5 Essential Soft Skills to Look for When Hiring IT Professionals

In IT, understanding if a candidate has the required technical skills is pretty straightforward. They might have a required certification or can show their knowledge through a technical interview. 

But soft skills are just as important—if not more so. Most IT professionals can learn a new coding language or how to navigate a new cloud platform. However, understanding when to speak up, how to word a report, or the ability to explain a complex topic is a bit more difficult to teach. 

Today, we'll discuss what soft skills matter in IT,  why they matter, and how to evaluate them during an IT job interview. 

Why are Soft Skills Important When Hiring in IT?

Soft skills provide a crucial bridge between technical and non-technical teams. Skills like communication and teamwork help teams work together more effectively, drive projects forward, and improve the customer experience. 

For example, if an IT staff member can't communicate to the CEO that it's not just that she can't fix the bibbity bop, it's that the bibbity bop will cause the very important app to crash, then the entire company is in pretty big trouble! 

Breaking down complex topics into understandable language also helps ensure that all departments are on the same page. This means clearer project expectations, quicker decision-making, and better alignment between business and technology goals. 

IT professionals who can address technical problems and understand the impact on the user will improve project delivery and make customers happier. 

What are the Key Soft Skills for IT Professionals?

Soft skills are often difficult to define, making it hard to evaluate candidates for specific traits. Below, we'll explore key soft skills you should be looking for, and a few ways to tell if a candidate has them. 

1. Communication Skills

It's not enough for your new hire to be able to set up a new network or code a new application; they also need to communicate their goals, setbacks, and potential roadblocks with the rest of the team. They should be able to articulate complex technical concepts clearly in simple terms, ensuring that both technical and non-technical stakeholders can easily understand the issues at hand. 

Effective listening skills and good written communication skills are equally important. These help IT professionals gather requirements and craft clear documentation, which keeps projects organized and ensures all team members are informed.

2. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

A good portion of any IT job is problem solving. Whether they're building networking or coding new applications, they need to be able to approach challenges with a systematic and logical mindset. 

Ask questions about specific scenarios they might face and pay attention to their answers. Look for candidates who can quickly provide innovative solutions and adjust their strategy in response to new obstacles.

3. Teamwork and Collaboration

To ensure smooth projects, candidates often need to work and collaborate effectively with colleagues from various departments. Teamwork is crucial to the on-time delivery of IT projects. 

Conflict resolution is equally important, as navigating disagreements and finding mutually beneficial solutions keeps projects on track. These skills foster a productive, cooperative work environment where both technical and non-technical staff can thrive.

4. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand, manage, and effectively express one’s own emotions, as well as the capacity to recognize and respond to the emotions of others. This includes: 

• Self-Awareness: Understanding one’s own strengths, weaknesses, and how it impacts co-workers. 

• Empathy: Being able to relate to and understand the perspectives of colleagues and users. 

• Self-regulation: The ability to maintain composure and effectiveness under pressure. 

Candidates with a high EQ tend to work better with others, communicate more effectively, and succeed better as leaders. 

5. Time Management and Prioritization

To succeed in IT projects, candidates must demonstrate strong planning, prioritization, and time management skills. They should be able to break down complex projects into manageable tasks, set clear deadlines, and prioritize their efforts on high-impact activities. 

This involves regularly assessing progress, adjusting timelines as needed, and staying flexible in the face of shifting project demands. Additionally, candidates should implement strategies to balance their workload, such as time-blocking or leveraging task management tools, to maintain productivity—and avoid burnout. 

How to Evaluate Soft Skills During the Hiring Process

Evaluating soft skills can be challenging, but there are several interview strategies you can leverage. One approach is to use situational questions. For example, you might ask, “Describe a time when you had to explain a technical concept to a non-technical person.” You'll clearly see their communication skills and how well they explain complex topics. 

You can also create scenarios that simulate real-world scenarios to understand their approach to problem-solving and collaboration. For example, you might ask, "How would you explain to a CTO that the updates they are asking for aren't possible?" 

Team-based tasks or group interviews can also be helpful for evaluating interpersonal dynamics and teamwork. By placing candidates in group settings, you can see how they interact with others, whether they take initiative, and how they collaborate. 

Conclusion

Incorporating soft skills into your IT hiring process is essential for creating a well-rounded team. Focus on evaluating communication, problem-solving, and collaboration abilities alongside technical expertise to find the right fit for your team. 

By hiring individuals with these skills, your company will be better equipped to handle challenges and drive innovation. And keep in mind, soft skills can be taught. With CBT Nuggets' LMS platform, you can seamlessly provide online training and workshops to help your team strengthen the soft skills they need to succeed.