The Art of Soft Skills in a Global World

Matthew Hui

English Teacher

In the age of globalization, soft skills are becoming more important for university entrance and employment opportunities. There are many reasons for this shift from hard to soft skills, but the easiest way to understand this is to think about the world we live in. Because of technology, the world is becoming smaller - we are able to connect and communicate with people and places all over the world. We therefore need skills which help us to understand and collaborate with others in personal, educational and professional situations.

What are soft skills?

While hard skills are teachable or learned skills that are easy to measure, soft skills relate to our internal strengths, which people can’t always see. Soft skills include personality traits, social skills and behaviours that allow us to get along easily with others. Soft skills also include our ability to adapt to changing and challenging circumstances - something we often have to do!

Communication

Self Motivation Leadership

Responsibility

Problem Solving

Decisiveness

Ability to Work Under Pressure and Time Management

Flexibility

Teamwork

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Why are soft skills important in a global world?

Think about education and going to university. If you wish to get the full benefits and experience out of studying at a top school in the UK or elsewhere, it is no longer enough to only focus on academic excellence. Schools now prioritise other kinds of knowledge and experiences, such as collaboration, leadership, public speaking and the ability to empathise with others.

When I attended the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, students were encouraged to lead tutorials and challenge themselves. We were also expected to work as a team on projects outside of the classroom, such as theatre and charity fundraising. Experiences like these were great preparation for our future careers, but some students found them difficult because they were lacking soft skills.

If you need to build up your soft skills, here are a few things you can do:

．Observe others around you ．Be open to learning from others ．Be open to feedback (and apply it!) ．Communicate often ．Step out of your comfort zone and try new things

Whether you are preparing to go to high school or applying to universities in Hong Kong or abroad, practising these skills will equip you with everything you need to become a capable and responsible learner in a global world.