Top IT soft skills you need to get the contract you deserve  

As an IT contractor you should be able to take your pick right now as there are many more available roles than candidates, but technical skills alone are no longer enough to land you the top jobs - you also need IT soft skills.  

What are soft skills for IT?  

A soft skills definition usually refers to interpersonal skills, also called people skills - in other words, the skills that make it easier for you to work well with others and to quickly adapt to different or changing environments.  

What’s the difference: soft skills vs. hard skills?  

Hard skills are the core skills or technical skills you need to do your job e.g., the programming language or your blockchain experience. On the other hand, key soft skills for tech professionals are the non-technical skills they need. IT soft skills examples include verbal communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.  

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Why do I need soft skills in tech?  

Of course, your technical knowledge is important for landing a top tech contract, but the reality is most employers these days not only value but also insist on soft skills in technology.  

This is particularly the case for tech contractors who need to implement substantial changes in a company or who are hired for project management or leadership roles, explains, MichaelPage Senior Executive Manager, Vincenzo Carrabs.   

For example, a Chief Security Officer or Information Security Officer needs to be the security ambassador of the company and must communicate the importance of a solid information security environment to all stakeholders.  

Nowadays everyone is looking for strong, communicative candidates who are good at connecting business and IT.

Vincenzo Carrabs

MichaelPage Senior Executive Manager 

The ideal IT soft skills list

Here is a list of top soft skills for IT professionals that will make you stand out from the competition.  

Also read our post highlighting 5 steps to advance your tech career. 

Effective communication skills   

As we said above, this is the most important soft skill for tech contractors, other than their tech knowledge, as they must be able to explain why and how they are doing things to different stakeholders in the business in plain, understandable language.  

Flexibility or adaptability  

Here we’re talking about the ability to work effectively in a changing environment. You need to be open-minded and flexible enough to accept last-minute changes and adjust course when needed. The nature of contracting is that you should be able to hit the ground running and land on your feet in any role without the need for too much training or handholding, says Vincenzo Carrabs. You need to be resilient and easily work across teams.  

Critical thinking and problem solving  

Hiring managers want to see how tech professionals would be able to find creative solutions to solve problems that you may not have anticipated. Analytical thinking is also important because it helps you approach problems in a logical and structured way.  

As contractors bring an outside perspective, they can often ask the right questions and apply knowledgeable and beneficial judgment at critical points - a strong soft skill asset.   

Time management skills  

For contractors time management is key - you have been hired to do a job and get results in a defined, and often short, period, so the ability to prioritize and to be results-driven is a core skill.  

Active listening  

As there is little time for training, contractors should listen carefully to what is being required and pay attention to detail to ensure they meet all the requirements of the contract, and nothing is lost in translation.   

Stress management  

Contractors often need to step into a stressful environment, for example where the team has been overworked and under pressure and look to the contractor to lighten the load, or when there are tight deadlines for setting up a new project from scratch.  

Project management  

The ability to lead projects and teams and move things forward is almost as important as the technical skills in some of the contract positions.  

Social skills  

Even if you’re working remote - as many contractors do these days - the person’s ability to get on with team members, even if it’s on a Zoom call, also counts for a lot. Having a sense of humor and being able to connect to others on a personal level, is an important part of IT contracting.  

Training or educational skills  

One of the IT soft skills that will make you desirable as an IT contractor now, says Carrabs, is your ability to share or impart your skills with the in-house team. This means that when you leave, they have the knowledge to continue without you.  

How to develop soft skills?  

So, what do you do if you´re not sure you have the soft skills or you are unsure about how to highlight them in your applications or job interviews?  

Personal development is always important, so consider doing online classes to help you boost your soft skills.  

Also, an experienced recruiting agency would be able to help you identify your soft skills and advise on how to structure a cover letter or CV to best display your strengths.  

How do I highlight my technical and soft skills for a tech job?  

Of course, your hard skills are still the most important when applying for a specific tech contracting role, however it´s important to use examples of how and where you used some strong soft skills in previous assignments or everyday life to help you land the most sought-after roles.  

Be sure to show these and other soft skills in your CV and cover letter, as well as during interviews with hiring managers.  

How to find your next IT interim project?   

At MichaelPage we have a network of clients of all sizes who are looking to fill IT positions. As experienced recruiters we can connect top quality candidates with clients for top IT contracting assignments across all sectors and markets.   

If you are looking for your next high-quality project that matches your skills, we can help.  

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