Statement of the problem: In managing the family, reducing economic dependence and social empowerment play a role. These women often face job insecurity, psychological stress, conflict between family and work roles, lack of time, and limited support. In these circumstances, soft skills such as effective communication, problem solving, conflict management, emotion regulation, flexibility, and adaptability can help maintain their jobs and manage workplace difficulties. Despite this importance, domestic research has focused more on financial support and technical training and has examined the soft skills needed by this group less from the perspective of lived experience.

. Research objective: To identify and describe the soft skills needed by female heads of households in order to clarify the skill dimensions that affect their job adaptation, resilience, and employment sustainability from their own perspective.

. Research question: The main question is: What are the soft skills needed by female heads of households? It is also examined how these skills help manage job challenges and fulfill family and work roles simultaneously.

. Method and application: This qualitative study is conducted with a descriptive phenomenological approach. The participants are working women heads of households in Tehran with at least five years of continuous employment experience who are selected purposefully and conveniently. Data are collected through semi-structured interviews and field notes and continued until conceptual saturation. The findings can be the basis for skills training, career counseling, and empowerment programs tailored to their real needs.