8 Non-Tech Skills IT Pros Need To Succeed
Communication and active listening don't normally come to mind when thinking of top skills for IT pros, but these "soft skills" can make a tremendous difference in building a successful career.
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IT pros have who have spent years honing technical skills to advance their careers might be surprised to find that there is another set of talents that is just as valuable that they may be lacking -- so-called "soft skills".
Each business has different demands for IT applicants when it comes to technical skills. However, all IT organizations share a need for professionals who can listen, collaborate, and communicate complex information.
These soft skills may not seem significant to IT workers who are focused on their technical expertise, but they can make a difference in whether or not you land your next job.
"The hard skills are important to get you the interview and qualify for the work, but the person who gets hired has the [technical] box checked and the ability to express and communicate at a very high level," said Rick Dionisio, president and owner of Ingenium, a tech and creative talent agency.
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The problem is, most IT pros aren't aware of the importance of these soft skills.
Dionisio explained how when choosing between two candidates, a hiring manager is more likely to select the one who has mastered their soft skills -- even if the alternative candidate has superior technical capabilities.
Today's businesses aren't simply looking for IT pros who can take assignments, work by themselves, and leave at the end of the day. They want people who can collaborate with employees in different parts of the business, share their ideas, and be open to criticism.
What are some of the top soft skills to have as an IT pro today? Here, recruiters share the skills they've noticed are in high demand among employers. Do you have these skills? If so, have they made a difference in your career advancement or landing a job? Let us know in the comments below.
Dionisio explained how the ability to explain complex information is critical for IT pros. In addition to having the tech skills to perform the job, can you articulate what you're trying to do?
"Most candidates fall on interviews because they haven't been able to explain clearly and concisely to the interviewing panel the technical problems they have faced and how they have gone about solving them," he said. Employers are looking for candidates who can present a 360-degree view of what they're doing. For example, why they chose a particular design pattern or JavaScript framework.
This is one reason why hiring managers prefer to interview IT pros face-to-face, Dionisio explained. They want to hear how candidates explain their work and answer questions like "Why are you leaving your current role?" in a professional business setting. If they can't, it's a sign they may not be a good fit.
The reason hiring managers seek this level of communication is today's IT pros don't work in isolation. Most, if not all, work in group environments and interact with architects, project managers, developers, quality assurance, and DevOps teams.
"A lot of people out there are pretty good if they're left to their own devices," said Dionisio. "The ones really in high demand are the ones who have that same skill set but can articulate and explain what they're doing in a team environment."
The ability to communicate in a collaborative setting is a challenge for many IT pros, especially those who are more seasoned and accustomed to speaking in technical terms. "They're used to dealing with bits and bytes. To take that and explain it is sometimes tough for them," said Dionisio.
In some cases, Dionisio explained, the soft skills in need of most improvement vary from generation to generation. Older candidates, for example, generally need to be more flexible when it comes to accepting criticism.
The longer an IT pro has been in the business, the more likely it is he or she will shut out opinions different from their own, Dionisio said. This is a huge detriment, as businesses seek candidates who will let other people poke holes in their ideas and suggest changes.
"The more senior you get, the more convinced you become of your own beliefs," said Dionisio. He illustrates this point with an example of a candidate he worked with who was both well-paid and well-known within the industry. This senior IT professional was rejected from a position at a startup because the company felt he was too stuck in his ways to accept changes to his ideas, even if they were made with good intentions.
Incoming IT pros are on the opposite end of the spectrum, Dionisio said. Their listening skills are great; however, they don't trust their own instincts because they don't feel they have the experience to bring their ideas to the table.
Oftentimes, said Dionisio, hiring manager feedback indicates new hires simply wait for their managers to give them assignments. They rarely push the envelope or try to find a better way to do things because they lack the confidence.
Today's businesses want incoming IT employees to have drive, passion, hunger, and confidence in themselves to do better. New IT pros should learn to properly question seniority and become more assertive in proposing new ideas. That is what will help the client grow, he explained.
The stubbornness of seasoned IT employees affects the way they work with others. In general, workers with years of experience are overconfident and have a shorter fuse for the back-and-forth collaborative, innovative process, Dionisio explained. Hiring managers tend to avoid these candidates because they are trying to build a corporate culture, and collaboration is key.
It's worth noting that every business has a different idea of what collaboration means, said Dionisio. Some companies claim to have an open, collaborative culture on paper, but their offices are so quiet "you can hear a pin drop." Other corporate environments are more like a trading floor, with employees chatting and holding meetings. This is why it's important for IT pros to interview face-to-face -- so the hiring manager can get a sense of how they would fit into the culture.
Tech pros should have the ability and patience to share knowledge and mentor employees both inside and outside their IT organization.
There are a couple of reasons why this is important. In a field where so much learning happens on the job, there will be multiple times when seasoned professionals will need to teach incoming employees certain skills. As the IT department rolls out new apps within the business, tech pros will need to help train employees throughout the organization and answer questions as they learn.
Most IT pros don't learn how to negotiate, but it's becoming an increasingly important skill to have.
As more businesses explore and purchase cloud-based technologies, IT pros will need to leverage contract negotiation skills to ensure they are getting the best solution for their organization. Those who can successfully negotiate and possess some legal knowledge will prove invaluable in modern businesses.
IT pros should also brush up on their writing skills for basic business communication like emails and follow-ups, said Amish Shah, founder and CEO of Millennium Search. Recruiters and hiring managers believe it's important to know a candidate can communicate diligently and efficiently.
How can IT pros improve on their soft skills? The same way they built their technical skills, said Dionisio.
IT candidates have already decided their tech skills are important to them; it's why they chose to work in the field. When they need to improve on a specific skill, such as Android development, they research it and practice it, iterating the process over and over.
How can IT pros improve on their soft skills? The same way they built their technical skills, said Dionisio.
IT candidates have already decided their tech skills are important to them; it's why they chose to work in the field. When they need to improve on a specific skill, such as Android development, they research it and practice it, iterating the process over and over.
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