A Systematic Literature Review: Transferable In-Demand Soft Skills Related to Informal Life Experiences

The present review examines the relationship between transferable soft skills and unique life experiences. In the contemporary job market, hiring managers are increasingly placing greater emphasis on the soft skills candidates possess, taking a more holistic approach to the hiring process. However, especially in the post-pandemic aftermath, mismatch exists between employers’ soft skill requirements and the actual proficiency levels of job applicants. Through a systematic literature review methodology, this study identifies five unique life experiences that may serve as indicators for transferable soft skill proficiencies: athletics, video gaming, previous employment, crises, and military service. When life experiences are recognized as a valuable domain of exploration, hiring managers may be better equipped to locate desirable job applicants. Additionally, job applicants may gain employment in desired positions through leveraging their unique life experiences throughout the hiring process. Thus, the recognition of life experiences as an indicator for soft skill proficiencies can widen the talent pool and address the skill mismatch problems between employers and job applicants. However, this review calls for consistent terminology and definitions to further clarify this field of research. Additionally, due to the unbiased nature of systematic literature reviews and the focus of this present review, certain life experiences, such as video gaming, may not be considered as socially acceptable to emphasize, compared to other experiences like previous employment.