What Are Hard Skills? (And Do They Matter?)

You may not have wanted to be the one to ask What are hard skills?” when chatting around the water cooler. Sure, everyone loves to go on and on about soft skills and their importance in the workplace. But it's JUST as important to remember that hard skills are JUST as important.They complete the set. You need both!

Hard skills are those that are specific to your field or industry. Typically they are the ones that you are able to quantify. Many have said they are the markers of a competent employee who knows their field well. Hard skills also extend to other specific domains of knowledge. Speaking several languages or knowing certain software are both examples.

Learning complimentary hard skills in your industry can actually increase your salary. While the willingness to learn is a soft skill, actually learning any hard skill can be a bonus in the eyes of an employer.

So let's dive in!

Why Are Hard Skills Important?

There are a few reasons that hard skills are important. First, and getting right to the point, they are what employers are looking for. In most cases, an employer is not going to be as interested in your soft skills alone. Especially if they're hiring for a position that requires a certain amount of expertise.

This isn’t to discount the role that soft skills play in today’s job market. A mix of both will set you up for the greatest success. But hard skills are measurable and may require a long time to learn and develop which is what makes hard skills so sought after in certain disciplines.

Think of it this way: You're applying for a job as a web developer. Your prospective employer needs to know whether you can build a website from scratch. That's the reason they're hiring in the first place. They know that you'll need to know how to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to be a successful candidate. Those are the hard skills required for this job. Period.

But a web developer with 20 years of experience compared to 5 years, might be able to do a better job in a fraction of the time. But that's where budget comes in, and that's a whole separate conversation.

Right from the jump, you can often see the hard skill requirements for any job. These are often the things that a company can't teach you from scratch but can help you finesse as you grow in a position. You either have the required hard skills or you don't. What are hard skills if they’re not a solid platform on which to stand?

What Are Hard vs. Soft Skills

What are hard skills? Basically, hard skills are the specific pieces of knowledge needed to perform a task or job. They're usually learned through formal education or training.

A couple of examples to help clarify. For surgeons, their problem-solving skills alone won't help them perform a heart transplant if they don't know anything about human anatomy. The same goes for many careers like engineering, architecture, etc. Time management can help when building a bridge, but that alone isn't enough for an engineer. They need to know bridgebuilding.

Soft skills are interpersonal abilities that help you work well with others. They're often called "people skills." Examples of soft skills include communication, empathy, teamwork, and the two mentioned above.

The important thing to remember is not that one is better than the other. It's a symbiotic relationship between your hard and soft skills that leads to Career Success. You may not be able to perform heart surgery with problem solving skills alone. But you can use those soft skills to lead your team to an efficient, and successful outcome for the patient.

Example Of Hard Skills For Tech Roles

1. Coding Languages

One of the most important hard skills for any dev job in tech is coding. Employers will often look for candidates who are proficient in multiple coding languages. Some of the most popular coding languages include Java, Python, and HTML.

If you're beginning your career in tech, it's a good idea to learn, and then become proficient in a few different coding languages before you start applying for roles. The more you know, the more marketable you'll be to potential employers.

2. Data Analysis

Data is becoming a vital asset in the business world. As a result, employers are looking for candidates with experience in data analysis. Even a small mismatch in the general understanding of manipulating business data can be a make or break during an interview.

An employer can see that you understand and can communicate data-based goal setting and breakdowns. They're also sure that you can anticipate company needs based on numbers. Communicating the data effectively to your bosses is a soft skill, but the technical expertise and knowledge to pull the data together is a hard skill.

3. Project Management

Glassdoor describes this skill as "the competencies and traits a person needs to coordinate a project from start to finish." In essence, project management means solid organizational and planning skills. Essentially maintaining and updating workflow on any given project.

Employers want to see planning and perseverance. They don't an employee who will give up in the face of setbacks. Those with strong project management skills can take initiative and lead a team to a desired deadline or goal. That's an invaluable person to have on your team.

How Can I Develop Hard Skills?

Now that you can answer what are hard skills?” you’ll need to develop them! Give yourself some time and you'll obtain a fair few we're sure!

A key tip we can share as you start developing them? The best way is simply by practicing them! But there are many programs that can teach you the HARD and SOFT skills you need to succeed in the tech industry. Uvaro's courses strike a balance. We offer you the hard skills you need to be successful in the tech sales industry. We also help you develop your soft skills to support this knowledge.

So what are you waiting for? Check out our Career Success Catalog and start your journey today!