Hard skills or hard skills They are a set of professional and technical skills, abilities and knowledge necessary to perform adequately in a specific area or job within an organization. Hard skills are measurable and are manifested through the expertise and experience that people with regarding their profession, since they are acquired through a training process, formal education or training.
Although it is not a new concept, this term often tends to be confused with soft skills, when in reality they are very different concepts. If you want to go deeper into this topic, in this Psychology-Online article you will discover everything about the hard skills: what they are, importance and what they are.
The term “hard skills” refers to all technical skills and knowledge that are acquired through formal education and training in a specific area of knowledge. Additionally, hard skills are honed with experience and training, allowing a person to excel in their area of work.
These skills are usually related to technical knowledge, specific procedures or mastery of specialized tools, software or machinery. The hard skills
Hard skills include: specific technical knowledge of an industry or profession, such as programming, graphic design, accounting, engineering, medicine, among others. Also the skills in the use of software or technological tools, such as mastery of a design program, advanced knowledge of spreadsheets, ability to operate specialized machinery, among others.
How hard skills are acquired
These skills are generally learned and developed through formal education, training courses, professional certifications and work experience and demonstrate an individual's ability to perform specific tasks and functions efficiently and effectively in a work environment.
However, hard skills are not the only relevant competencies in the world of work and by themselves they are not synonymous with success at work. In fact, the soft skills, as leadership, communication, problem solving and teamwork are also essential for professional success in any field. A balance between hard skills and soft skills is what is usually sought in professionals.
Hard skills are of great importance in the workplace for several reasons:
- They are highly relevant to work: These are skills that are directly related to the specific tasks and responsibilities of a job or profession. Possessing technical skills and specialized knowledge relevant to a particular field allows you to perform the required functions efficiently and effectively.
- They are in demand in the labor market- There is a high demand for hard skills in today's job market. Many employers look for professionals with specific skills and technical knowledge to meet the requirements of their jobs. For this reason, mastering relevant hard skills increases employment opportunities and improves career prospects.
- Adaptability to change: The world of work is constantly changing, driven by technological evolution, scientific advances and market demands. That's why hard skills provide a solid, up-to-date foundation that allows professionals adapt to changes and acquire new skills as required in their roles labor.
- They are synonymous with quality and efficiency– Hard skills enable professionals to meet quality standards and perform efficiently in their work. The ability to apply technical knowledge with precision and skill can generate higher quality results and increase productivity in the work environment.
- They provide greater credibility and trust– Mastering specific hard skills in a profession or field of work increases credibility and self-confidence. Professionals who can demonstrate proficiency in their technical skills inspire confidence in clients, employers and colleagues, which can lead to opportunities for professional growth and collaboration successful.
Because they are acquired through a formal education process, hard skills They demonstrate the technical capabilities of employees and give great value to the curricular summary of the people. It is one of the sections of the curriculum summary that those in charge of the Human Resources department pay most attention to.
In the world of work there are countless examples that illustrate hard skills. For example, accounting and administration, where a package of hard skills and office automation knowledge is required to carry out tasks efficiently. Other examples would include singing, playing an instrument, technical writing, etc.
Below, we leave you a list of the main hard skills:
- Programming: The ability to write code and develop software is a hard skill in high demand in the technology field.
- Graphic design: Using graphic design tools like Photoshop or Illustrator and creating visually appealing designs are some of the most in-demand hard skills today.
- Analysis of data- Be able to collect, organize and analyze data using tools such as Excel or Python to obtain information and make data-driven decisions.
- Specific technical knowledge: refers to specific technical skills related to a particular field, such as knowledge in engineering, medicine, accounting, etc.
- Languages: is the ability to communicate in one or more foreign languages fluently and accurately.
- Project management– This is the ability to plan, organize and supervise projects, ensuring that established objectives and deadlines are met.
- Digital marketing: are knowledge in online marketing strategies, such as SEO, SEM, social networks and metrics analysis.
- Sales skills: refers to the ability to persuade and convince customers to purchase products or services, using effective sales techniques.
- Accounting and Finance: are knowledge in accounting, financial analysis, budget management and financial planning.
- Software Engineering: is the set of skills in software development, system design and technical problem solving.
- Design of products: is the technical skill to design physical or digital products, taking into account aspects such as functionality, aesthetics and user experience.
- Knowledge of legislation- This is the set of skills related to the knowledge and application of laws and regulations in a specific field, such as labor law, commercial law, etc.
These are just a few examples of hard skills, but there are many more depending on the field of work and industry you are in. Remember that these skills can be acquired and developed through formal education, training, work experience, and constant practice. If you want to know more skills you can read the article Cognitive skills: what they are, types, list and examples.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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