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The workplace is changing rapidly. Nowadays, it’s not enough to have a CV jammed with in-demand technical skills — you’ll need a complementary set of soft skills to excel in the role, strengthen your team, and embrace innovation. Our recruitment experts have pulled together a list of the most in-demand soft skills according to new data gathered for our 2025 Salary Guide. Use it to strategically target your soft skills training or highlight existing soft skills for CV success. Keep reading to find out which skills are in demand for your sector and why employers are looking for them. Read more: Expert insights: skills in demand for the UK 2025 hiring market

What is a soft skill?

Soft skills are personal characteristics. They usually occur naturally but can be developed with training — examples of soft skills are communication, leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, and business acumen. Where hard skills (also known as 'technical skills') determine your ability to do your job, your soft skills determine how you do your job. A potential employer can uncover more about your soft skills using behavioural-based interview questions. Still, it's a good idea to showcase demonstrable soft skills on your CV to secure an interview. Read more: using soft skills to help women close the leadership gap

In-demand soft skills for the 2025 UK hiring market

  Accounting and finance soft skills 1. Critical thinking 2. Leadership 3. Problem-solving 4. Creative thinking Today's most desirable accounting and finance professionals have a balanced blend of traditional skills and modern thinking. Talent with the natural ability to assess, adapt, and work creatively in a shifting industry will gain a competitive advantage in the hiring market. As businesses build out their succession pipelines, talent with proven leadership skills could gain the fast track to a more senior role.  Read more: 5 soft skills every accountant needs   IT and technology soft skills 1. Critical thinking 2. Problem-solving 3. Leadership 4. Emotional intelligence Skills like critical thinking and problem solving underpin any successful IT or technology career, allowing professionals to troubleshoot technical issues, evaluate new tools or software, and identify solutions that align with business outcomes, all while ensuring security and compliance. As IT and tech roles continue to shift towards stakeholder management, employers are looking for talent with excellent emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. Read more: Considering a role in software development? Here's what you need to know   Marketing and creative soft skills 1. Commercial acumen 2. Problem-solving 3. Creative thinking 4. Leadership Although creative thinking and the ability to stand out in a crowded market will always be considered top skills for marketing and creative professionals, the last few years have seen a rise in employers expecting sharper commercial skills. Given the speed of the marketing landscape, the most attractive professionals are those who can apply creative concepts to insights gathered by advanced AI and analytics tools to quickly identify and act on solid marketing opportunities. Read more: Top trends in digital marketing for 2025: expert insights for the year ahead   Legal soft skills 1. Critical thinking 2. Stakeholder management 3. Negotiation skills 4. Commercial mindset Contract negotiation is a top technical skill for legal professionals in 2025, making negotiation one of the most in-demand soft skills in response to this. The demand for legal professionals in functional areas like data protection, commercial duties, and corporate duties has seen employers looking for talent with commercial mindsets and critical thinking to match. Depending on the role, entering a salary negotiation space or job interview with clear evidence of any of these soft skills could give you the edge.   Administrative, HR, and office support soft skills 1. Critical thinking 2. Emotional intelligence 3. Problem-solving 4. Creative thinking Where emotional intelligence and problem-solving are cornerstones of excellent HR and support staff, employers are now looking for talent who can combine technical skills like data analytics, CRM, and project management into their skillset. Professionals who can team this with evidence of strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative thinking could find themselves at the forefront of the surge in hiring for this sector.   Financial services soft skills 1. Critical thinking 2. Creative thinking 3. Adaptability 4. Problem-solving With compliance and risk management growing in demand, employers are keen to find legal talent with the strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to navigate complex regulations and identify potential issues. Skills like adaptability are critical for success as changing priorities and new regulations around financial crime, ESG, and data analytics emerge. Moreover, technical skills like ESG experience and risk analysis also benefit from the innovative approaches that creative thinking can yield. 

To learn more about in-demand skills for your sector and the factors impacting salary and hiring for 2025, download your free copy of the Robert Half Salary Guide now. To explore your career opportunities, browse jobs or upload your CV to our site today.