When looking for a job, you want to show off your hard skills – the specific knowledge and abilities needed to do that job. For example, if you are applying for a job as a computer programmer, you want to show off your coding skills in your resume and portfolio.
But hard skills are only part of what makes someone a good employee. Employers also look for soft skills – personal qualities and abilities that help you work well with others and get the job done right. Things like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management.
Soft skills are very important, but can be hard to show on paper. This article will explain 6 ways you can highlight your best soft skills when creating your job portfolio.
1) Communication Skills
Good communication is one of the most valued soft skills in any workplace. Being able to share information and ideas clearly, listen well, and communicate professionally is extremely important.
Do’s:
- Include writing samples that show you can explain complex topics in a simple, easy-to-understand way
- Record videos or audio clips of you giving a presentation or leading a meeting
- Share positive feedback about your communication from managers or clients
Don’ts:
- Use overly complex language or jargon that makes your writing hard to follow
- Record videos or audio in noisy environments with poor sound quality
- Share negative feedback or comments about your communication skills
Example: Jamie is applying for a job as a marketing coordinator. In her portfolio, she includes a short video where she presents a mock marketing campaign she created in a previous class. She speaks clearly, keeps things organized, and uses visual aids effectively. This shows she has strong public speaking and presentation skills.
2) Teamwork
Being a team player who can collaborate, compromise, and support others is extremely valuable in most jobs. Employers want people who can work well in a group.
Do’s:
- Include group project work samples with notes explaining your role and contributions
- Get quotes or testimonials from teammates praising your teamwork
- Highlight experience working cross-functionally with different departments
Don’ts:
- Only include solo work with no examples of collaborating with others
- Share negative feedback about your ability to cooperate in teams
- Downplay the importance of other teammates’ roles and contributions
Example: Michael is applying for a job as a graphic designer. For one of his portfolio pieces, he includes the team branding package his group created for a class project. He writes about how he took the lead on the logo design, but also supported his teammates by providing feedback on the color schemes, fonts, etc. He gets a positive quote from a teammate about what a “valuable team player” he was.
3) Problem-Solving
Being able to analyze issues, think critically, and create effective solutions is a highly prized soft skill across all industries. Showing your problem-solving abilities helps demonstrate your value.
Do’s:
- Document your process for tackling and resolving a particular challenge
- Highlight your strengths in areas like research, strategic thinking, innovation
- Share examples of times you took initiative to improve a process
Don’ts:
- Only show final products with no insight into your problem-solving journey
- Focus too much on the problems without clearly explaining your solutions
- Take all the credit for group solutions and improvements
Example: Fatima is applying for a role as a project manager. In one portfolio piece, she walks through how her team fell behind schedule on an initiative due to unexpected obstacles. She explains her process for investigating the root causes through data analysis and surveys. She then shares the new processes and strategies she recommended to get things back on track, along with metrics showing improved efficiency after implementing her solutions.
4) Leadership
In addition to being team players, employers want people who can step up, take charge when needed, and help motivate others to achieve shared goals.
Do’s:
- Highlight leadership positions or opportunities to spearhead initiatives
- Demonstrate times you motivated, inspired, or positively influenced others
- Share feedback praising your ability to delegate roles and responsibilities
Don’ts:
- Claim to be a leader without concrete examples demonstrating leadership
- Focus only on your individual role instead of how you enabled team success
- Share negative feedback about your struggles to gain buy-in or guide groups
Example: Jamal is applying for a sales management role. His portfolio includes data showing how he led his sales team to have the highest performance in the region last quarter. He also shares their strategic plan that he developed and got buy-in for from his team. Additionally, he has a testimonial from the VP praising his “extraordinary leadership in driving his team to exceed ambitious targets.”
5) Time Management
Being able to effectively prioritize, create realistic plans, and use time wisely is a crucial soft skill for juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities.
Do’s:
- Demonstrate your processes for setting goals, scheduling, and tracking progress
- Highlight achievements or accomplishments that required exceptional time management
- Share positive feedback specifically about your punctuality and ability to meet deadlines
Don’ts:
- Only showcase final products without insight into your planning and time management
- Share examples of times you missed deadlines or failed to manage time well
- Take on more commitment than you can realistically manage just to seem impressive
Example: Emily is a freelance writer applying for a content marketing role. In her portfolio, she includes a detailed content calendar she created that mapped out all the blogs, social posts, email newsletters, etc. for one of her clients over 6 months. She explains her process for batching and scheduling work ahead of time to consistently deliver high quality content on schedule.
6) Adaptability
These days, the ability to adapt to changes, remain flexible, and embrace new ways of working is extremely valuable. You need to show you can professionally navigate unexpected challenges and transitions.
Do’s:
- Highlight experiences adjusting to new roles, responsibilities, or situations
- Demonstrate your willingness and ability to continually learn and grow
- Share examples of how you calmly and positively responded to major changes
Don’ts:
- Focus only on a single way of working without examples of versatility
- Downplay the importance of being able to embrace change and uncertainty
- Share instances where you responded negatively or struggled with adaptability
Example: Sarah is applying for a marketing role in the rapidly changing technology industry. Her portfolio includes examples of successful marketing campaigns she created using the latest social media channels and digital strategies. She also highlights her efforts to continuously upgrade her skills through online courses, certifications, and attending industry events. This demonstrates her ability to adapt as marketing tactics and technologies evolve.
By highlighting these 6 key soft skills in a thoughtful, strategic way, you can create a portfolio that showcases your full value as a professional – blending hard skills with the essential personal skills required to truly excel and make an impact.
