There are some skills specific to an industry or profession. Then there are others that are useful wherever you go, universally applicable. These are soft skills, and they’re important to develop because doing so opens up endless possibilities for you.

Here are five you should focus on:

1. Communication
   Being a good communicator will take you anywhere you’d like to go. The ability to effectively express yourself, your vision, and convey your intended message is key. Just as important as what you say is how you say it. Master the art of communication and you can talk your way into just about any room. Not to mention you’ll have healthier relationships, both personal and professional.
2. Negotiation
   This is important when it comes to not taking “no” for an answer. It also helps when discussing pay, making purchases or deals. Learn how to give a little, take a little, and then meet somewhere in the middle.
3. Listening
   Being a good listener is directly related to effective communication. Not only do you need to be understood, you must understand the other person’s point of view as well. You can’t do that if you simply wait to speak rather than actually pay attention and process what is being said.
4. Time Management
   You will not be taken seriously if you constantly show up late to everything and worse, are unprepared. You can’t be the one who always slows down a project because you can’t meet deadlines. You also don’t want to deliver a poor performance because you didn’t have time to adequately complete the task. Learn how to prioritize, remove distractions and put yourself in a position to succeed.
5. Problem Solving
   No matter where you go and what you are doing, there will always be problems that need to be solved. Develop your critical thinking skills so that you will be one of the few who actually brings solutions to the table, and not more problems.