Hard versus Soft Skills

Task 1: Read the descriptions of hard and soft skills and drag the various skills in the
appropriate EXAMPLE column.
Task 2: Brainstorm all the hard and soft skills you have; decide if they are Hard or Soft list them
in the appropriate box, using the Transferable Skills inventory you have completed to help you.
Think of your experiences at school, at work, volunteering, in clubs, at church, on sports teams,
or other organizations.
Task 3: Read the job description for a retail manager position and highlight the hard and soft
skills the employer is indicating, regardless if it is explicitly (actually stated) and implicitly (hinted
at) mentioned.
Hard Skills: these are the formally learned skills and clear abilities that a specific job requires,
often previous work experience, classwork, trainings, transcripts, test scores, and certificates
show these skills. These are the kinds of skills listed clearly in a job posting.

EXAMPLES of hard skills

Writing a Purssavssive essay

MY hard skills
Speaking fluent in Spanish
Photo-editing with Photoshop
Driving a forklift
Speaking conversationally in French
Having a CPR certification
Checking work for errors
Balancing cash register at the end of shift
Ordering inventory
Typing 100 words per minute
Cleaning up hazardous materials
Developing a database

Soft Skills: these are the informally learned skills and abilities that are required by many or all
jobs, often these are not explicitly learned in a class setting, but rather through role modeling by
others or through other personal experiences. Often these are overlooked as important and
necessary skills to be a good employee, though employers are looking for them, if not more so
than hard skills. These also may appear in job postings, but more subtly.

EXAMPLES of soft skills

MY soft skills

Turning in work on time

Working in a team
Emailing etiquette
Organizing materials
Having a positive attitude
Operating a cash register
Listening
Willingness to learn
Standing on feet for 8 hours
Having a positive attitude
Being punctual
Lifting 50 pounds at a time
Fishing job before starting a new one
Greeting customers
Answering phones
Being well-groomed

Drag each of these skills into the appropriate EXAMPLES (left) column
Speaking fluent in Spanish
Working in a team
Emailing etiquette
Photo-editing with Photoshop
Organizing materials
Driving a forklift
Having a positive attitude
Speaking conversationally in French
Listening
Willingness to learn
Standing on feet for 8 hours
Having a CPR certification
Operating a cash register
Checking work for errors
Having a positive attitude
Balancing cash register at the end of shift
Being punctual
Lifting 50 pounds at a time
Fishing job before starting a new one
Ordering inventory
Typing 100 words per minute
Greeting customers
Cleaning up hazardous materials
Answering phones
Developing a database
Being well-groomed

In the following job description, highlight in RED all the words or phrases that
require a specific hard skill and highlight in GREEN all the words or phrases
that require a specific soft skill.

Retail Store Manager Job Description

Retail Store Manager Job Responsibilities:
Serves customers by providing merchandise; supervising staff.

Retail Store Manager Job Duties:

Completes store operational requirements by scheduling and assigning
employees using software program; following up on work results.
Maintains store staff by recruiting, interviewing and hiring, and training new
employees using corporate procedures and materials.
Maintains store staff job results by coaching, counseling, and disciplining
employees; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
Achieves financial objectives by preparing an annual budget; scheduling
expenses; analyzing changes in budget; initiating corrective actions.
Identifies current and future customer requirements by establishing
relationships with potential and actual customers and other persons in a
position to understand service requirements.
Ensures availability of merchandise and services by approving contracts;
maintaining inventories databases; ordering new inventory; communicating
with warehouse about inventory needs.
Formulates pricing strategies by reviewing merchandising activities;
determining additional needed sales promotion; authorizing clearance sales;
studying trends.
Markets merchandise by studying advertising, sales promotion, and display
plans; analyzing operating and financial statements for profitability ratios.
Secures merchandise by implementing security systems and measures.
Protects employees and customers by providing a safe and clean store
environment.
Maintains the stability and reputation of the store by complying with legal
requirements.
Determines marketing strategy changes by reviewing operating and financial
statements and departmental sales records.

 Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational

workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal
networks; participating in professional societies.
Maintains operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program,
operational, and personnel policies and procedures.
Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Retail Store Manager Skills and Qualifications:

2+ years in retail management preferred
Proven track record of positive sales and growth, strong customer service
Ability to utilize corporate software programs for budget, inventory, staffing
records
Maintain vendor and warehouse relationships
Ability to stand for several hours at a time, lift 20 pounds

Content (Common Core Social Studies 1, 7)

Exceeding
Uses ample
specific pieces of
evidence to
support a
complete and rich
analysis and
reflection of the
topic;
demonstrates a
solid
understanding of
the assignments
purpose and has
made strong
personal and
original meaning.

Meeting
Uses specific
pieces of evidence
to support a
complete analysis
and reflection of
the topic;
demonstrates an
understanding of
the assignments
purpose and has
made personal and
original meaning.

Approaching
Uses few specific
pieces of evidence
to support a
limited analysis
and reflection of
the topic;
demonstrates a
limited
understanding of
the assignments
purpose and has
made limited
personal and
original meaning.

Beginning
Uses few or no
specific pieces of
evidence to
support a very
limited analysis
and reflection of
the topic;
demonstrates a
little
understanding of
the assignments
purpose and has
made little or no
personal and
original meaning.

Writing Craft (Common Core Writing 1)

Exceeding

Meeting

Approaching

Beginning

Organizes ideas
effectively using
strong transitions.
Uses strong
personal, yet
formal voice;
follows all specific
writing
requirements of
assignment.

Organizes ideas
effectively using
effective
transitions. Uses a
personal, yet
formal voice;
follows specific
writing
requirements of
assignment.

Organization is
vague, with limited
transitions. Uses
an inappropriate
voice; follows few
of the specific
writing
requirements of
assignment.

Little or no
organization, or
transitions. Uses
an informal voice;
follows few or
none of the
specific writing
requirements of
assignment.