Research is showing a shift in hiring trends. Increasingly, soft skill qualifications, such as a good attitude, a strong worth ethic, and an innovative way of thinking, are just as important to employers as practical skills. "The hard skills required for a company's success are ever-changing, while the most critical soft skills remain constant," said Davis Bell, vice president of corporate markets at Instructure. While hiring managers may place more emphasis on these skills, they may also find them harder to identify in candidates entering the workforce.