Seven soft skills you need on your résumé

Including examples of soft skills in your résumé is one of the most effective ways to stand out to employers, but which skills are most in demand?

Having the right soft skills in your résumé is one of the most valuable currencies a jobseeker has when employers are looking for the flexibility and adaptiveness needed for the jobs of tomorrow. 

Research shows 64% of employers agree that job seekers who display strong soft skills are more likely to land a job¹. According to Forbes Advisor, examples of in-demand soft skills include problem solving, teamwork, communication, adaptability, creativity, critical thinking, and time management².

Discover the most sought-after soft skills for your résumé and how RMIT can help you gain them. 

“[Learning] has a strong correlation to changing your mindset, boosting confidence and opening doors to new opportunities.” - Jason Laufer, LinkedIn Learning Asia-Pacific Senior Director

#1: Problem solving

Problem-solving mitigates risks, breeds innovation, and paves the way for continuous improvement. This skill is used every day to address and handle tasks in the workplace. In a way, problem-solving is the basis of productivity and handling day-to-day challenges.

SEEK lists problem-solving in the top three skills employers are looking for in 2024 and describes how problem-solving also shows employers that you are versatile and independent³.

Find solutions to the problems of tomorrow

Gain résumé-worthy examples of problem-solving skills by specialising in a growing field with many opportunities.

For example, the Certificate IV in Cyber Security gives you a host of problem-solving skills that will serve you well in the workforce, no matter where your career takes you. It’s also one of RMIT’s Free TAFE courses, so if you’re looking to upskill or reskill, you may be eligible to study without having to worry about tuition fees.

#2: Teamwork

It’s not just organisations and employers that benefit from productive teamwork - research shows employees also get a lot out of this soft skill. A survey conducted by Atlassian revealed that 80% of employees experience higher emotional well-being in teams that give honest feedback, mutual respect and maintain a healthy team culture⁴.

Work collaboratively with colleagues in any organisation 

RMIT’s hands-on learning approach means our students learn how to work in a variety of roles and sectors. Gaining real-world experience while you study through industry placements is an immersive and natural way to test and refine your professional teamwork skills.

For example, students in our Executive Master of Business Administration work collaboratively in small groups with like-minded peers. This allows them to learn alongside people from a variety of educational, professional and cultural backgrounds, and forms their network of future colleagues and industry contacts when they graduate. 

#3: Communication

Whether you’re an executive or a graduate, strong verbal and written communication skills are essential. They help you apply for jobs, listen to others, ask for what you want, explain your ideas and raise issues with your colleagues.  

Communication has consistently been ranked one of the most important soft skills for a résumé, with 13% of employers surveyed by SEEK placing it as the top skill in demand, and 36% including it in their top three⁵. 

Learn to communicate your ideas effectively

Our postgraduate communication courses will help you develop skills in marketing, advertising, writing, and journalism.

The Master of Communication will build your understanding of the fundamentals of communication in a changing media and industry landscape and offers flexibility for you to specialise in a relevant area including corporate and financial communication, public relations, and communication for social change. 

#4: Adaptability

In a world where technology and global circumstances are rapidly changing, having adaptability and resilience listed as skill in your résumé can help you stand out in the job market.  

Many careers have unexpected circumstances, such as routine changes or even industry-changing breakthroughs. Employers value those that can handle themselves, adapt to meet these new challenges, and make the most of new opportunities.

Gain a diverse skillset founded on adaptability 

Many of RMIT’s science courses follow an adaptable course structure with a customisable selection of majors and minors, future-focused foundational study areas, and the ability to gain cross-disciplinary skills that get you ready to lead the future of innovation. For example, the Bachelor of Science allows you to combine scientific skills with adjacent topics that you have a passion for, such as computer science or engineering.

#5: Creativity

Employers value the new ideas you can bring to their teams and projects.

Depending on the role you’re applying for, creativity may be an example of when you thought outside the box to solve an issue. Developing your creativity gives you a competitive edge in the job market by illustrating that you have an innovative mind.

Combine technical skills and creativity with engineering

Finding solutions in an engineering role requires a combination of technical skills and creative thinking. RMIT has a wide range of engineering engineering courses and each one lets you stretch your creativity by applying it to hands-on projects where you could be working on robots and electric car engines.

#6: Critical thinking

As an example of a soft skill, critical thinking involves solving problems and making informed decisions by reviewing all the available information.  

 Having examples of critical thinking in your CV shows that you can be self-aware and intuitive. These are important traits for employers often looking for those who have dealt with complex situations.

Build the analytical thinking and planning skills to provide IT solutions  

Gain résumé-worthy examples of critical thinking by specialising in analytics, cyber security, data science, business IT, and artificial intelligence at RMIT.  

RMIT’s IT courses allow you to tailor your study and gain the analytical skills central to your future career. An info tech course that teaches you critical thinking skills also opens a doorway to the increasingly in-demand tech sector. According to Hon Ed Husic, Australian Minister for Industry and Science there will be 1.2 million technology-related jobs in Australia by 2030⁶.  

#7: Time management

Knowing how to prioritise your workload in alignment with business goals and being adaptable to changes in priorities are two key components of time management.  

Time management often goes together with project management, as both skill sets involve breaking down tasks, noting dependencies and potential blocks, and committing to your schedule. 

Learn to manage projects on time and on budget

RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Project Management has an emphasis on the practical application of theory, so you’ll develop examples of this soft skill during your study and expand your capacity to respond to current and emerging issues and trends.  

In as little as six months, you will learn how to run complex projects with a range of stakeholders, managing all phases on time and to budget, and contribute to an increase in business effectiveness. 

Story: Jacob Johnston & Pallavi Daniel

References

¹SEEK. “How to talk up your soft skills when you apply for a job”. https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/article/how-to-talk-up-your-soft-skills-when-you-apply-for-a-job.

²Danao, Monique and Kelly Main. Forbes Advisor, “11 essential soft skills in 2024 (with examples)”. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/in/business/soft-skills-examples/.

³SEEK. “The top 9 skills employers look for”. https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/article/skills-employers-look-for.

⁴Middleton, Tracey. Atlassian, “The importance of teamwork (as proven by science)”. https://www.atlassian.com/blog/teamwork/the-importance-of-teamwork.

⁵Burgess, Melanie. “The skills employers want most and how to prove you have them”. Herald Sun. 13 September 2021, https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/smart/the-skills-employers-want-most-and-how-to-prove-you-have-them/news-story/e80ea22b75d0064fc9897db62ec25428.

⁶Husic, Ed. Minister for Industry and Science. “Number of Aussie tech workers on the rise”. https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/husic/media-releases/number-aussie-tech-workers-rise.

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