Soft Skills Matter More Than Students Think | Career Advice
Satu Academy insight featuring senior aerospace engineer Baktash Hamzehloo: Why communication, adaptability, and real-world experience matter as much as grades and technical skills for internships and hiring.
Key takeaways
- Prioritize soft skills for students over hype, shortcuts, or comparison-driven decisions.
- Why communication, adaptability, and real-world experience matter as much as grades and technical skills for internships and hiring.
- Show proof through projects, internships, and habits—not inflated résumés or memorization alone.
- Interview source: Baktash Hamzehloo on “Soft Skills Matter More Than Students Think” (Satu Academy).
The Career Advantage Most Students Ignore
During our interview with senior aerospace engineer Baktash Hamzehloo, we discussed something many students underestimate when preparing for their careers:
Soft skills.
A lot of students focus almost entirely on:
- Technical knowledge
- Grades
- Certifications
- Coursework
And while those things matter, Baktash explained that companies are also paying close attention to something else:
Can this person function well in the real world?
Because in professional environments, technical skills alone are rarely enough.
What Companies Actually Look For
According to Baktash, employers often value students who can:
- Communicate clearly
- Handle pressure
- Work independently
- Adapt to problems
- Collaborate with others
These qualities become especially important in:
- Team projects
- Internships
- Client-facing work
- Fast-moving industries
And interestingly, many of these skills are developed outside the classroom.
The Surprising Example He Gave
One of the most interesting points from the interview was when Baktash mentioned that even jobs like:
- Cashier
- Waiter
- Customer service worker
can teach valuable professional skills.
At first, many students may not connect those jobs to industries like aerospace or engineering.
But according to him, those experiences teach students:
- Responsibility
- Communication
- Patience
- Problem-solving
- Emotional control under pressure
For example, handling difficult customers late at night may seem unrelated to engineering—but it develops resilience and professionalism that become extremely useful later in workplace environments.
Why Technical Skills Alone Aren't Enough
Imagine two students applying for the same internship.
Student A
- Excellent grades
- Strong technical skills
- Struggles with communication
- Has little real-world interaction experience
Student B
- Solid academic performance
- Worked part-time during school
- Comfortable communicating
- Handles stress well
- Knows how to work with different personalities
In many real workplace situations, Student B may adapt faster—even if Student A is technically stronger on paper.
Why?
Because companies hire people, not just resumes.
And according to Baktash, soft skills heavily influence:
- Team dynamics
- Leadership potential
- Workplace reliability
- Long-term growth
Where Students Can Build These Skills
The good news is that soft skills can be developed almost anywhere.
Students can improve them through:
- Part-time jobs
- Team sports
- Student organizations
- Volunteering
- Networking events
- Group projects
- Leadership opportunities
Even difficult experiences can become valuable training.
The key is paying attention to:
- How you communicate
- How you react under pressure
- How you solve problems with others
Why This Matters More in Modern Industries
As technical tools become more accessible through AI and automation, human skills become even more valuable.
Many students can learn software.
Fewer students can:
- Lead teams
- Communicate clearly
- Stay calm under stress
- Build trust quickly
And according to Baktash, those qualities often separate good employees from great long-term professionals.
The Bigger Lesson
Technical skills may help students get opportunities.
But soft skills often determine how far they grow once they enter the industry.
That's why students should not only focus on becoming smarter academically.
They should also focus on becoming:
- More adaptable
- More professional
- More communicative
- More self-aware
Because long-term career success is rarely built on technical ability alone.
Credit & Interview Source
This article is based on insights shared during our interview with Baktash Hamzehloo, where he discussed engineering careers, hiring, workplace performance, and the importance of communication and soft skills in long-term professional growth.
Frequently asked questions
- What should students know about career advantage most students ignore?
- Baktash Hamzehloo ties “The Career Advantage Most Students Ignore” to a broader lesson: why communication, adaptability, and real-world experience matter as much as grades and technical skills for internships and hiring.
- What should students know about what companies actually look for?
- In “Soft Skills Matter More Than Students Think,” What Companies Actually Look For highlights why why communication, adaptability, and real-world experience matter as much as grades and technical skills for internships and hiring.
- What should students know about surprising example he gave?
- Students exploring the surprising example he gave should remember: why communication, adaptability, and real-world experience matter as much as grades and technical skills for internships and hiring.