Soft Skills:

Professional environment demands certain fundamental characteristics from employees such as personality traits, behavioral patterns and social attitudes in order to communicate collaborate and administer challenges effectively. Hard skills are a person’s technical competency which could be attained over a short period of time. However, soft skills are challenging skills that could only be acquired through constant training and practice. Employees with exceptional soft skills can help organizations reach higher levels through extraordinary production and service.

Some of the demanding soft skills employers’ value:

Communication skills

Confidence

Positive attitude

Lateral thinking abilities

Creativity

Time management

Decision making skills

Negotiation skills etc

Language and Communication:

Language enables a person transmit information from one place to another and it is through this wonderful tool employee and employers accomplish great heights. Communication is probably one of the most important skills of all the soft skills. Universally, English is the dominant language of communication, both written and spoken, between clients and organizations around the globe. Therefore, English language skills should be nurtured and developed in order to communicate effectively in a working environment.

Life Skills:

According to WHO (World Health Organization), life skills are defined as “a group of psychosocial competencies and interpersonal skills that help people make informed decisions, solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, empathize with others, and cope with and manage their lives in a healthy and productive manner. Life skills may be directed toward personal actions or actions toward others, as well as toward actions to change the surrounding environment to make it conducive to health.” Young minds navigate their journey through adulthood to the professional world, hence they should be trained to develop their attitudes and instil social values in order to contribute to the society and attain success. Therefore, through education they are equipped with the fundamental social skills such as self-awareness, interpersonal skills and thinking skills in order to transform them into becoming a better citizen and achieve success in their career.

Some of the most important life skills are:

Communication skills

Stress management

Emotional regulation

Positive thinking

Self-esteem

Empathy

Listening skills

Interpersonal effectiveness

Handling disputes

Managing relationships

Goal setting

Decision making

Problem solving

Critical and creative thinking

Executive function skills

Resilience

Perseverance

ICT Skills:

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills refer to one’s ability to converse with people through various technologies. Similar to Information Technology (IT), ICT refers to technology use for regular, everyday tasks: sending an email, making a video call, searching the internet, using a tablet or mobile phone, and more. ICT skills could also include the ability to use older communication technologies such as telephones, radios, and televisions.

The Essential Computer Skills List for Students:

Typing Skills. Using a keyboard is key to using a computer

Using Web Browsers.

Working with Microsoft Office.

File Maintenance and Organization.

Email Etiquette.

Using the Internet for Research.

Basic Computer Troubleshooting.

Online Privacy, Security, and Safety Skills.

Advanced computer skills, as defined by the ICAS Computer Skills Assessment Framework include Internet and email, computers, word processing, graphics and multimedia, and spreadsheets and databases.