“Soft skills” is widely understood, but on a resume it is usually better to name the specific capability you possess. Many terms below are not literal synonyms; they identify the interpersonal, behavioral, and transferable skills that employers often mean by “soft skills.”
Name the Skill Instead of the Category
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- People skills
- Transferable skills
- Professional skills
- Workplace skills
- Behavioral competencies
- Core competencies
- Relationship-building skills
- Teamwork skills
- Leadership skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Adaptability
- Emotional intelligence
- Collaboration skills
Interpersonal skills
A broad category covering how effectively you communicate, relate to, and work with other people.
Example: Interpersonal skills developed through client-facing and team-based roles.
Communication skills
Use when your strength is written, verbal, listening, presentation, or audience-appropriate communication.
Example: Communication skills demonstrated through reports, presentations, and stakeholder briefings.
People skills
A familiar alternative, though slightly more conversational than “interpersonal skills.”
Example: Strong people skills developed in customer service and team leadership.
Transferable skills
A broader category for abilities that can be applied across roles and industries, including many soft skills.
Example: Transferable skills include communication, organization, and problem-solving.
Professional skills
A very broad label that can include both technical and nontechnical workplace capabilities.
Example: Professional skills include prioritization, communication, and client management.
Workplace skills
Plain wording for practical abilities used to function effectively at work.
Example: Workplace skills include teamwork, time management, and adaptability.
Behavioral competencies
Formal HR language for observable behaviors associated with effective performance.
Example: Behavioral competencies include collaboration, resilience, and sound judgment.
Core competencies
A broad professional phrase for key capabilities, though it can also include technical expertise.
Example: Core competencies include facilitation, leadership, and strategic planning.
Relationship-building skills
Best when the relevant soft skills involve trust, rapport, networking, clients, or stakeholders.
Example: Relationship-building skills helped strengthen long-term client retention.
Teamwork skills
Specific wording for cooperation, reliability, coordination, and contribution within a team.
Example: Teamwork skills demonstrated through cross-departmental project delivery.
Leadership skills
Appropriate when the soft-skill set includes motivating others, delegation, decision-making, or coaching.
Example: Leadership skills developed while supervising a team of eight.
Problem-solving skills
Useful for analytical thinking, judgment, creativity, and finding practical solutions.
Example: Problem-solving skills used to resolve recurring service bottlenecks.
Adaptability
A specific capability describing effective adjustment to change, new demands, or unfamiliar situations.
Example: Adaptability demonstrated during a rapid transition to new systems.
Emotional intelligence
Refers to recognizing and managing emotions in yourself and others; use it only when you can demonstrate the skill.
Example: Emotional intelligence supports calm communication in difficult conversations.
Collaboration skills
Specific wording for working effectively with colleagues, partners, or cross-functional groups.
Example: Collaboration skills demonstrated across multi-agency projects.