In addition to hard (e.g., Biology, physics, chemistry) and soft (e.g., Anthropology, sociology, politics) sciences, there are hard and soft skills. Depending on the specific field you are in or want to be in, determines which skills you should have. Showing that you are familiar, experienced, and proficient in a wide array of skills can boost the strength of your application, as well as make you a more well-rounded scientist.
Listed below are some essential skills!
Hard Skills [1,2]:
- Statistical Analysis and Modeling
- Research Design
- Experimental Design and Execution
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
- Data Analysis and Computational Skills
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Scientific Writing
- Laboratory Techniques and Instrumentation
- Computer Programming and Simulation
- Domain-Specific Knowledge (e.g., Genomics, Animal Physiology, Molecular Cell Biology)
- Project Management
- Coding/Programming (i.e. in Python, C++, R, etc.)
- Geographic Information System (GIS)
- SCUBA diving/scientific diving
Soft Skills [3,4]:
- Effective Communication and Dissemination
- Organization
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Creativity and Innovation
- Time Management and Organization
- Attention to Detail
- Stress management
- Resilience and Perseverance
- Emotional Intelligence
- Presentation skills/public speaking
- Leadership
- Professionalism
In addition to showing these skills through the professional and academic experiences you already have on a CV, on LinkedIn, for example, you can get skills endorsed by others and connect skills to experiences. Here is an example of connecting skills to experiences and how it shows up on LinkedIn:
Within these hard & soft skill sets are there other groupings such as industry knowledge (e.g., Sustainable development, marine conservation, quantitative analytics, written communication, animal handling, research methods, and content creation/writing), tools & technologies (e.g., Microsoft Excel, R, ArcGIS Products), and interpersonal skills (e.g., Teamwork, communication, and emotional intelligence), to name a few.
As we talked about in “name of courses article” there are many places you can go to gain necessary, advantageous, and competitive skills. Adding keywords and key skills to a profile, CV, and cover letter can help you more easily be distinguished as a potential candidate for jobs and internships you’re applying for.
Sources:
[1] Scientist Skills: Definition and Examples | Indeed.com
[2] A guide to scientist skills (and how to improve them) | Indeed.com UK
[3] 11 Essential Soft Skills (With Examples) – Forbes Advisor
[4] Ten Essential Soft Skills for Life Scientists
[5] 101 Best Skills To List On Your LinkedIn Profile In 2025
