93% of employers want to see soft skills on your resume—here are 8 of the most in-demand ones
By Gil Molinsky
When applying for a job, there are many ways to optimize your resume. You can check the listing to see where the employer’s priorities lie in terms of experience, and make sure to highlight what’s most important to them, for example. You can include any major achievements like exceeding sales goals. And you can include a link to your LinkedIn profile.
One group of skills career experts say is crucial to include is your soft skills. An overwhelming majority ― 93% of employers ― say “soft skills play a critical role in their decision about whom they want to hire,” Ian Siegel, co-founder and CEO of ZipRecruiter, said in the company’s recent report The Job Market Outlook for Grads.
Soft skills include a wide array of abilities. “I would say, in general, communication is very high on that list right now considering how people are working in very different situations, hybrid situations,” says Kristin Kelley, chief marketing officer at CareerBuilder, as an example.
ZipRecruiter compiled some of the most in-demand soft skills on its platform. Here are the top skills on that list, including the number of jobs on the site listing the skill as a requirement.
The 8 Most In-Demand Soft Skills Employers Want
1. Communication Skills (6.1 million jobs)
Strong communication is essential in hybrid and remote work environments, where clarity via email, video, and chat platforms is key. It also plays a critical role in team collaboration, conflict resolution, and aligning goals.
2. Customer Service (5.5 million jobs)
Employers highly value people who can resolve issues with empathy and professionalism. Great customer service directly impacts client satisfaction and retention, making it vital across industries.
3. Scheduling (5 million jobs)
Being able to organize meetings, tasks, and priorities ensures smooth team operations and time efficiency. It’s especially important in remote roles where coordination is more complex.
4. Time Management (3.6 million jobs)
Time management is the foundation of productivity. Employers look for candidates who can meet deadlines, juggle tasks, and stay focused without micromanagement.
5. Project Management (2.8 million jobs)
Project management shows your ability to lead initiatives from start to finish. It includes goal setting, task delegation, and results tracking — all critical for high-performing teams.
6. Analytical Thinking (2.7 million jobs)
This skill enables employees to make smart, data-driven decisions. Employers need people who can interpret information, spot trends, and solve problems quickly.
7. Ability to Work Independently (2 million jobs)
Remote and hybrid work require employees who are self-motivated and reliable. This skill shows that you can take initiative and manage your responsibilities with minimal supervision.
8. Flexibility (1.3 million jobs)
In today’s fast-paced work environments, being adaptable to change is non-negotiable. Employers value team members who can shift priorities, multitask, and stay calm under pressure.
Why Communication Tops the List
When it comes to the importance of communication, in part, as Kelley says, that’s a result of the new remote and hybrid work arrangements that rely heavily on tech. “How you respond to someone who sent you an email” matters, she says as an example. “Formally respond to them in 24 hours.”
The importance of communication is also a result of various companies’ recent diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
“To be a diverse and inclusive employer,” says Georgene Huang, co-founder and CEO of Fairygodboss, “you have to work with all different kinds of people, which means you have to be able to communicate effectively with all different kinds of people.”
When it comes to scheduling and time management, “no matter what kind of role you have, if you can’t organize your time,” you can’t be effective, she says.
Finally, when it comes to flexibility, “people really have to be able to turn left, turn right on a dime, join the Zoom, be able to manage their own instant messages coming in,” says Kelley. There’s an element of ease with multitasking and being able to switch what you’re doing at a moment’s notice that has heightened since the pandemic and as so many people continue to work from home.
Include your soft skills by giving concrete examples of how you’ve used them either in your resume intro or the bullets under your job descriptions.
Considering a career move? Reach out to our team or check out our advice section to stay ahead in today’s hiring market.