Why go to college? It’s a loaded question, and answers from students across the nation will be as diverse as the students themselves.

The “TLDR” answer is that students enter college at all adult ages to grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually; to learn, have fun, forge new relationships, and (hopefully) come out on the other side with the skills needed to enter a fulfilling, well-paying career.

While most of your focus in college might be on gaining the academic and technical skills you need to perform a job, you’re also gaining other lesser-known (but just as valuable) traits called “soft” skills.

Don’t be misled by the name — “soft skills” don’t mean weak in this context. Instead, the term refers to skills that aren’t as easily defined as things like accounting or welding. You don’t learn these skills from a textbook or a professor’s lecture notes, and they often present differently from person to person. Below, we’ll explore what soft skills are, why they should matter to you, and how you develop these skills in college.

What are Soft Skills? 

While hard skills are the technical and knowledge-based skills you need to perform a given role, soft skills are the personal attributes that allow you to work, interact, and communicate with others effectively.

For example, a nurse needs to know how to start an IV or administer medication — those are hard skills nurses must know to do their job. A soft skill in nursing could be knowing how to speak with a patient’s family when their loved one is sick and in the hospital — the ability to express the appropriate empathy and compassion in the moment and have difficult conversations in a healthcare setting.

A hard skill in some business settings might be knowing how to analyze a data set to make an informed decision for your company. The soft skill in this scenario is knowing how to approach your supervisor and organize your information to get your decision approved in a timely fashion — having all your “ducks in a row” to be able to clearly and effectively communicate your decision-making process.

Why Do Soft Skills Matter?

Referring to them as “soft” implies they are less important on the job, but these soft skills encompass the kind of characteristics employers are often looking for. This is because soft skills are more difficult to teach than technical knowledge, as they often require more adaptability from the student. Most people can learn technical skills while on the job, but people develop soft skills over time and through diverse experiences that likely extend beyond the classroom.

What is college but a series of experiences that challenge you to grow and evolve into the adult you’re meant to be?

Throughout college, you have experiences that help you learn to be a better listener, communicate with peers and supervisors, organize your responsibilities, and manage your time more efficiently to meet deadlines. Whether you live on campus or commute, navigating everyday life while in college helps you build these skills whether you realize it or not.

So, what are these so-called “soft” skills anyway?

Essential Soft Skills

The personal qualities you gain while interacting and communicating with people, generally regarded as soft skills, include:

• Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new situations and challenges.
• Self-Confidence: Believing in your abilities, qualities, and judgement.
• Conflict resolution: Working to resolve disputes and disagreements.
• Critical thinking: Being able to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and make informed decisions.
• Growth mindset: Seeing challenges and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.
• Interpersonal Communication: Being able to express ideas clearly and listen to others.
• Leadership: The ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve a common goal.
• Teamwork: The ability to communicate effectively, share ideas, and work towards a common goal.
• Time management: Learning to manage your time effectively.

How Do I Learn These Skills in College?

College is a rare time in your life — you’re on your own for the first time, establishing new routines, and discovering what you want out of your future. You’re also able to take advantage of the support services your college campus offers to help you endure and thrive throughout all these new experiences. College is the perfect opportunity to practice your soft skills. In fact, you’ve probably already encountered situations that have helped you grow in many of these areas.

Here are a few examples:

• Learning how, when, and where to do your laundry.
• Addressing a conflict with a roommate who keeps a different schedule than you do.
• Trying to figure out if you can go out with friends even though you have an assignment due.
• Talking to your professor about your grade in a class.
• Helping a friend overcome a challenging situation.

Any of these scenarios allow you to lean into soft skills like empathy, listening, organization, and conflict resolution — little by little, you slowly grow your confidence, helping to smooth your transition into a career after graduation and making you a more sought-after candidate in the job-search process. The knowledge you’ve developed will strengthen your professional interactions as a new employee, a peer, and eventually a leader.

Grow at UB

Now that you know your growth happens inside and outside the classroom, you can be more intentional about developing these skills. Speak with your professors, organize your coursework, and join a few clubs and organizations to help you perfect your leadership skills and use your voice to enact positive change on campus. Doing this will help you build your “soft skills.” Being strong in these areas will allow you to take healthy risks, face challenges, and pursue your goals with courage and determination.

University of Bridgeport offers you the best of both worlds — a vibrant and dynamic college experience and the support you need to transition from college to career.

Contact us today to learn more about University of Bridgeport’s career-focused degree programs.