Don’t be sad if you’re not cut for becoming an IT professional. Although strong technical skills are important for any job position, they are not always the case for becoming an IT ninja.
Soft skills are crucial too.
When interviewing for a job, this is the first thing your technical recruiter sees because it innates your personality. And this isn’t something you’re taught in school. They’re essentials that you should learn on your own if you want to be successful in not just IT but also in your life.
So, what are soft skills? And What skills are required to become successful in an IT career?
Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Soft Skills are Important?
Informational technology is a wide field that requires different levels of certifications, education, knowledge, and training. Some are tech support specialists while others are PhDs or associate degrees. Regardless, those working in IT know technology is always advancing, so having software proficiency is not enough.
Even if you got great knowledge and years of training, employees will still evaluate your soft skills when you move through the hiring process.
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Types of IT Soft Skills
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Creativity
Most people think that IT is mainly a desk-oriented job where you sit in front of a computer all day. Instead, it’s a complete creative job that requires anticipation and developing solutions for a wide range of problems.
This is why your imagination and creative skills matter a lot. Employees look for technical professionals that are able to conceive a problem with creative new solutions.
- Imagination
- Fast Thinking
- Strategy Builder
- Analytical Skills
- Open-mindedness
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Communication
There’s a famous saying that: “Communication is the key to success”.
When a number of proposals, client calls, emails, and design documents hit your desk, an IT professional compels clear communication skills – Both verbal and written. An IT professional should also be able to listen to their team members in order to pursue a healthy environment in an organization.
Poor communication can prevent innovative ideas from seeing the light of day. It is equally important for all team members as if there’s a communication gap, it might lack the real value of execution.
- Written Communication
- Verbal Communication
- Collaboration
- Concision
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Flexibility
IT professionals often face unexpected results, setbacks, and last-minute technical problems they need to vendor. For this, you need a clear mind and flexibility to accept those changes and immediately look for a creative solution.
Similarly, you must be open to feedback and suggestions, whether from a client or an employer. Listen carefully to what they have to say, educate them, and do possible changes if necessary, to improve satisfaction.
- Quick Thinking
- Adaptability
- Fast Learning
- Resilience
- Attention to Detail
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Determination
Part of being resourceful in IT involves a variety of issues; problems with software, lack of teamwork, financial problems, hardware issues, or one of many others. Beginning a project with a realistic budget and timeline can help you achieve your goal.
If you make a decision and think it’s for the best, stick by it. If in case, your decision is not working, brainstorm with your team members to find a solid solution. Your employer will be impressed with your ability to plan a project, not complete it.
- Stress Management
- Troubleshooting
- Brainstorming
- Project Management
- Process Improvement
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Problem Solving
Do you like puzzles? If yes, an IT job is all about solving puzzles. A lot of technical skills required in an IT field revolve around brainstorming and strategies that can be picked through trial and error.
If you’re not an avid problem solver, chances are you’ll not progress in this field. IT professionals who know how to best utilize available resources will tend to shine in their jobs. You don’t always have to have the answer – only the determination to find it.
- Process Improvement
- Restructuring
- Problem Sensitivity
- Imagination
- Strategy
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Presentation
Another great soft skill on the list. A presentation can be anything from a group meeting to a lecture or a one-on-one conversation. Whatever the form, you need to exaggerate your ideas and explain them to others, in the best way possible.
Even if your idea is not that great, it will be appreciated if you at least try. Working on your verbal communication, approachability, and your familiarity with tools will help strengthen your presentation skills.
- Articulation
- Engaging
- Humor
- Public Speaking
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Negotiation
No matter your standing position, you will always need to negotiate at some point in life, whether it’s about making a hiring decision or collaborating with your team members. Being able to come to an agreement and set a motion is a great soft skill that will make you stand out from the rest.
Particularly, if you want to be promoted to a higher position, negotiation is a way to achieve it.
- Reaching Consensus
- Focus
- Conflict Management
- Awareness and Diversity
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Resourcefulness
Part of being in an IT sector requires you to be resourceful to your team members. Although IT isn’t traditionally thought of as a “helping” field, there’s a still part of your everyday job that involves helping people.
We, humans, tend to make mistakes and as technology evolves, you can’t help yourself but find out around different hurdles. So, resourcefulness goes both ways – From taking help or helping others to achieve their goals.
- Teamwork
- Determination
- Brainstorming
- Process Improvement
Also Read: How To Find A Perfect Job In Cybersecurity (2022)
How to make your skills stand out:
Soft skills aren’t considered something that should be mentioned on your CV. These are traits that you showcase once you join the organization. But there’s nothing wrong with mentioning them in your CV. In fact, a lot of companies now take endorsement from previous employees to check your past experience and performance.
The best way to utilize this is to pick one or two of the skills you’re good at and mention it with an example. It is also crucial for job seekers to find jobs that offer a healthy environment. For this, you can always check current or previous employees’ remarks about the company.