Soft skills are becoming increasingly important to tech and engineering employers – and, as a result, they’re simultaneously becoming increasingly important to job candidates in those fields.
In the past, tech and engineering candidates were expected to bring sufficient soft skills to the table. And then, if their role required it, they would develop additional skills on the job.
But we’ve seen dramatic shifts in our work and personal lives in the past decade. We’ve moved increasingly online, requiring a new set of soft skills around communication. Our online communication skills are becoming ever more critical while our in-person communication skills are degrading – requiring that we finesse both types of skills. We’re also working more collaboratively, requiring strong soft skills around teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving. And, the shift to hybrid work environments means that workers need to excel at time management and organization to stay motivated and on task, as they work at home alone.
Tech and engineering jobs absolutely require hard skills like coding, data analysis, and engineering principles. But, developing and showcasing your soft skills can set you apart from other candidates during the hiring process, help you thrive in today’s workplace, and positively impact your career trajectory.
What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are non-technical skills that shape how we do our jobs and relate to others in the workplace. They include skills like adaptability, problem solving, time management, communication, and teamwork.
Some soft skills are innate, such as empathy and adaptability. These can be difficult to teach or learn but can be developed with practice. Others – such as conflict resolution – are skills that we pick up as we progress through life and gain more experience in the workplace. Established professionals usually have better-developed soft skills than their younger peers who are just entering the workforce.
Soft skills are dependent on well-developed emotional intelligence. In an excellent blog piece, Sophia Bernazzani explains that soft skills require situational awareness, especially regarding the people around us. While some soft skills are directly related to our interpersonal relationships (e.g., communication and teamwork), ultimately all our soft skills affect how we interact with others (e.g., how we manage time can impact others).
Why Are Soft Skills Important In Tech And Engineering?
There’s no question that tech and engineering professionals must excel at the hard technical skills required by their roles. But soft skills are also important to your career success and are becoming increasingly critical.
The way tech and engineering professionals do their jobs has shifted, particularly since the pandemic years. No longer cloistered in cubicles, these professionals often work collaboratively in teams with their colleagues, which requires strong teamwork, communication, and conflict-resolution skills. They may work one-on-one with clients, customers, and/or vendors. In that role, they need excellent communication skills, especially the ability to explain complex technical information to non-experts.
Additionally, given the pace of technological advancements, those working in tech and engineering must have strong soft skills in creativity, adaptability, and problem solving. These skills allow them to quickly learn and implement new technologies or methodologies, with the ability to find creative solutions and troubleshoot issues when things don’t go as planned.
For professionals progressing in their careers, soft skills around leadership and emotional intelligence will become increasingly important, especially for those advancing into leadership roles. Mentorship, conflict resolution, and empathy are necessary to build and lead effective teams.
As well, those working in hybrid or fully remote environments must have strong soft skills around time management, organization, and prioritization to stay motivated and on task while working alone. Since most communication will be carried out online, a different set of communication skills must be developed to effectively and professionally communicate via text and in online meetings.
Because of the shifts in how and where we do our work, employers are increasingly placing higher value on soft skills in job candidates. As a result, those who highlight and demonstrate their soft skills during the interview process will be better able to advance their careers.
How To Develop Your Soft Skills
As mentioned earlier, it can be difficult to learn soft skills – but it’s not impossible. You can further develop your soft skills by deliberately engaging in self-reflection, placing yourself into situations that challenge your existing skills, and seeking out formal learning opportunities,
Self-Reflection
To develop your soft skills, it’s best to start with self-reflection. Think about which skills you already excel at and those that require further development. Also, consider your career goals – if you’re interested in advancing your career into leadership roles, soft skills related to leadership are critical.
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Asking managers, colleagues, and network connections for feedback on your soft skills can be extremely valuable.
Deliberate Practice
The best way to develop soft skills is through practice. You will likely be required to step outside of your comfort zone.
Seek out opportunities that challenge your existing skills. Become an active participant in collaborative projects to hone your communication, teamwork, and conflict-resolution skills. Develop presentations for conferences and industry events to develop your public speaking and communication skills. Offer to mentor junior colleagues to develop your leadership skills.
As you work through these situations, you hone your soft skills and build confidence in your abilities. Having that confidence will allow you to keep challenging yourself so that you can further develop other soft skills.
Formal Learning Opportunities
Although soft skills are best developed through practice, formal learning opportunities – through workshops, courses, or seminars – can help with some skills. Many online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning provide courses targetted to soft skill development.
You may also consider working with a mentor or coach to develop your soft skills. They will be able to provide feedback on your existing skills and offer practical advice on how to improve.
How To Showcase Your Soft Skills
Well-developed soft skills are key to advancing your career. Highlight them on your resume, in your cover letters, and during interviews so that employers can consider them during the hiring process.
Incorporate Your Soft Skills Into Your Resume And Cover Letters
Personalize every job application by shaping your resume and cover letter to showcase the soft skills each employer is looking for. Include specific examples of how you’ve used the desired soft skills to achieve results. Use action verbs and quantifiable results to demonstrate the strength of your soft skills. For example, a software engineer could talk about collaborating with a cross-functional team to deliver a project on time, demonstrating collaboration, leadership, and time-management skills.
Highlight Your Soft Skills In Interviews
Review the job posting before your interview so that you’ll be prepared for questions about specific soft skills. Interviewers often pose behavioral questions such as, “Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict with a coworker.” Go into the interview with prepared anecdotes that demonstrate your soft skills.
When answering questions related to soft skills, make sure to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This will allow you to provide a concise overview of the issue and how you resolved it with your soft skills.
Because so many soft skills are interpersonal ones, it’s important to let them shine during the interview. Make eye contact, actively listen, and be polite and professional in your communication.
By putting your soft skills into action during job interviews, you’ll demonstrate your full promise as an employee and give the interview team additional reasons to hire you.
