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  Can you think of any job where these abilities and traits aren’t needed? I can’t.  “The value these skills bring to the workplace is all about human connection and the way we interact with one another,” says McCaskill. Marketing your skills McCaskill points out that more than 50% of hirers on LinkedIn now explicitly use skills data to fill their roles. “Being able to identify your skill set, and highlight those skills at all parts of the job search process—from your LinkedIn Profile and your cover letter to in-person in an interview—can help you stand out in the hiring process and make you a stronger candidate,” he says. Once you’ve figured out the skills you have and to market, McCaskill advises adding them to your Profile. “This is one of the first places recruiters want to learn more about you and your experience,” he says. “The key here is to show, not tell.”

  Top skills to learn anywhere Soft skills, or as I call them, professional skills, are a key factor in career success as the workplace becomes more and more collaborative. “Soft skills are increasingly in demand in the workplace right now because they can be gained from life experiences and are transferable to every industry,” says McCaskill. “And, with a rise in remote and hybrid work, and now AI, the need for human connection and people skills have become more important than ever as companies are looking for talent that can step up and manage teams—no matter their environment.” A partial list of the top professional skills I share with audiences includes: Work ethic Punctuality Leadership Communication Work-life balance Stress management Critical thinking Problem solving Emotional intelligence Flexibility Networking