If you’re planning to job-hunt in 2026, polish up that resume – but don’t forget to brush up on your people skills too.
ResumeTemplates.com polled over 1,000 hiring managers and found that “soft skills” are no longer just a nice bonus. Even if you’re overqualified on paper, they could make or break your chances of landing that next gig.
While “hard skills” refer to job-specific knowledge, soft skills include traits like teamwork, communication, and time management. And in today’s workplace, they matter. A lot. In fact, 62% of managers say hard and soft skills are equally important, and 24% go even further – saying soft skills now outweigh the rest.
So, what should you work on if you want to boost your hireability? According to the survey, here are the top 10 soft skills hiring managers are most drawn to:
- Good communication: This includes being clear and concise in emails, listening well, and generally not sounding like you’re typing with oven mitts on.
- Professionalism: Yes, this is still a thing – apparently, some younger applicants have never heard of it. One expert noted that Gen Z’s “more laid-back attitude” could be the reason professionalism ranks so high now.
- Time management: Can you actually meet a deadline without five reminder emails and a last-minute panic attack?
- Accountability: Own your wins and your losses.
- Resilience: The ability to bounce back when things go sideways.
- Problem-solving: Can you troubleshoot without spiraling into existential dread?
- Critical thinking: This one’s about thinking beyond the obvious, and also knowing when an idea is just plain bad.
- Attention to detail: Because “teh best condidate” probably isn’t the best candidate.
- Collaboration: Work well with others or risk becoming the office cautionary tale.
- Adaptability: Roll with the changes, especially with AI shaking up just about every industry. Leaning in and learning to use it well could be your secret weapon.
Bottom line? Your resume might say you can code in 12 languages. But if you can’t play nice in the digital sandbox, that job might go to someone who can.
So start practicing now – and maybe don’t begin that concise email with “per my last message…”