dimensionless said:
I see the phrase "has excellent communication skills" relatively often in job adds. The term "communication skills" sounds funny to me. It reminds me of the phrase "social skills," which I've observed as being used only by individuals with Asperger's syndrome. Actually, I once had a friend who used the phrase "social skills." I had to stop and ask myself, "What's a social skill?" Are "communication skills" similar to "social skills" in the sense that so-called neurotypicals, like myself, use them unconsciously?
"I'm a People Person"
"Excellent Communications Skills"
These pepper resumes and cover letters now a days.
I'm not sure if in a job application context if the phrases really mean anything or not, but the implied implication I can see after interviewing applicants is that they at least are trying to imply that they can get along with others (Social Skills/People Person), and can express and understand thoughts (Communication Skills).
All people have these skills in degree. Some people can read others micro-expressions and body language, choice and tone of words, etc, and make adjustments to their own presentation and/or understanding of the other party...these people are highly skilled in a social setting, and more aware of what's going on.
Some people not only miss micro-expressions and cues, they miss large clues, including actual rage and frustration at them, and fail to adjust their own presentation/understand the other party.
Everyone is between these extremes somewhere, and, at any given time, this position in the scale will shift. A distracted or overtired or drunk (etc) person might slide to the less skilled side than they would normally occupy.
A person in a new culture, where the cues are different than they are used to, can slide to the less skilled side, and a person who is average or below in some situations might be a finely honed highly skilled person in an environment they are very familiar with.
People with autism spectrum disorders, including Aspergers also fall into the scale, and, while they tend towards the lower skilled side, some will be fine or even excel under certain circumstances, its very individual based.
Those with more severe Aspergers for example may take things people say the wrong way (IE: It might be taking it exactly as they said it, albeit, not how they meant it. The NTs will all recognize what was meant, the Asp may not even get why he's wrong after its explained)
So, sure, a person who had to work on "social skills" is more likely to tout this as an achievement than a person who didn't need to do that; Much like most of us stop mentioning in our resumes that we are familiar with common office equipment or programs, once we reach a career point where that sort of thing is assumed or irrelevant.
So consider it as important as claims of being organized, efficient, working well under pressure, etc. Most of it is boiler plate drivel.
:D