Good Traits to Have for a Job in the Skilled Trades

February 28, 2025 byCharlotte Davies

4 min to read

Students wearing hard hats and gloves working with metal pipes.

When considering who to hire for a job, employers will often look at a candidate’s interpersonal skills, sometimes called “professional” or “soft” skills, just as closely as they would any job-specific hard skills. Oftentimes, these soft skills are the result of positive traits that the candidate has taken the time to cultivate within themselves and speak to who they are as a person. This gives employers an idea of not just how the candidate might approach their work on a day-to-day basis but can give them insight into how they might interact with their coworkers, leaders, or customers.

So, what are good traits to have for a job in the skilled trades? What soft skills can students develop before they graduate high school that can help them as they enter the workforce? Luckily, the soft skills employers in the trades are looking for are things you can start to work on now, especially if you’re exploring the trades in high school.

Adaptability

No matter what field or job you’re in, things fluctuate from time to time. Schedules change, scopes of work are altered, or new protocols, techniques, procedures, or people are introduced. Being able to respond well to change, big or small, shows resilience and a strong work ethic that can help fuel forward momentum at work and keep you feeling motivated.

Problem solving

Knowing how to creatively and efficiently course correct when things don’t go as planned is a valuable skill for working in the trades. Using critical thinking skills to evaluate a problem and build a solution using the resources you have or knowing where to find what you need when you don’t is something you can start practicing early on and will serve you in good stead throughout your career.

Communication

Even if you’re thinking about a trade where you’d typically work alone, there will always be instances where you have to work with other people. Being able to clearly explain complex concepts, directions, or details to your coworkers or employers is an essential part of working in the skilled trades. And since communication is a two-way street, how well you absorb, retain, and respond to information is just as important.

Attention to detail

Many trade jobs rely on precision. Whether it’s understanding the minute details of technical drawings or working with precision machinery, being aware of the fine details is an important trait to develop. Attention to detail helps reduce waste, increase safety and efficiency, and improves the quality of the work you do, which will be appreciated by employers once you enter the workforce.

Time management

As a tradesperson, it’s likely you’ll be working on multiple projects or managing appointments for more than one customer in a single day. Therefore, how you make use of your time is directly related to how well you’re able to do your job. The better you are at prioritizing tasks and sticking to a schedule, the better you’ll be at mitigating delays. Keep in mind that your ability to work through tasks efficiently is not only essential to your reputation but can also impact your income if you’re unable to meet deadlines or fall behind schedule.

Collaboration

Conflict resolution, joint planning, taking constructive criticism, and task coordination are just a few aspects of being able to work with other people within the skilled trades. Even if you’re an individual contributor on a project, bringing a collaborative mentality to a job is beneficial for your career in the long run. For example, you may work as an independent contractor and rely on word of mouth or your reputation to secure your next job. If people have a good experience working with you, they’ll be more likely to refer you to clients, or want to work with you again in the future.

Reliability

Reliability means being honest and being transparent when schedules or projects need to be adjusted or expectations need to be set. Simply put, showing up as someone people can depend on is a valuable trait to cultivate, and will serve you well both at work and in your personal life.

Career Readiness with Connections Academy

Discover how access to digital learning platforms like Coursera and Credly can help Connections Academy students get a head start on developing essential career skills. Students can earn digital credentials in soft skills like leadership, communication and collaboration, and time management to prepare them for life after graduation. They can also explore industry-specific trade skills through one of our many partnerships.