What Role Do Soft Skills Play in Technical Hiring?
It’s no secret that strong technical skills are vital for success in the IT industry and other technical fields. However, technical skills alone are not enough for IT professionals to truly excel and stand out from their peers. From communication and collaboration to problem-solving and adaptability, soft skills are the personal attributes that enable us to effectively interact with others and navigate the demands of the workplace. For information technology professionals, soft skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and communication are invaluable and can make an enormous difference in a professional’s success. In technical recruiting, it’s important for hiring managers to look for key soft skills as well as the technical abilities the job demands. In this article, we'll explore the role of soft skills in the workplace and how they help IT professionals succeed in their careers.
What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are nontechnical skills that enable individuals to effectively interact with others and navigate the demands of the workplace. Unlike technical or "hard" skills, they are often difficult to quantify and measure but are essential for success in many careers. While these are sometimes thought to be social skills or personality traits that are inherent to an individual, they can often be developed and improved through practice and experience. Savvy employers place a high value on soft skills in their hiring process, as they can be indicators of an employee’s potential for success and ability to adapt to new situations. In fact, soft skills are crucial in many types of jobs, helping individuals work well with others, handle challenges, and make informed decisions. In IT positions, where the ability to work with a team and communicate complex ideas is essential, soft skills play an important role in an employee’s ability to thrive. Soft skills complement technical skills and help professionals be successful in a variety of situations, and developing strong soft skills can help them stand out and progress in their careers.
What Are Some Common Soft Skills?
Examples of common soft skills include communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork, networking, public speaking, and problem-solving. Other soft skills include conflict resolution, leadership, empathy, active listening, adaptability, creative thinking, and time management. These abilities are highly prized by employers across industries, and they can have a significant impact on an employee's professional success. For example, creativity and innovation can be important for professionals whose jobs require out-of-the-box thinking, such as software or web developers, while empathy and emotional intelligence are invaluable in customer-facing roles like help desk or technical support. For a data analyst, critical thinking skills are crucial, while someone who wants to become an IT manager will need excellent leadership skills.
What Is the Relationship Between Soft Skills and Hard Skills?
Soft skills and hard skills are often seen as two different entities, but they are actually closely related. Hard skills such as coding, data analysis, and SQL will not be as effective in a work environment without the complement of soft skills such as communication and problem-solving. Some soft skills even help individuals learn and develop their hard skills more quickly. Many job postings list both soft and hard skills, indicating that a candidate must possess both technical knowledge and nontechnical abilities to be successful. Employers want employees who will not only be able to do the job well but will also be able to work with others, handle stress, and contribute to a positive workplace culture. Candidates who can demonstrate that they possess top soft skills as well as technical abilities will stand out from their peers, making them more attractive to potential employers and improving their chances of being considered for advancement or managerial roles.
Why Are Soft Skills Important in Technical Hiring?
During the job interview and hiring process, it is important for hiring managers to consider soft skills as well as hard skills. From time management and organizational skills to the ability to solve problems and communicate effectively, soft skills are important in technical hiring for several reasons:
They can impact job performance: Good hard skills alone aren’t always enough to be successful in a particular role. For example, a job candidate may be an excellent coder but lack the teamwork and communication skills needed to effectively collaborate with their colleagues and communicate complex ideas to clients or stakeholders. Key soft skills can be the difference between a candidate who thrives in a position and one who struggles.
They can be indicators of potential: Soft skills matter when assessing job candidates and can often indicate an individual's potential for success in a specific job. For example, someone with good people skills and emotional intelligence is likely to excel in customer service or leadership roles, while someone who is adaptable and has good time management skills will be able to succeed in a fast-paced IT environment. No matter how many certifications someone has, if they lack the most important soft skills for the position, they will likely struggle to excel.
They complement technical skills: Strong hard skills are crucial for success in most technical roles, but they are not the only factor that determines a candidate's suitability for a job. Soft skills can help round out a candidate's skill set and make them a more effective employee.
They can set candidates apart: IT professionals can stand out from their peers by leveraging their soft skills. Certain soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork, are essential to success in many IT jobs, and having these abilities will equip candidates to take on challenging tasks, solve problems independently, develop strong interpersonal relationships, and complete their work efficiently. Improving soft skills can help IT professionals strengthen their reputation as valuable team members, display leadership potential, work effectively, and stand out from the competition.
They are important for long-term career development: Soft skills are essential for long-term career development in the modern workplace. These skills allow professionals to work collaboratively with others, foster effective communication, creatively solve problems, and adapt to changing needs. By honing these abilities over time, IT professionals will build a solid foundation of experience and knowledge that can help them advance in their careers. Having the right soft skills also provides more opportunities to collaborate with other professionals in the field and gain valuable contacts, giving those who put in the effort to develop and improve their soft skills a clear advantage when it comes to career advancement.
Overall, while hard skills are unquestionably an important factor when hiring, both types of skill sets are important for job performance and career development and should be considered when evaluating job candidates.
How Do Soft Skills Affect Job Performance?
Putting in the effort to improve soft skills can impact job performance in a number of ways. Some of the top soft skills for technical jobs include:
Communication: Strong communication skills are essential for success in many jobs, as they enable individuals to effectively convey their ideas and collaborate with colleagues. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and inefficiencies, as well as hinder conflict resolution. Strong communication skills are key to promoting smooth operations in the workplace.
