Having natural leadership talents, being team-oriented, excelling in high-pressure situations, resolving interpersonal conflict, and effectively engaging diverse audiences are all examples of soft skills that are crucial for success in the workplace and academia. Hiring managers and admissions committees use your resume, cover letter, essays, and interview responses to gauge what types of soft skills you possess. Let’s examine five important soft skills you can build in college and the professional outcomes from utilizing them.

As a former academic advisor and faculty member at a public college, I often found that this question struck fear in the hearts of first-year college students, turning a conversation about potential majors into an existential identity crisis.