LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — If you’re thinking about finding a new job in 2026, you might want to brush up on those communication skills. A new poll of 1,000 hiring managers found that “soft skills” may actually matter just as much—if not more—than the hard, technical abilities tied directly to your role.
Hard skills are the job‑specific things you can list on a résumé. Soft skills, on the other hand, are those broader traits like critical thinking, collaboration, and how you show up at work. And according to this poll, 62% of hiring managers say both types of skills are equally important, while another 24% believe soft skills now matter more.
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So what exactly are employers looking for? At the top of the list is good communication—everything from writing clear emails to being an active listener. Professionalism comes next, and one expert admitted they were surprised it ranked so high, suggesting younger workers may be entering the workforce with a more laid‑back approach than previous generations.
Time management is another big one. Hiring managers want to know you can hit deadlines and keep things moving. Accountability also matters: do you own your work and your mistakes? And when things go off the rails, resilience helps you pivot and keep going…