By Ihor Tymonchuk in Career Advice — 23 Dec 2025

20 Soft Skills Examples To Boost Your Resume In 2026

Employers rarely hire based on technical expertise alone. You can be the strongest engineer, marketer, or analyst in the room, but if you struggle to collaborate, communicate, or adapt, a hiring manager may still pass. That is the power of soft skills.

Soft skills show how you work - not just what you can do. On a resume, they reveal your personality, how you solve problems, and what it is like to have you on a team. Used strategically, they can be the deciding factor between two equally qualified candidates.

This guide walks through what soft skills are, how they differ from hard skills, how to improve them, and 20 soft skills examples you can confidently add to your resume in 2026. You will also learn how to showcase them so they align tightly with each job description using Fitly.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are the transferable, people-centered, and self-management skills that help you succeed in any role, industry, or level of seniority. They are not tied to a specific tool or platform. Instead, they shape how you communicate, collaborate, make decisions, and navigate challenges at work.

Examples include communication, empathy, adaptability, problem solving, and time management. Whether you are in sales, engineering, operations, or design, employers expect you to apply these skills daily as you listen to stakeholders, manage priorities, contribute to projects, and drive results with others.

What is the difference between soft skills and hard skills?

Soft skills describe how you work. Hard skills describe what you can do.

Soft skills are connected to your behaviors and personality traits - for example, communication, leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Hard skills are technical or role-specific abilities - for example, Python programming, financial modeling, Figma design, or SEO strategy.

For instance, a content marketer may list SEO strategy and email automation as hard skills, and creativity and storytelling as soft skills. Employers generally want a blend of both - proven technical expertise plus the soft skills to work effectively with others and adapt to change.

To stand out, match the hard skills from the job description and reinforce them with soft skills that show you can execute those tasks in a collaborative, reliable way. Fitly helps you identify which soft skills are actually requested in each posting so you do not waste space on generic claims.

How to improve soft skills

Soft skills are highly learnable. You can intentionally develop them through feedback, observation, and practice.

1. Accept feedback

Honest feedback is one of the fastest ways to grow soft skills. If colleagues or managers highlight issues such as being overly direct, slow to respond, disorganized, or resistant to change, treat that as valuable data, not a personal attack.

Ask clarifying questions so you fully understand the behavior they experience.
Request specific examples and what “better” would look like to them.
Turn feedback into one or two concrete habits to practice over the next few weeks.

A growth-oriented mindset toward feedback signals maturity and makes it easier to strengthen soft skills over time.

2. Learn from others

Most workplaces have people who are naturally strong in certain soft skills: the teammate everyone trusts to de-escalate conflict, the manager who makes complex ideas feel simple, or the colleague who always delivers on time.

Observe how they listen, ask questions, structure messages, or handle tough conversations.
Ask them what helped them develop that skill and what they do differently from others.
Experiment with their strategies in your own work and ask for input on your progress.

You can also deepen your skills by taking courses, reading about communication or leadership, or role-playing real scenarios. The key is to practice consistently in real work situations.

20 soft skills examples to add to your resume in 2026

Below are 20 in-demand soft skills, what they look like in practice, and how they can support your career. You do not need to include every one on your resume. Instead, select those that are most relevant to your experience and to the roles you are targeting. Tools like Fitly can help you determine which skills matter most for a specific job posting.

1. Communication

Strong communication skills enable you to share information clearly, respectfully, and efficiently, whether you are presenting to leadership, updating a client, or writing a project summary.

Professionals with poor communication may be abrasive, vague, or confusing, which slows teams down. Great communicators are direct but considerate. They use eye contact and body language effectively, structure their ideas logically, and adjust their message based on who they are speaking to.

2. Active listening

Active listening means giving someone your full attention instead of planning your next response while they are talking. It involves reflecting back what you heard, asking clarifying questions, and pausing before you respond.

On teams, active listening reduces misalignment and misunderstandings. It helps you really understand stakeholders’ needs, which leads to better decisions, fewer rework cycles, and stronger relationships.

3. Collaboration

Collaboration is the ability to work effectively with others toward a shared objective. It is about more than just “being on the same project” - it is actively aligning, sharing context, and co-creating solutions.

Strong collaborators:

Bring the right people into discussions.
Invite diverse perspectives before decisions are made.
Help the group move from debate to decision to execution.

This skill is especially important in cross-functional environments where priorities and constraints differ between teams.

4. Tactfulness

Tactfulness is delivering honest feedback or direct messages in a way that is respectful and thoughtful. Direct communicators can sometimes come across as harsh or dismissive, even when that is not their intention.

