Seven soft skills you need on your résumé

Including examples of soft skills in your résumé is one of the most effective ways to stand out to employers, but which skills are most in demand?

Having the right soft skills in your résumé is one of the most valuable currencies a jobseeker has when employers are looking for the flexibility and adaptiveness needed for the jobs of tomorrow.   

Research shows that developing and refining soft skills is a key part of increasing hire-ability, especially when entering the workforce for the first time.¹ According to the Hays 2025 Skills Report, some of the most in-demand skills that employers are looking for include problem solving, communication, adaptability, creativity and critical thinking. ²

To help your CV shine, we’ve compiled the seven most sought-after soft skills you need on your résumé and how RMIT can help you gain them.  

#1: Problem solving

Problem-solving mitigates risks, breeds innovation, and paves the way for continuous improvement. This skill is used every day to address and handle tasks in the workplace. In a way, problem-solving is the basis of productivity and handling day-to-day challenges. 

SEEK specifically lists creative problem-solving as one of the top skills employers are looking for in the age of AI. This skill is valued by employers because it shows out-of-the-box thinking and a capacity to combine solutions for the best possible outcome.³

Find solutions to the problems of tomorrow

Gain résumé-worthy examples of problem-solving skills by specialising in a growing field with many opportunities.

For example, the Certificate IV in Cyber Security gives you a host of problem-solving skills that will serve you well in the workforce, no matter where your career takes you. It’s also one of RMIT’s Free TAFE courses, so if you’re looking to upskill or reskill, you may be eligible to study without having to worry about tuition fees.

#2: Teamwork

It’s not just organisations and employers that benefit from productive teamwork - research shows employees also get a lot out of this soft skill. A survey conducted by Atlassian revealed that 80% of employees experience higher emotional well-being in teams that give honest feedback, mutual respect and maintain a healthy team culture.⁴

Work collaboratively with colleagues in any organisation 

RMIT’s hands-on learning approach means our students learn how to work in a variety of roles and sectors. Gaining real-world experience through industry placements while you study is an immersive and natural way to test and refine your professional teamwork skills. 

For example, if you study an accredited Master of Business Administration and Executive Master of Business Administration, you’ll work collaboratively in small groups with like-minded peers. This allows you to learn alongside people from diverse educational, professional, and cultural backgrounds. You can even build a network of future colleagues and industry contacts before you graduate.  

#3: Communication

Whether you’re an executive or a graduate, your ability to communicate and work effectively with others is essential. Interpersonal skills help you apply for jobs, listen to others, ask for what you want, explain your ideas and raise issues with your colleagues.   

Effective communication does more than just allow you to have a productive relationship with your coworkers, it also informs and elevates many other skills, especially teamwork and critical thinking.

Learn to communicate your ideas effectively

Our postgraduate communication courses will help you develop skills in marketing, advertising, writing, and journalism.

RMIT's Master of Communication will build your understanding of the fundamentals of communication in a changing media and industry landscape and offers flexibility for you to specialise in a relevant area including corporate and financial communication, public relations, and communication for social change. 

#4: Adaptability

In a world where technology and global circumstances are rapidly changing, having adaptability and resilience listed as skills in your résumé can help you stand out in the job market. In fact, these two skills are groups as being complementary “core job skills” in modern workplaces.⁵

Many careers have unexpected circumstances, such as routine changes or even industry-changing breakthroughs like the recent boom in generative AI. Employers value those that can handle themselves, adapt to meet these new challenges, and make the most of new opportunities. 

Gain a diverse skillset founded on adaptability 

Many of RMIT’s science courses follow an adaptable course structure with a customisable selection of majors and minors, future-focused foundational study areas, and the ability to gain cross-disciplinary skills that get you ready to lead the future of innovation. For example, the Bachelor of Science allows you to combine scientific skills with adjacent topics that you have a passion for, such as computer science or engineering.

