What is the way to show off your soft skills?

​Have you ever described yourself on your resume or in your cover letter as a “hard worker” with a “positive attitude” who is able to “learn quickly?” Let me guess—did your job application seem to disappear into the HR black hole? I can’t say I’m surprised.
 
In other words, don’t sell yourself short by just throwing in flat, overused words to describe your soft skills. Show them off in a more concrete way, and I guarantee you’ll have more success.

Here’s how to do it—in every aspect of your job search.
 
In Your Cover Letter
 
Think of your cover letter as the conversation you would like to have with the hiring manager, but on paper. It’s your best chance (before the interview) to really bring to life what you can do.
 
As you’re writing, pick two to three of the skills in the job description—say, technical prowess, a knack for taking initiative, and strong communication skills—and think of one or two stories that really highlight them
 
In Your Resume
 
Sadly, not all companies read cover letters. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write them, though—it just means you should try to complement your cover letter by showing off those soft skills in your resume.
 
How? Well, you may have heard the advice to include as many numbers as possible in your resume to illustrate the impact you made or the results you contributed to. This works for soft skills, too! Make sure each bullet point describes a skill the hiring manager is looking for, then use facts and figures to show—not tell—just what a “skilled manager” or “effective communicator” you are.
 
In the Interview
 
Shockingly (or maybe not so shockingly) many interviewers aren’t very good at interviewing. Which means that you might get a few close-ended or vague questions that don’t really let you show off your skills.
 
But here’s a secret: No matter what you’re asked, you can (and should!) still work an example or two in there. For example, if your interviewer asks you, “How would you define leadership?” instead of “Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership,” you can start by making a general statement that answers the question and then launch into your story regardless of whether there is an invitation to tell it. Ultimately, your story will likely be more memorable than your philosophy.
 
The next time you see a job description that calls for a “team player” with a “strong work ethic” who is able to “multitask” and “work under pressure,” know that they’re serious, but also that you’re much more likely to be remembered if don’t limit yourself to their vocabulary.
 
Use your stories, your experiences. Because you are so much more than a couple of keywords.

A few more details can be found in this article.