What Are Life Skills?
Any skill that is useful in your life can be considered a life skill. Life skills vary by culture and by a person’s age. A mature adult is expected to have stronger life skills than a younger person. However, there are certain life skills that almost every employer looks for when hiring new employees. Companies look for job candidates who can handle common challenges that arise at work, and life skills help employees do just that. People with strong life skills are considered to have maturity and professionalism. Those with strong life skills are less likely to be reactive, and they are aware of their surroundings and themselves. Life skills are critical to management and leadership positions.
Top Life Skills
Here are some of the most important life skills employers seek in candidates for hiring and promotion.
Communication
Communication skills are critical to life and work. Communication refers to one’s ability to convey information to others, either verbally, in writing, or through body language. These are important abilities in the workplace, no matter what your job. You need to be able to communicate with your employer, your colleagues, and your customers and clients.
Body Language Listening Literacy Presentation Skills Public Speaking Verbal Communication
Cooperation
In life, you need to be able to get along with others. Cooperation is especially important at work. You need to be able to work well and get along with others in meetings, on team projects, and in other collaborative settings.
Conflict Management Emotional Intelligence Empathy Etiquette Interpersonal Leadership Negotiating Teamwork Decision Making There are countless times in your life that you will have to make important decisions. This is true in the workplace as well. Employers want job candidates who can analyze situations, weigh options, and then make decisions on important matters. They do not want candidates that are indecisive and won’t make difficult choices. Creative Thinking Critical Thinking Flexibility Focus Organization Prioritization Problem Solving Time Management Timeliness
Handling Criticism
In work, you will receive some negative feedback from your employer. It is important that a job candidate can thoughtfully and professionally receive criticism, and grow from it. Being able to handle criticism well takes a number of other life skills, including self-awareness, thoughtfulness, and professionalism.
ApologizingAsking for HelpCopingGiving and Receiving FeedbackProfessionalismResilienceSelf-awarenessThoughtfulnessWillingness to Learn
Information Technology
Information technology (IT) is a critical area of life skills. People also need to have basic familiarity with information and communication technology (ICT), including mobile devices and their various software platforms. IT skills are also critical to almost every job. It’s important to be able to use common computer programs like Microsoft Word and Excel (or Google Docs and Sheets), regardless of your job. Any additional IT experience typically makes you an even stronger candidate.
Email ManagementProductivity SoftwareMicrosoft Office SuiteOnline Communication SoftwareSmartphonesSocial Media ManagementCloud SoftwareSpreadsheets
More Life Skills
Networking Recognizing Diversity Respect Numeracy Adaptability Analytical Delegating Leadership Innovation Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Bearing Stress Management Training Interviewing Flexibility Collaboration Active Listening Investigating Storytelling Patience Observation Resourcefulness Reconciliation Project Management Motivation Social Skills Supervising Talent Management Integrity
Sample Resume Highlighting Life Skills
This is an example of a resume that highlights life skills. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or review more examples. HIGHLIGHT SKILLS IN YOUR COVER LETTER: These skills can be highlighted in your cover letter. In the body of your letter, mention one or two of these skills, and give a specific example of a time when you demonstrated each of those skills at work. USE SKILL WORDS DURING JOB INTERVIEWS: You can use these skill words in an interview. Make sure you have at least one example of a time you demonstrated each of the top five skills listed here. Skills Summary Communication: Fluently communicate both orally and in writing with clients, associates, and across management levels in both English and Spanish. Proactive in identifying and addressing individuals’ needs and requirements, contributing to consensus by using positive mediation and active listening skills. Cooperation and Teamwork: Work well both as a member and a leader of team projects, ensuring high team morale and work ownership through open dialogues, recognition of successes, creative goal-setting, and skillful conflict resolution. Proactively solicit feedback and analyze criticism to define new directions for personal and team improvement. Decision Making and Leadership: Astutely analyze situations and resources to inform effective decision-making. Willingly assume leadership roles requiring solid organizational and motivational talents. Information Technology: Solid command of Microsoft Office Suite, QuickBooks, and Adobe Creative Cloud. Professional Experience ACME United – Greeneville, TNCustomer Service Agent, June 2015 to PresentProvide attentive customer service and support to clients, communicating via telephone and email to address queries and implement solutions to issues. Describe product offerings, assess client needs, and assist with order placement.
Gathered and analyzed customer feedback to develop new process that reduced trouble ticket response time by 40%.Earned ten “Employee of the Month” awards over course of tenure.
Orville’s Merchandise – Greeneville, TNSales Assistant, June 2013 to June 2015Greeted and assisted customers in product selection at historic downtown department store. Merchandised and restocked clothing displays, operated point-of-sale systems, and opened and closed store.
Created engaging morale- and confidence-building exercises adopted by senior management for training of new hires.Led team of five sales assistants tasked with developing innovative sales events that more than doubled daily sales proceeds.
EducationTUSCULUM UNIVERSITY, Tusculum, TNAssociate of Arts in General StudiesGraduated Magna cum Laude, Student Orientation Leader
