Skill Basics Slides Job Skills
Hard vs. Soft Skills
What are skills?
A skill is something you are good at doing.
Skills help you get and keep a job.
Hard Skills
"The Doing Skills"
Hard skills are tasks you learn how to do with your hands or tools.
Hard Skill Examples
Typing on a computer
Stocking shelves
Using a cash register
Cleaning and sweeping
Cooking food
Bagging groceries
Soft Skills
"The People Skills"
Soft skills are how you act and how you work with other people.
Soft Skill Examples
Smiling and being friendly
Being on time
Listening to your boss
Working as a team
Following directions
Wearing clean clothes
Which skill is this?
Smiling at a customer
Hard Skill?
Soft Skill?
Which skill is this?
Sweeping the floor
Hard Skill?
Soft Skill?
Remember!
Hard Skills
Doing tasks with your hands or tools.
Soft Skills
Acting friendly and working with others.
Skill Sort Activity Skill Sort Mat
Put the skill cards in the right box!
Name:
Date:
Hard Skills
"Tasks I learn how to do"
Glue 5 Cards Here
Soft Skills
"How I act with people"
Glue 5 Cards Here
Skill Cards
Cut these out and glue them on the mat!
Smiling and being friendly
Typing on a computer
Arriving to work on time
Stocking items on shelves
Helping your team members
Using a cash register
Listening to directions
Sweeping and mopping
Wearing a clean uniform
Cooking or preparing food
Cut along the dotted lines
Skill Scenarios Worksheet Skill Detective
Circle the correct skill for each worker!
Name:
Date:
Look at what the worker is doing. Is it a Hard Skill (Task) or a Soft Skill (People)?
Worker A
Using a cash register to help a customer buy snacks.
Hard Skill
Soft Skill
Worker B
Saying "Hello" and smiling at everyone who walks in.
Hard Skill
Soft Skill
Worker C
Cleaning the tables after customers leave.
Hard Skill
Soft Skill
Worker D
Being at work on time and ready to start.
Hard Skill
Soft Skill
Worker E
Typing an email to your boss.
Hard Skill
Soft Skill
Great job being a Skill Detective!
Skill Basics Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Job Skill Essentials
Life Skills | Grades 9-12
Objective
Students will differentiate between hard (technical) and soft (interpersonal) job skills.
Duration
45-60 Minutes (Can be split across 2 days)
Materials
Skill Basics Slides
Sort Activity & Scissors/Glue
Detective Worksheet
1
Introduction (10-15 mins)
Use the **Skill Basics Slides** to introduce the concept. Focus on the icons for "Hard" (Wrench/Tools) and "Soft" (Heart/People).
Key Discussion Question:
"If I need to use a hammer, is that a skill I learn for a task, or is it how I talk to people?"
2
Guided Sort (15-20 mins)
Distribute the **Skill Sort Activity**. Complete the first 2-3 cards together as a class. Encourage students to look at the icon and the color of the card border to help them decide.
Tip: For students with fine motor challenges, pre-cut the cards or use velcro for a reusable sorting board.
3
Independent Practice (10 mins)
Have students complete the **Skill Detective Worksheet**. They should circle the best choice for each scenario.
Differentiation Tips
For Low-Verbal Students
Use physical objects (a wrench for hard skills, a 'happy face' for soft skills) and have students point to the representative object for each slide/card.
For High-Support Needs
Focus only on 2 skills (one hard, one soft) throughout the entire lesson to build mastery before adding more examples.
Skill Basics Answer Key Answer Key
Job Skill Essentials
1 Skill Sort Activity
Hard Skills
Typing on a computer
Stocking shelves
Using a cash register
Sweeping and mopping
Cooking food
Soft Skills
Smiling and being friendly
Being on time
Listening to directions
Helping team members
Wearing a clean uniform
2 Skill Detective Worksheet
1. Using a cash register Hard Skill
2. Saying "Hello" and smiling Soft Skill
3. Cleaning the tables Hard Skill
4. Being at work on time Soft Skill
5. Typing an email Hard Skill
Skill Scenario Slides Skill Detective
Identify the Skill!
How to Play
Look at what the worker is doing. Is it a Hard Skill or a Soft Skill?
Scenario 1
Using a cash register to help a customer buy snacks.
Hard Skill?
Soft Skill?
Hard Skill!
Using a tool (the register) is a task you learn.
Scenario 2
Saying "Hello" and smiling at everyone who walks in.
Hard Skill?
Soft Skill?
Soft Skill!
Being friendly is how you act with people.
Scenario 3
Cleaning the tables after customers leave.
Hard Skill?
Soft Skill?
Hard Skill!
Cleaning is a task you do with your hands.
Scenario 4
Being at work on time and ready to start.
Hard Skill?
Soft Skill?
Soft Skill!
Being responsible and on time is a soft skill.
Scenario 5
Typing an email to your boss on a computer.
Hard Skill?
Soft Skill?
Hard Skill!
Typing is a task you learn how to do.
Great Job!
You are a Skill Expert!
Skill Role Play Cards Social Action Cards
Role Play: Hard vs. Soft Skills
How to use:
Cut out these cards. Have students act out the action on the card. The class can guess: Is it a Hard Skill (Task) or a Soft Skill (People)?
Act out: Smiling at a customer and saying "Have a nice day!"
Soft Skill
Act out: Picking up boxes and stacking them on a shelf.
Hard Skill
Act out: Walking into work and "clocking in" right on time.
Soft Skill
Act out: Using a broom to sweep the floor into a pile.
Hard Skill
Act out: Listening carefully while your boss gives you directions.
Soft Skill
Act out: Putting grocery items into a bag carefully.
Hard Skill