What exactly are soft skills?
According to a LinkedIn Global Talent Trends report, 91% of recruiters say soft skills are as important as hard skills. A Harvard study suggests that soft skills account for approximately 80% of career success, while technical skills make up just 20%.
Some examples of soft skills include:
- Communication
- Leadership
- Adaptability
- Time Management
- Teamwork
- Emotional Intelligence
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
Universities want more than just grades
What admissions officers look for:
- Are you curious and open-minded?
- Can you work with people from different backgrounds?
- Do you take initiative and lead if required?
- Can you manage your time effectively?
They want students who can thrive both in and out of the classroom. After all, college is more than just lectures and exams; it’s about collaboration, critical thinking and personal growth. And that’s where the importance of soft skills in international applications becomes impossible to ignore.
Research also supports this shift. A study by SHRM found that 75% of employers struggle to find college graduates with essential soft skills, such as communication or teamwork.
Where do soft skills show up in your application?
Personal statement:
This is your chance to tell your story. How did you overcome a problem? What did you learn from volunteering or leading a project? Use a specific example that showcases your character and mindset.
Letter of recommendation:
Interviews:
Some universities conduct interviews as part of the application process. This is where your communication skills, confidence, and clarity of thought matter.
Extracurriculars:
What you do outside the classroom, sports, clubs, internships, and community service, can speak volumes about your personality.
Scholarship Application:
Right soft skills can also help you stand out in the scholarship letter, interviews and essays that you might have to write to acquire study abroad scholarships.
These elements give admissions committees a more holistic view of your potential.
Can soft skills help if your grades aren’t perfect?
Let’s say two students are applying to the same university. One has perfect scores but shows little engagement beyond academics. The other has slightly lower grades but demonstrates strong leadership, resilience, and a commitment to community involvement. Admissions teams often lean toward the second candidate because they see someone who will contribute meaningfully.
How can you develop and highlight your soft skills?
Soft skills aren’t just something you have or don’t have; they can be developed and refined over time. Here are some practical ways to do that:
Join school clubs or societies: Debate club, student council, drama team, or Model UN can help boost leadership, communication and teamwork.
· Take up volunteering: Community service teaches compassion, problem-solving, and initiative.
· Work on personal projects: Starting a blog, a YouTube channel, or a coding project can build creativity and self-motivation.
· Reflect on your experiences: Think deeply about what you’ve learned from school, life hurdles, travel, or part-time work. Use those learnings in your essays.
· Practice mock interviews: Talk about your strengths and weaknesses confidently. Ask a mentor or counsellor to help you rehearse common questions.
When you describe these experiences in your application, focus on what you did, what you learned, and how it made you better. The more specific, the better.
Real-Life example: Why soft skills matter
Final Thoughts: Let your personality shine
Author Bio : Mr. Almasto Kapoor
I believe that wisdom and information amplify when shared with others. With more than 14 years of vast experience in tertiary education and having assisted a plethora of students in accomplishing their higher education dreams, I’d like to believe that my knowledge is substantial. To make this knowledge count, I love sharing it with students to apprise them of the intricacies of overseas education and to go with that, my keen interest in writing makes it an even more fulfilling thing to do!
almastokapoor3@gmail.com
