SOFT SKILLS

Soft Skills are the non-technical skills, abilities, traits that workers need to function in a specific employment environment. They include four sets of work place competencies:

1. Personal Qualities and Work Ethics

2. Problem- Solving and other Cognitive Skills

3. Oral Communication Skills

4. Interpersonal and Teamwork Skills

  Wilhelmina Leigh, Deitra H. Lee, and Malinda A. Lindquist
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REPRESENTATIVE STUDIES OF EMPLOYER NEEDS
Gary Natriello
       
Employers were asked to identify employee skills requiring more emphasis:

1. Dependability received the highest rating
2. Basic communication
3. Thinking and problem solving
4. Basic arithmetic

 
Employers were asked what the reasons were for rejecting entry-level job applications:

1. Low interest
2. Previous job hopping
3. Poor communication skills

 
Employers were asked the most common reasons for termination:

1. Absenteeism
2. Lack of interest

 
Employers were asked about areas in which employees need to improve:

1. Concern for productivity
2. Pride in work
3. Responsibility

 
Employers were asked about characteristics that affected employee selection:

1. Communication skills
2. Appearance
3. Stable work experience
4. Self-confidence
5. Interviewing skills
6. Desire to learn
7. Accurate application
8. Grammar
   
9. The desire to advance