It's not all about coding and number crunching. According to Linkedin, American companies are searching for people who can communicate and -- even more so -- connect with others.
The top skill in demand across the U.S. is strong communication. Linkedin says the U.S. has 1.4 million positions available that have this skill as the foundation of the job, a whopping three times more than the next sought-after skillset of a software engineer.
Some of the fastest-growing positions in the U.S. are hinged on skills such as communication, reasoning, and teamwork. These are characteristics that cannot be overtaken by artificial intelligence or robots.
Why do soft skills matter?
First, products in all industries are becoming more complex, which means we need good communicators to translate the jargon. As a result, there are a plethora of opportunities for sales professionals who can articulate the value of these products for us.
Second, not everyone can read code. Therefore, it is crucial to have employees who can write, read, and explain code. There are numerous positions available for software engineers who can communicate what the code means and does.
The U.S. has 1.4 million positions on Linkedin with communication as the foundation of the job.
Where should you feature your hard and soft skills? Here's a quick guide to follow for your resume and Linkedin profile. And don't forget to weave these traits into your cover letter.
Remember, soft skills matter. They are your competitive edge among the rest and should be one of the focal points of your featured skills.
Sarah Sax is the founder of Write For The Job.