A tactful professional still shares the truth, but pairs it with empathy and context. They choose the right time, place, and tone, and focus on behaviors and outcomes rather than attacks on character. This keeps conversations productive, even when topics are sensitive.

5. Conflict resolution

Conflict is inevitable wherever people care about results. Conflict resolution is the ability to work through disagreements without damaging trust or momentum.

Effective conflict resolvers:

Stay calm and neutral while others share their perspectives.
Separate facts from assumptions and emotions.
Guide the group toward a decision everyone can support, even if they did not fully agree initially - often called “disagree and commit.”

This skill prevents small disagreements from becoming long-term cultural problems.

6. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and care about other people’s feelings, perspectives, and pressures. It is crucial for roles that involve people leadership, HR, recruiting, customer success, or any high-stakes stakeholder management.

Empathetic colleagues ask how decisions affect others, listen deeply during challenges, and balance business needs with human realities. They make teams feel safer, which increases engagement and performance.

7. Adaptability

Adaptability is your ability to stay effective and positive when priorities, tools, or structures change. In fast-scaling companies or shifting markets, this is non-negotiable.

Adaptable professionals:

Adjust quickly when processes change or new tools are introduced.
Reframe change as an opportunity to learn.
Help others navigate transitions by sharing information and experimenting with new approaches.

When combined with strong technical skills, adaptability helps teams respond quickly to new opportunities and risks.

8. Growth mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that skills and abilities can be developed through effort, feedback, and learning. People with a growth mindset do not see weaknesses as permanent - they see them as areas to improve.

This mindset leads you to seek challenging tasks, ask for coaching, and experiment with new methods rather than avoiding difficulties. Many modern employers explicitly look for growth mindset in candidates, especially in evolving industries such as technology.

9. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to objectively analyze information, spot gaps or inconsistencies, and question assumptions before drawing conclusions.

Rather than accepting everything at face value, critical thinkers:

Ask for data and evidence.
Look for alternative explanations.
Consider long-term implications, not just short-term wins.

This skill is essential in roles that rely on analysis, strategy, risk assessment, or complex decision making.

10. Foresight

Foresight builds over time as you gain experience in a particular field. It is the ability to anticipate trends, issues, and opportunities before they fully emerge.

Professionals with strong foresight:

Recognize patterns in customer behavior, market shifts, or internal operations.
Distinguish between short-lived fads and real, structural changes.
Plan proactively, rather than reacting at the last minute.

Leaders especially rely on foresight to set strategy and allocate resources wisely.

11. Creativity

Creativity is the ability to generate new ideas, see problems from unconventional angles, and connect concepts that others might not relate.

Creative professionals do not just brainstorm; they reframe constraints into opportunities. They ask “what if” and explore multiple options before converging on the strongest solution. Broad learning and diverse experiences provide raw material for creative thinking.

12. Decision-making

Decision-making is about gathering the right information, weighing trade-offs, and choosing a direction with confidence.

Strong decision makers:

Identify what information is critical and what is noise.
Seek input from key stakeholders without getting stuck in endless debate.
Commit to a course of action and follow through, while adjusting if new data emerges.

This soft skill prevents analysis paralysis and keeps projects moving forward.

13. Leadership

Leadership is not limited to people with a manager title. It is the ability to inspire, guide, and elevate others toward a shared goal.

Leadership as a soft skill involves:

Communicating a clear vision and direction.
Delegating work effectively and trusting others to deliver.
Coaching and mentoring teammates so they grow in their roles.
Making tough calls while staying empathetic and fair.

Demonstrating leadership on your resume can help you stand out for promotions and higher-responsibility roles.

14. Relationship-building

Relationship-building is the ability to create and maintain positive, productive connections with colleagues, clients, and partners.

People who excel at relationship-building:

Show genuine interest in others’ goals and challenges.
Follow through on commitments to build trust.
Bridge gaps between teams and help groups work together smoothly.

This skill is especially valuable in roles that depend on cross-functional collaboration or long-term client relationships.

15. Negotiation

Negotiation involves finding outcomes that work for all parties involved, whether you are finalizing a contract, scoping a project, or discussing your compensation.

Effective negotiators:

Prepare by understanding each side’s priorities and constraints.
Listen carefully to uncover what matters most to others.
Propose creative options that expand the value on the table.
Stay calm and solution-focused under pressure.

Negotiation is powered by communication skills, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative mindset.

16. Work ethic

Work ethic reflects your reliability, discipline, and commitment to doing high-quality work. It is not about working endlessly - it is about how you show up during working hours.

Someone with a strong work ethic:

Meets deadlines consistently and communicates early if a delay is possible.
Holds themselves to high standards, even when no one is watching.
Balances productivity with sustainable habits and boundaries.

