Unicorns
ARE PEOPLE TOO.
Re-Thinking Soft and Hard Skills
Liz Abinante • @feministy
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SOFT VS. HARD
WHAT ARE SOFT AND HARD SKILLS?
Cheese by Consuelo Elo Graziola, Pillow by Yazmin Alanis, Hard Hat by André Renault, and Mountains by Cris Dobbins from The Noun Project
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SOFT VS. HARD
HIDDEN MEANINGS
Cheese by Consuelo Elo Graziola, Pillow by Yazmin Alanis, Hard Hat by André Renault, and Mountains by Cris Dobbins from The Noun Project
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SOFT VS. HARD
A PROBLEMATIC DICHOTOMY
Cheese by Consuelo Elo Graziola, Pillow by Yazmin Alanis, Hard Hat by André Renault, and Mountains by Cris Dobbins from The Noun Project
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POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE
TERMS
WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS.
Robot by William Hollowell and Talking by Ed Gray from The Noun Project
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REAL PEOPLE
TIPS FOR TEACHERS, INTERVIEWERS,
AND MANAGERS
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Soft
HARD
A problematic dichotomy.
&
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WHAT ARE SOFT SKILLS?
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communication
friendliness
team building
influence
persuasion
conflict resolution
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PROJECT, TEAM, AND TASK MANAGEMENT.
communication
friendliness
team building
influence
persuasion
conflict resolution
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MANY EMPLOYERS ACTIVELY SEEK OUT SOFT
SKILLS IN PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES,
MAKING THEM NEAR REQUIREMENTS FOR
SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE.
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BUT IF SOMETHING IS A
NEAR REQUIREMENT, WHY ARE WE
DESCRIBING IT AS “SOFT”?
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Soft
easy to mold, cut, compress, or
fold; not hard or firm to the touch.
!
having a pleasing quality involving
a subtle effect or contrast rather
than sharp definition.
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mushy
dim
lenient
easy goingcompassionate
subdued
silky
gentle
forgiving
tolerant
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mushy
dim
lenient
easy goingcompassionate
subdued
silky
gentle
forgiving
tolerant
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“SOFT” IMPLIES THAT IT IS LESS
IMPORTANT BY USING A WORD THAT
ALSO MEANS THINGS LIKE “GENTLE”,
“DIM”, AND “PLEASING.”
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I AM NOT A STUFFED ANIMAL.
I AM NOT A CHEESE.
I AM NOT A FLUFFY PILLOW.
!
I AM A PERSON WHO LIKES
WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
HARD
solid, firm, and resistant to
pressure; not easily broken, bent,
or pierced.
!
requiring a great deal of endurance
or effort.
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resistant
solid
unyielding
arduous
grueling
strict severe
violentaustere
reliable
rigid
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resistant
solid
unyielding
arduous
grueling
strict severe
violentaustere
reliable
rigid
NOPE.
No by Naomi Atkinson from The Noun Project
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THESE SYNONYMS SOUND MORE LIKE A
LIST OF PERSONALITY TRAITS FROM A
DATING SERVICE THAN A LIST OF JOB
REQUIREMENTS.
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MY SKILLS ARE NOT VIOLENT,
THEY ARE NOT STRICT OR SEVERE.
IT IS NOT GRUELING TO WRITE CODE.
!
IT IS MENTALLY CHALLENGING AND
REQUIRES TRAINING AND TOOLS.
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WRONG.
OUR TOOLS ARE
Tools by Jeremy J Bristol from The Noun Project
THEY DON’T MEAN WHAT WE THINK THEY DO.
WE ARE FORCED TO INFER MEANING.
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BROKEN.
OUR TOOLS ARE
Broken Light Bulb by Gregory Sujkowski from The Noun Project
WE CAN INFER ALL WE WANT, BUT
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A PERFECT BOX.
THAT DON’T FIT INTO
WE STRUGGLE WITH SKILLS
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AND SUBJECTIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS.
THEY REQUIRE TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW
CODE REVIEWS ARE NEBULOUS.
A GOOD CODE REVIEW TAKES SOFT AND HARD SKILLS.
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HAPPEN A LOT.
PROBLEMS
COMMUNICATION
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TOOLS.
WE NEED TO MAKE NEW
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Potential
ALTERNATIVES
We can do better than this, folks.