#5: Creativity

Creativity is the spark of humanity. While AI tools might be changing the way we work, it cannot create free-form ideas like humans. This is why employers value the new and exciting ideas you can bring to their teams and projects.  

Research consistently shows that creative thinking is one of the most highly valued skills in the job market.⁵ If you’re looking to showcase your creativity in your CV, try adding an example or project where your unique approach was on full display. Developing your creativity gives you a competitive edge in the job market by illustrating that you have an innovative mind. 

Combine technical skills and creativity with engineering

Finding solutions in an engineering role requires a combination of technical skills and creative thinking. RMIT has a wide range of engineering courses and each one lets you stretch your creativity by applying it to hands-on projects like sustainable solutions and electric race cars.  

#6: Critical thinking

As an example of a soft skill, critical thinking involves solving problems and making informed decisions by reviewing all the available information.   

Having examples of critical thinking in your CV shows that you are self-aware and intuitive. These traits demonstrate that you can analyse a complex situation and make an informed decision without needing guidance.²

Build analytical skills through project planning  

RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Project Management has an emphasis on the practical application of theory, so you’ll develop and reinforce your analytical and critical thinking skills naturally throughout the course.

In as little as six months, you will learn how to run complex projects that require you to break a problem down into its constituent parts and develop an innovative and inspiring solution.

#7: Tech Literacy

The job market is guided by innovation and technological advancement. In years past, it was the advent of the internet; today, it is artificial intelligence. Regardless of what technology is shaking up the world, it’s always the early adopters who get ahead of the curve, and employers are very aware of this. The World Economic Forum reports that technological literacy is in the top six core work skills as identified by surveyed employers.⁵

Not only is this skill seen as vital to modern industries, but according to the same report, the desire for employees with general tech literacy will drastically increase in the next five years.

Develop the most in-demand IT skills

In the age of information, becoming a tech expert can help future-proof your career. Professionals with skills in key areas, such as cyber security, business IT, and artificial intelligence, are the human element that makes the future function.

With RMIT’s Bachelor of Information Technology, you can tailor your study and build a robust, tech-focused résumé. An IT course will evolve your tech literacy into expertise and open a doorway to the increasingly in-demand tech sector. According to Australian Minister for Industry and Science Hon. Ed Husic, there will be 1.2 million technology-related jobs in Australia by 2030.⁶  

Story: Jacob Johnston

References

¹Murugan Anandarajan. “Companies haven’t stopped hiring, but they’re more cautious, according to the 2025 College Hiring Outlook Report”. https://theconversation.com/companies-havent-stopped-hiring-but-theyre-more-cautious-according-to-the-2025-college-hiring-outlook-report-257870. Published June 2025.

²Hays. “The human skills you need to succeed”. https://www.hays.com.au/career-advice/upskilling/soft-skills.

³Seek. “6 essential workplace skills in the age of AI”. https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/article/essential-workplace-skills-in-the-age-of-ai.

⁴Middleton, Tracey. Atlassian, “The importance of teamwork (as proven by science)”. https://www.atlassian.com/blog/teamwork/the-importance-of-teamwork.  

⁵World Economic Forum. “The Future of Jobs Report 2025”. https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/.

⁶ Husic, Ed. Minister for Industry and Science. “Number of Aussie tech workers on the rise”. https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/husic/media-releases/number-aussie-tech-workers-rise. 

Explore more

You might also be interested in...

RMIT Business students stand about a computer discussing report results

Five business skills employers are looking for in 2025

Prepare your résumé for the future with the top business skills for leadership and management roles in 2025.

A game design student using a VR headset with handheld controllers while another student watches

What does hands-on learning look like at RMIT?

Ever wondered what hands-on learning looks like in your dream course? Practical learning is more than just work experience – discover what hands-on learning means at RMIT.

Four RMIT students sitting at a table looking at a laptop

Five ways to financially support yourself while you study

From scholarships and student support to part-time university student jobs, there are lots of ways to financially support yourself while studying.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information