Introduction

[Soft Skills with Dan Gorgone: Important Skills for Professional Success] 0:00 Getting a job or starting a company is something many people can do if they have the right skills and resources. 0:05 People get specialized training, they apprentice, or they go to school to learn the tools of the trade, 0:11 whether that trade is education, business, medicine, or of course, web design and development. 0:17 But whether you've learned the basics of your industry or if you're the fastest and smartest one around, 0:25 getting a job isn't the same as being great at it. 0:30 There are different kinds of skills that can help determine success. 0:34 Hard Skills refer to your ability to perform tasks that are specific to your job. 0:39 Can you build a website? Can you design an app, teach yoga, repair a transmission? 0:45 If you know how to do these things, it means that you have specific training to provide you with skills and expertise. 0:51 Soft Skills on the other hand, refer to personal and professional qualities that allow you to do your job better. 0:58 These are sometimes called people skills because it can refer to your ability to work and communicate effectively with others, 1:05 in groups, as well as online. 1:13 Soft skills also include mental attributes such as problem solving, critical thinking, confidence, and attitude. 1:15 You might be asking yourself what's the bid deal. I mean if I'm the best coder there is, there's no argument. 1:24 I mean, why worry about soft skills? 1:31 Well, unless you plan on working in a cave or working only on your own projects for the rest of your life, 1:34 soft skills are essential to becoming a fully developed professional in the tech industry. 1:40 And here's why. If you're looking for clients but you have a lousy attitude, nobody will want to hire you. 1:46 If you can't be flexible with projects or accept feedback, nobody will want to share their ideas with you. 1:54 And if you can't work with the team or play nice with others, nobody is going to want to work with you. 2:00 In these series of videos, we're going to explore the most important soft skills that you need to be successful at any job. 2:06 And you'll find that many of these skills will be useful outside of work as well. 2:13 If you can be an effective communicator, manage your time, work well with others, and be a great problem solver, 2:18 you'll have a lot more success in whatever you do. 2:25