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Make no mistake, the soft skills on your resume can be of as much interest to a hiring manager as the technical skills you offer. Smart managers know that an experienced, highly trained new hire who doesn’t fit into the office culture, communicates poorly with clients and colleagues, or freezes under deadline pressures can take a heavy toll on the workplace. Your resume — and, later, how you present at the interview — should assure the employer that you not only can do the job, but you’ll help the team thrive.

Unsure which soft skills can send that message? Remember, every job application should get a tailored resume. So review the duties of the position you’re applying for, and determine which of your personal strengths would help you be a success at the job and in the work environment.

Consider these 15 soft skills and personal attributes, and why employers value them:

1. Adaptability — Whether you’re a new hire learning the ropes, a long-time staff member adjusting to shifting company priorities, or a manager adopting transformative technologies in the workplace, you’re going to face some disruption in your career. Companies want employees who can quickly acclimate to different environments and are open to new processes and technologies.
2. Attention to detail — Mistakes are expensive to businesses in terms of time and money. To show prospective employers that you are careful and deliberate in all you do, submit a tailored, proofread resume and cover letter with work history highlights that exemplify diligence and conscientiousness.
3. Collaboration — How well you work with others, both team members and across departments, is going to be critical to your career success. Give examples in your work history — or if you’re a new college grad, examples from your labs, seminars and coursework — that demonstrate successful teamwork and partnerships.
4. Communication — No matter the industry, no matter the position, verbal, writing and presentation skills are an increasingly important soft skill in the workplace. Employers are looking for candidates who can interact with different audiences, from interns to the C-suite, without resorting to jargon, and can present to an audience with confidence.
5. Creativity — Businesses grow with the infusion of fresh ideas and new approaches to old problems. Hiring managers will give a careful look at someone whose resume skills show they think creatively, challenge the status quo and offer novel solutions.
6. Customer service — A company’s prosperity — and an employee’s career prospects — is tied to good customer service. Employers want staff to be dedicated to meeting the expectations of both internal stakeholders and external clients.
7. Decision making — Most savvy managers want to give staff a measure of autonomy so leadership can focus on the bigger picture (they also know it can improve employee happiness and performance). That’s why they value employees who can assess a situation and determine the next steps to take, rather than continually ask for guidance.
8. Empathy — Understanding the emotions of others is important if you want to effectively engage with coworkers, managers, direct reports, customers and clients. Whether for a senior leadership or staff-level role, the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes is a valuable trait.
9. Leadership — Even when they’re not hiring for a managerial role, employers look for candidates who can inspire and motivate team members, and act with integrity, fairness and a strategic mindset. Where possible, highlight the professional experience and skills on your resume that show you can lead.
10. Multitasking — Today’s workplace is in many ways busier and more complicated than in the past. A strong resume will demonstrate a job candidate’s ability to juggle projects and competing priorities.
11. Positivity — No, this doesn’t mean “excessively cheerful or optimistic.” Rather, show that you approach difficulties with a can-do attitude. Resilience and determination, not a negative mindset, are what gets a job done. Employers want that.
12. Problem solving — What job doesn’t involve challenges and problems? And what employer wants to handhold staff when those challenges and problems arise? An ability to resolve conflicts and come up with creative solutions to challenges big and small are prized skills on a resume.
13. Self-motivation — No boss wants to keep lighting a fire under their workers. Give instances of how you’ve taken the initiative to solve problems and get the job done.
14. Time management — Whatever role you’re seeking, time management is a prime skill to include on your resume. Employers want to know you have the discipline to tune out distractions, meet deadlines and get the most out of the workday.
15. Work ethic — Honesty, punctuality, responsibility and reliability are all integral to a strong work ethic. Draw out those qualities in the examples you give in your professional history and resume skills sections.