"If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be, and why?" This may be your idea of a nightmare interview question — and yes, employers really use it. Your answer won't reveal anything about your ability to, say, use Microsoft Excel or drive a forklift truck. But it may tell your potential boss something about your "soft skills." It's been said that hard skills will get you an interview, but soft skills will get you a job. Hard skills are things you might learn at university, like how to write computer code or speak French. Soft skills are the things you might not be able to prove with a qualification, but that will help you succeed in the workplace. These could include being good at things like problem-solving, time management, and communicating with others or understanding how they feel — even being a good listener. Employers say soft skills are more important than ever as the world adapts to remote and hybrid working patterns, because being able to communicate clearly and adapt to new situations is even more vital to success. Some have called soft skills innate. But can we learn them or at least improve them? "Yes," says jobs website Indeed. It says the keys are to communicate regularly with the people on your team, be open to feedback, and pay attention to the way others overcome challenges including how they interact with people to do so. Indeed also says it's important to simply get to work on time. This will help with time management, and also helps you achieve your goals and stand out from your colleagues. Amanda Vickers, CEO of training company Speak First, told The Guardian that it's also important to try to understand what other people's needs and motives might be. This will help you adapt and work successfully with different people. So, which ice cream flavor are you? Well, the flavor isn't important but your answer could demonstrate soft skills such as creativity, quick thinking and even self-awareness. Just don't choose vanilla.