Hard skills are essential for IT professionals such as developers, IT specialists, IT architects and project managers. However, soft skills are also important. Good communication skills, the ability to solve complex problems and adaptability are all indispensable for success in the IT sector. This article looks at the 6 soft skills most in demand by recruiters.

1/ Communication: the key to understanding and being understood by IT and non-IT professionals alike

The ability to communicate is a cross-disciplinary skill that is not always considered vital in the IT sector. In the collective imagination, developers don’t have to be good communicators or be sociable as long as they excel at coding. Yet knowing how to communicate is essential for all IT professionals. But why?

Firstly, many employees in the IT sector have to interact with co-workers from other departments, such as sales, and sometimes with clients who do not possess the same level of technical expertise. However, as Ilias Ghazouani, IT recruitment consultant at Gentis points out “it’s crucial they can translate complex technical concepts into easy-to-understand terms for an audience that is not familiar with IT jargon, so that discussions can flow smoothly and everyone’s expectations and needs can be understood.” What’s more, having good communication skills also means being able to actively listen to the needs of those you are dealing with in order to identify the right solution to a problem.

Technical communication is a soft skill that also applies between members of an IT team: “if a developer is absent, his colleague must be able to pick up his work by quickly understanding what has been done and what stage the project is at, etc.”, insists Ilias Ghazouani.

Strong written communication skills are just as important. For example, IT specialists frequently receive ‘tickets’ when users encounter a technical difficulty. Being able to provide a clear, understandable answer, to formulate a request or to pass on information that everyone can grasp makes it easier for all parties to communicate and work together.

2/ Being a problem solver

Technical problems are a fact of life for IT professionals. The ability to solve a problem quickly and act urgently is an important soft skill, requiring the application of a number of skills such as analytical thinking, creativity and critical thinking. Indeed, “especially when it comes to code, technology and techniques frequently evolve and there are several ways of arriving at a solution. But when you want to solve a problem, you have to look for the quickest and simplest solution,” Ilias Ghazouani explains.

What’s more, being able to think flexibly and approach problems from different perspectives enables IT professionals to devise innovative solutions that others might not have thought about.

3/ The ability to adapt to new techniques and a new IT team

Because problems are frequent and technology is constantly evolving, developers, analysts, data scientists and IT specialists need to be adaptable. It also means that you have to master new things quickly, whether it’s a new coding language or a new software application.

However, this skill is also important when a new employee or freelancer joins an existing team with its own working dynamic. Like all employees, IT professionals will have to familiarise themselves with the rules, rituals and good practices that govern the IT department. Just as they will have to get to grips with existing processes and the tools and techniques used so they can quickly be up and running.

4/ Autonomy and responsiveness, soft skills for all IT professions

Change is part of the DNA of the IT sector, so it’s vital you are responsive. Ilias Ghazouani explains: “a person has to understand the work environment, keep up with the pace, and be able to manage a project from A to Z in a week.” A prerequisite that is justified by the speed with which projects are delivered.

Also, the more senior the candidate, the greater the autonomy, our recruitment consultant adds: “a person with a developer or IT architect profile needs to be resourceful and quick-witted, look for solutions and information on their own or ask their superior for help. In short, to be proactive.” This skill is all the more essential when teleworking.

5/ Collaboration and team spirit: prerequisites for achieving common goals

When fixing 404 errors or producing strings of code, the IT specialist or developer works alone. However, they also need to be able to work with their colleagues and be team players. Ilias Ghazouani makes a point of assessing these soft skills from the very first telephone contact with the candidate: “I systematically ask my interviewees to tell me how their former manager would describe the way they work with their colleagues. My aim is to challenge them on their interpersonal skills by asking them about these achievements: have they already presented projects? Taken the lead at a meeting? Sometimes the candidate raises the subject of their own accord and when they say they like to do their own thing, I conclude that they tend to go it alone.”

A good IT professional doesn’t just focus on achieving his or her individual objectives. They are also involved in ensuring that the team achieves its collective objectives. As a result, they must regularly share their knowledge and information, work together, have good interpersonal skills and support their colleagues.

6/ Curiosity, the key to being at the cutting edge of new technology

The technology currently used by IT professionals evolves at a rapid pace. They need to stay at the cutting edge of the latest trends, monitor them closely, and continuously train to adapt to new technologies. So curiosity and a desire to learn are essential skills.

In other words, soft skills alone may not suffice, nevertheless they are crucial for jobs in IT!