The 5 most important soft skills to land your dream IT job

Looking to land a job in today’s competitive tech market? The “cheat code” might surprise you—it’s not just about your technical ability or IT know-how. Sure, strong coding skills, certifications, and even licenses are key when you’re job hunting, but what really makes you indispensable in the modern workplace are your soft skills.

Below are some of the top soft skills employers seek in today’s tech industry. Be sure to explore our in-depth courses and learning paths on these skills to sharpen these abilities and stand out in the workforce.

Soft skills are what help you connect and collaborate with others. When you think about it, it’s no surprise these skills are just as crucial as the technical stuff. The reality is that in most tech roles, you’ll spend a lot of time working within teams. Even if you’re a programmer or developer who often works solo, you still need to be able to collaborate with others to get things done.

Collaboration and communication skills are two examples of the soft skills that help you share knowledge effectively, mentor less experienced colleagues, and approach tough challenges with a positive mindset. Your potential employer is looking for someone who’s collaborative, resourceful, and empathetic—qualities that define a strong set of soft skills.

Let’s say you’re a developer working on a project, and you hit a snag—a critical bug is causing delays. You need to explain the issue to a non-technical stakeholder, like a project manager or client. Instead of diving into technical jargon that might confuse them, you break it down in simple terms: “We’ve encountered a problem that’s slowing down the project. It’s like a roadblock in the code that we need to clear before we can move forward. I’m working on a solution, and I’ll keep you updated on our progress.”

By communicating clearly and avoiding technical terms, you help the stakeholder understand the situation without overwhelming them, allowing them to make informed decisions and keeping everyone on the same page. For job seekers, demonstrating this ability to translate complex technical issues into understandable language can set you apart. It shows potential employers that you not only possess the technical skills but also have the communication prowess to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and clients.

Now let’s say you're working on a software application and receive a report that a crucial feature is not functioning as expected. The issue isn’t immediately clear from the error logs, and it could be due to a number of factors.

Here’s where problem-solving and decision-making come into play. You start by systematically debugging the code, trying different approaches to isolate the issue. After pinpointing the problem, you realize it’s caused by an unusual interaction between two components of the system that wasn’t previously considered.

To address the issue, you devise an innovative solution: re-engineering part of the code to handle these interactions more efficiently. This not only resolves the immediate problem but also improves application stability.

By applying creative problem-solving and making informed decisions, you’re able to overcome a complex challenge, deliver a functional solution, and meet the client’s needs effectively. For those seeking a job in tech, showcasing your ability to tackle unexpected issues with innovative solutions can be a major asset. It demonstrates to potential employers that you have the critical thinking and adaptability needed to thrive in a fast-paced and often unpredictable field.

Consider a scenario where you’ve been hired to be part of a cross-functional team working on a new app. As a developer, you need to collaborate with designers to ensure the user interface aligns with technical feasibility, while also working closely with product managers to meet project requirements and deadlines.

You and the designers might iterate on design mockups, provide feedback, and adjust the code to ensure seamless integration. Meanwhile, you keep the product managers updated on progress and address any changes in requirements or priorities. This kind of teamwork ensures that all aspects of the project are aligned and moving forward together, leading to a cohesive final product.

Showcasing your ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams is crucial. It signals to potential employers that you can navigate different roles, communicate clearly with diverse team members, and contribute to a unified goal—skills that are highly valued in collaborative work environments.

In a fast-paced tech environment, you’re juggling several projects with tight deadlines. You’re working on a critical update for one application while simultaneously addressing urgent bugs in another. To stay on top of everything, you prioritize tasks, set clear milestones, and use time management tools to keep track of progress.

You might create a detailed schedule, allocate specific times for each task, and regularly review your progress to ensure you’re on track. This way, you can deliver high-quality work for each project without missing deadlines.

Strong time management skills and demonstrated organization can set you apart. It shows potential employers that you can handle multiple responsibilities efficiently, stay organized under pressure, and consistently meet deadlines—qualities that are essential for success in a dynamic and demanding field.

Imagine you have been hired to work on a high-stakes project, and a disagreement arises between team members about the approach to a key feature. One person feels strongly about using a new technology, while another prefers sticking with the existing tools. The tension is affecting team morale and slowing progress.

Now imagine, utilizing your interpersonal soft skills, you step in with empathy, listening to each perspective and understanding each person’s concerns. You can now facilitate a constructive discussion, helping the whole team find common ground and agree on a solution that balances innovation with practicality. By addressing the conflict with empathy and a focus on collaboration, the team has restored harmony and kept the project on track.

For those new to tech or considering a career change, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and conflict management can be a game-changer. It shows potential employers that you can build positive relationships, handle disagreements effectively, and contribute to a harmonious and productive work environment—essential traits for thriving in any tech role.

Improving your soft skills doesn’t happen overnight, but with some simple steps, you can make steady progress. Here are a few practical tips to get started:

1. Ask for feedback - Don’t hesitate to ask your coworkers, managers, or even friends for feedback. They can offer valuable insights into how you handle communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. The more you know about your strengths and areas for improvement, the easier it is to grow.
2. Practice in real-life situations - Whether it’s leading a meeting, resolving a conflict, or explaining a tricky concept to a non-technical person, real-world experiences are the perfect way to sharpen your soft skills. The more you put them into practice, the more natural they’ll become.
3. Take online courses - If you’re looking to dive deeper, check out some online courses. Pluralsight offers great options, like Developing Soft Skills for Today’s Workplace and Improving Interpersonal Skills, that are tailored to help you build the skills employers are searching for.

Soft skills can often be the deciding factor in interviews. Employers are looking for candidates who not only excel at coding or managing projects but also communicate effectively, solve problems creatively, and work well in teams. That’s why it’s crucial to be prepared to showcase these abilities during your interview.

One way to practice is by crafting answers that highlight your experiences in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Consider doing mock interviews with a mentor or trusted friend to refine how you present these skills. This practice will help you deliver clear, confident responses when it counts.

To take your preparation even further, consider brushing up through courses on interpersonal skills development or on communication strategies. These resources can give you the tools to make your soft skills shine in any interview.

Including your soft skills in your resume or cover letter when applying for jobs is a great idea, but showcasing them in a way that sets you apart from other candidates might be what gets you the job. It’s not just about listing these skills; it’s about demonstrating how you’ve effectively used them in real-life situations. Here’s how you can do that to make a lasting impression on potential employers.

Instead of simply listing soft skills like “communication” or “problem-solving,” back them up with examples. For instance, under a previous role, you could write something like:

“Collaborated with cross-functional teams to resolve a critical bug, enhancing communication and teamwork, which resulted in a 20% reduction in project delays.”

In your cover letter, describe a project or role where your soft skills made a measurable impact. For example, explain how you led a team through a challenging project, managed time-sensitive tasks efficiently, or resolved a conflict that kept a project on track.

“During a recent project, I led a team of developers and designers, ensuring clear communication across departments and managing conflicting priorities, which resulted in meeting our deadline ahead of schedule.”

By showcasing specific instances where you applied your soft skills, you’ll demonstrate to potential employers that you’re well-rounded and prepared to contribute to a collaborative, dynamic work environment.

Professional development is key to staying competitive in the tech industry, and it’s about both mastering the latest technologies and developing strong soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Online training, such as the courses offered by Pluralsight, provides the flexibility to build these essential skills at your own pace. 

This continuous learning not only prepares you for job interviews but also helps you excel in your role after being hired. By investing in online learning, you're not just preparing for your next job—you're setting yourself up for long-term success in your career.