The 10 Most Important Soft Skills for Success in 2025

The 10 Most Important ‘Soft Skills’ Needed for Success in 2025

According to the latest market research carried out across western Europe and the United States, the workplace – be it Price Waterhouse Cooper, Google, Apple or indeed all of the leading economic industry giants – there are 10 soft skills that are valued more highly by all of them rather than professional degrees, qualifications and academic certificates. SBL is at the forefront of understanding this and through our unique approach to education is more than meeting this requirement by teaching and guiding our young people to acquire these 10 highly sought after soft skills through our daily approach in lessons and in all that we do.

As families, one might be wondering which soft skills are relevant for your child’s specific future career or which ones should you focus on most?
What Are Soft Skills? Simply stated, soft skills are core skills that are highly sought after in every profession. Be this as a server in a restaurant, or a Chief Executive Officer, the soft skills that our students will possess will be more decisive for their success than their technical or academic knowledge.

Soft skills consist of a combination of people skills, social skills, and communication skills, character traits, attitudes, and mindsets, as well as social and emotional characteristics which are highly desirable in all professions.

Some examples of soft skills include: Communication, Teamwork, Leadership and Problem Solving.

Soft skills are the key that set apart the perfect candidate for a position from an adequate candidate for a position. Recent market research also attests to this – in 2023, 97% of employers say that soft skills are more important than hard skills and that more than half of new employees that fail within 18 months do so because they lack soft skills.

Soft skills can tell a lot about how people will interact with others, how they might react under pressure, or what their professional potential is. As such, the majority of market leaders in the economy of 2023 prioritise hiring young people with the right soft skills over hard skills.

In 2023, the most in-demand soft skills are as detailed in the article below. As you cast your eye carefully over the list, there is no doubt that all of these soft skills – and indeed, more – are carefully woven into the very fabric of SBL and are an entrenched part of our school culture, ethos and approach to learning.

1. Time Management
   Time management involves the ability to use your time wisely to work as efficiently as possible. Some sub-skills related to time management are: Stress management, Organisation, Prioritising, Planning, Goal setting

2. Communication
   Communication is the ability to convey or share ideas and feelings effectively and it’s among the top soft skills required across all fields. The most common communication skills are: Verbal communication, Written communication, Presentation, Constructive feedback, Active listening

3. Adaptability
   Your adaptability shows how well you can embrace change and adjust to it. Companies and work environments constantly change: new team members come in, old ones leave, companies get bought or sold, and so on. Here are some skills related to adaptability: Self-management, Optimism, Calmness, Analysis, Self-motivation

4. Problem Solving
   Being able to analytically and creatively solve problems will come in handy no matter the career path. After all, there’s no career in the world where you won’t have any problems to deal with. That is why creative problem-solvers are always in high demand. These are the skills associated with problem-solving: Analysis, Logical reasoning, Observation, Brainstorming, Decision making

5. Collaboration
   Collaboration will always be a crucial soft skill. It helps you work effectively in a group and accomplish tasks. Examples of skills related to collaboration are: Conflict management and resolution, Coordination, Idea exchange, Mediation

6. Creativity
   Creativity is a broad term that involves several sub-skills from questioning to experimenting. Some examples of creative skills: Imagination, Mind mapping, Innovation, Experimentation

7. Leadership
   Leadership refers to the ability to mentor, train, or guide. No matter the industry, employers prefer to recruit applicants who show leadership potential because with leadership skills there is far greater initiative taken and greater investment in helping the company grow. Skills related to leadership include: Management skills, Authenticity, Mentorship, Generosity, Cultural intelligence

8. Interpersonal Skills
   Interpersonal skills are all about how well one interacts with others, looks after relationships, and makes a positive impression on those around them.
   These include: Empathy, Humour, Networking, Tolerance, Diplomacy

9. Work Ethic
   Work ethic relates to valuing work and putting in the effort to achieve results. Some soft skills related to work ethic are: Responsibility, Motivation, Dependability, Commitment

10. Attention to Detail
    This is the ability to be thorough and accurate in your work, whatever that may be.Some soft skills related to attention to detail are as follows: Scheduling, Introspection, Acuity, Questioning, Critical observation.

At School Beyond Limitations we focus on the above mentioned soft skills.