

Remember: your resume should read like a professional narrative, not a personality quiz.

Final Thoughts

Soft skills are the invisible threads that tie your technical expertise together. They define how you think, act, and lead — and they’re what truly make your resume human.

In 2025 and beyond, organizations are prioritizing empathy, collaboration, and communication as much as technical mastery. By identifying and illustrating your top soft skills, you’ll stand out not just as a qualified candidate, but as a valuable team member and future leader.