Teamwork: Many jobs require the ability to work effectively with others, and strong teamwork skills are essential for this. Effective teamwork involves being a good listener, having a positive attitude, collaborating and compromising, and contributing to a positive team dynamic.
Problem-solving: The ability to solve problems quickly and creatively is an essential skill in many positions. Strong problem-solving skills can help individuals identify and address issues effectively.
Adaptability: The ability to adapt to new situations and learn new skills can help individuals thrive in changing environments and take on new challenges with confidence.
Leadership: Strong leadership skills are important even if a job doesn't require direct supervision of others. Leadership skills involve the ability to inspire and motivate coworkers, as well as the ability to make sound decisions and delegate tasks effectively.
Time management: Good time management skills can help individuals prioritize their tasks, meet deadlines, and work efficiently. This ability enables individuals to accomplish their work in a timely manner and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Emotional intelligence: Emotional intelligence involves a self-awareness of one's emotions and the ability to manage them, as well as the ability to read and understand the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence can be helpful in many situations, including handling difficult conversations at work, building strong relationships, and resolving conflicts.
Although there are many other soft skills, these are just a few examples of how developing and honing them can help individuals excel on the job. While technical knowledge is essential to performing the job duties, soft skills are often equally important for achieving success in many careers.
How Can Employers Evaluate Soft Skills During the Hiring Process?
To evaluate an applicant's soft skills, hiring managers will need to look beyond the resume. Anyone can say they are a great problem solver or a strong communicator, but how do you know if it’s true? The following strategies can help interviewers incorporate soft skills assessments into their hiring process:.
Ask behavioral and situational questions: Behavioral questions are open-ended questions that require the applicant to provide an example or anecdote from a previous job, project, or experience. This type of question gives interviewers insight into how a candidate has used soft skills in their previous jobs. Situational questions ask the applicant to imagine a hypothetical job-related situation and explain how they would handle it. It will also allow them to directly observe communication skills and the person's ability to think on their feet.
Incorporate role-playing exercises: Role-playing exercises or simulations can allow interviewers to directly observe how a candidate handles different situations and interacts with others. These activities will help gauge how well the person is able to communicate, collaborate, think critically, solve problems, and lead. For example, if you're hiring for a help desk position, ask applicants to walk you through troubleshooting a computer problem as if you were a customer. Or if a position requires an employee to constantly adapt to changing priorities, give applicants a mock situation that requires them to prioritize tasks and explain their decisions.
Ask the candidate directly: Once you've discussed the job responsibilities and requirements, ask candidates what soft skills they think would be needed to succeed in the position. Explain the most important soft skills for the job and ask candidates to rate themselves on each one, in addition to giving examples of how they have demonstrated these skills in the past. This will also help you assess how well the individual understands their own strengths and weaknesses and how self-aware they are about their soft skills.
Observe body language and non-verbal cues: Observing a candidate's body language and non-verbal cues can give employers insight into their comfort level with communication and interactions. Are they engaged during the interview? Are they making strong eye contact? Are they actively listening and responding to questions? Are they answering in a concise and clear manner? Taking note of these cues can help employers get an overall sense of the applicant's interpersonal skills, confidence level, and ability to communicate.
Review references: Some candidates become nervous and struggle to perform well during interviews, while others may know the right things to say but not actually have the skills to back them up. Checking references is a great way for employers to gain insight into an applicant’s performance in past roles and how well they interacted with coworkers and supervisors. Asking the right questions can provide a better understanding of how well an individual handles stressful situations, leads projects, and works with others.
Give assessments or personality tests: Although these tests can be controversial, in some cases, assessments and personality tests can provide useful information about a candidate’s working style, communication preferences, motivations, and soft skills. By using these tests to identify the skills and traits of your current employees in similar roles, you can get a better understanding of what you are looking for in a new employee and use assessments to identify the same traits in applicants.
Tips for Employers to Assess Soft Skills During Interviews
Assessing soft skills during the hiring process can be difficult, but it is critical to take them into consideration when making hiring decisions. If you're a hiring manager, prepare target questions that are designed to assess soft skills. Note the experience listed on the applicant’s resume and ask questions that give insight into the skills that their previous jobs required. For example, a candidate who has experience as a team leader would need good interpersonal and project management skills to be effective in their role.
Paying attention to candidates' behavior as well as non-verbal cues throughout the interview is also important for any hiring manager. How do they respond to questions or feedback? Do they seem adaptable and open to new ideas? Are they a good listener? Finally, make an effort to put the candidate at ease during the interview. You will be more likely to get an accurate sense of their skills and personality if the interview is a conversation instead of an interrogation. By taking these factors into consideration, employers can utilize their assessment of soft skills to make the best hiring decisions for their teams.
Assess Both Soft Skills and Technical Skills When Hiring
While technical skills are necessary to perform specific tasks or job duties, soft skills are also important for overall job performance and success in the role. As such, it is important for employers to consider both technical and soft skills when evaluating candidates to build a well-rounded and effective team. By assessing candidates on their ability to communicate and work with others, handle challenges, and think critically, employers can ensure that they have the right team members in place who will help drive long-term success.
Article Author:
Ashley Meyer
Divisional Business Coordinator
Albany, NY