We all know what “hard skills” are. These are the things you know how to do specifically related to your career in IT. For example, you may have skills in network administration or coding languages. But there are also “soft skills” that employers are looking for and those are often harder to put into words.
How do you know if you have the soft skills companies want in their new IT hires and how do you convey those in the interview to demonstrate you’re the top candidate for the job?
Communication
The number one soft skill for any position, including IT professionals, is communication. You need to be able to effectively communicate with coworkers, customers, and management. You also need to be able to communicate face-to-face, over the phone, in emails, and even short text exchanges.
Organization
Next on the list for hiring managers is organization. This means that you’re able to do your work without things getting lost in the shuffle. It’s as much about physical organization as it is about time management. How you organize yourself will give employers confidence that things won’t fall through the cracks.
Analytical Skills
A high percentage of any IT job is problem-solving. There will be problems, both big and small, in any given IT project. Often the entire project is designed to solve a problem for a customer or for your company internally.
Creativity
Without innovation, there wouldn’t even be an IT industry. Employers want that kind of creative thinking. The kind of creativity that developed this technology in the first place. Are you willing to consider creative solutions to problems even if they’re not technically within the rules?
Management
Another word for this might be leadership. Even if you never have a management role, employers want to know that you’re willing and able to take the lead on any given project. Even if it is just a portion of your project or working well with coworkers.
Curiosity
IT is all about development and invention. You need to be curious enough to ask the questions in order to find the answers. If you can bring curiosity to the table in your IT career, there is nothing you can do. Employers can see that and they want it.
Resourcefulness
They also want people who won’t let obstacles stand in their way. They don’t want to hear the reason something can’t work, they want to know that you will be resourceful enough to use your other skills to find a solution.
Are you looking for an IT job in the Raleigh area? Nextaff Employment Agency in Raleigh is currently hiring for IT roles, so call now.