• Career expert Andrea Kay stresses that knowing oneself and showing empathy are important components of the soft skills that make people employable: "Many, many jobs are lost and careers derailed because of the way people act with each other, respond to stress, or deal with a conflict. . . . If you don't understand how you come across, or get swept away in your emotions, or don't recognize how others feel, how can you approach a difficult conversation with sensitivity to the other person?" Have you ever been surprised at how you came across to others or misread another person's feelings?