毕业求职的简历上，那些证书、成绩单等等都是对专业技能的认证，属于“硬技能”；而在“自我评价”那一栏写下的“性格外向、勤劳肯干”等语句就属于对“软技能”的描述了。

Soft skills is a sociological term relating to a person's "EQ" (Emotional Intelligence Quotient), the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with other people. Soft skills complement hard skills (part of a person's IQ), which are the occupational requirements of a job and many other activities.

“软技能”是一个社会学术语，指一个人的情商（EQ）、个性特征、社交礼仪、沟通能力、个人习惯、友好程度、以及处理人际关系的乐观态度。“软技能”是对“硬技能”的补充，后者是就业和其它活动中必须具备的一项技能。

Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance an individual's interactions, job performance and career prospects. Unlike hard skills, which are about a person's skill set and ability to perform a certain type of task or activity, soft skills relate to a person's ability to interact effectively with coworkers and customers and are broadly applicable both in and outside the workplace. It has been suggested that in a number of professions soft skills may be more important over the long term than occupational skills.

“软技能”是能够对个人的社交、职业表现以及事业前景有促进作用的个人素质。“硬技能”多与一个人完成某项任务的专业技能和能力相关，而“软技能”则多指一个人与同事和客户有效沟通的能力，在职场内外都有广泛的用武之地。有人认为，从长远来看，“软技能”在一些职业领域的重要性要高于“硬技能”。