This soft skill reassures employers that they can trust you with important responsibilities.

17. Time management

Time management is how you prioritize, schedule, and protect your time so that you can deliver results without constant last-minute stress.

Strong time managers:

Break large projects into clear, manageable steps.
Use calendars and task systems to plan their week.
Negotiate deadlines and scope when capacity is limited instead of overcommitting.

This skill supports nearly every other soft and hard skill on your resume.

18. Presentation skills

Presentation skills involve translating complex ideas, data, or strategies into clear, engaging stories for any audience.

Professionals with strong presentation skills:

Structure information logically with a beginning, middle, and end.
Use visuals and examples to make concepts easy to grasp.
Speak with confidence and adjust pacing based on audience reactions.

Improving this skill can dramatically increase your visibility and influence in an organization.

19. Positivity

Positivity is not about ignoring problems. It is about maintaining an optimistic, solution-oriented outlook in the face of challenges.

Positive teammates:

Look for what can be improved instead of dwelling on what went wrong.
Encourage others during difficult projects or tight deadlines.
Help create an environment where people feel energized rather than drained.

Hiring managers value this trait because it shapes team morale and resilience.

20. Organization skills

Organization skills help you manage information, workflows, and priorities so that nothing critical falls through the cracks.

Organized professionals:

Keep clear documentation, notes, and project plans.
Use systems and tools to track tasks, deadlines, and dependencies.
Know when to ask for help or redistribute work to keep commitments on track.

Good organization creates predictability for everyone around you and makes collaboration smoother.

How to add soft skills to your resume

Soft skills are most convincing when you show them in action, not just list them. Here is how to add them strategically to your resume so they resonate with hiring managers and applicant tracking systems.

1. Start with the job description

Read the job posting carefully and highlight every soft skill it implies or states directly. Look for words and phrases such as “stakeholder management,” “cross-functional collaboration,” “communicates clearly,” “handles ambiguity,” or “leads without authority.”

Instead of guessing, you can upload both your resume and the job description to Fitly. The platform analyzes the posting, extracts required skills, and compares them with your resume so you can see exactly which soft skills to emphasize and where you may have gaps.

2. Weave soft skills into your bullet points

Listing “communication” or “leadership” in a skills section is not enough. Showcase soft skills inside your experience bullets by pairing them with outcomes and metrics.

For example:

Collaboration: “Partnered with product and engineering to launch a new feature that increased user activation by 18 percent.”
Conflict resolution: “Mediated a scope dispute between sales and delivery teams, resulting in a revised agreement that protected margin and maintained client satisfaction scores above 95 percent.”
Time management: “Led three concurrent client projects, delivering all milestones on time over 12 months by implementing a weekly planning cadence.”

Fitly can help you rewrite bullets to highlight the skills each employer cares about most while remaining true to your experience.

3. Align your skills section with your target role

Use a compact skills section that blends your top technical and soft skills that are directly relevant to the job. Avoid long lists of generic traits.

For example, instead of:

Skills: Communication, Leadership, Teamwork, Hard-working, Organized

You might show:

Skills: Stakeholder communication, Cross-functional collaboration, Data storytelling, Strategic decision-making, Time management

When you upload the job description to Fitly, it highlights which soft and hard skills appear in the posting so you can tailor this section with precision.

4. Reflect soft skills in your summary and achievements

Use your professional summary to spotlight two or three soft skills that define how you work, backed by results.

For example:

“Product manager with 6+ years leading cross-functional teams, known for clear stakeholder communication and data-informed decision-making. Recently led a roadmap shift that increased retention by 12 percent.”

Throughout your resume, choose achievements that demonstrate soft skills in action: leading initiatives, resolving issues, mentoring peers, driving alignment, or navigating change.

5. Use AI to tailor soft skills for every application

Customizing your resume for every role can be time-consuming if you do it manually. Fitly streamlines this process:

Upload your resume and the job description you want to target.
Let the AI analyze both documents, identify key responsibilities and skills, and show where your resume is aligned or missing keywords.
Get tailored, role-specific suggestions for which soft skills to emphasize and how to phrase them so they match the employer’s language without exaggerating your experience.

The result is a focused, credible resume that highlights the right mix of soft and hard skills for each role - and a smoother path from application to interview.

Put your soft skills to work on your resume

Soft skills are often what separate a qualified candidate from a memorable one. By understanding which soft skills companies value, developing them intentionally, and showcasing them with concrete examples, you present yourself as someone who is not only capable, but also great to work with.

If you want help translating your real strengths into a job-specific, optimized resume, upload your document and target role to Fitly. In a few guided steps, you will see exactly how well your resume matches the job and how to refine your soft skills and achievements so hiring managers quickly see your fit.