Top 12 soft skills to include in your IT resume
When applying for a job, sending a resume is one of the first things we do. But what do you need to include in your resume? The most important thing is to mention your IT qualifications and academic and professional experience, but don't forget about your technical skills. Such an example would be applying for a System Administrator position and knowing how to use a VM. But it's also important to mention your soft skills. This article will talk about the top 12 non-technical skills to include in your IT resume.
Attention to detail
One of the most important skills you can have is the ability to pay attention to detail. IT professionals are responsible for ensuring that all information sent or received is accurate and mistakes don't happen, or they fix them as soon as possible. Attention to detail is not always easy; it requires care and concentration for many hours at a time
Communication
Excellent communication skills are the characteristics of an excellent developer. Your communication skills could be used to help clients who need help completing a project, so you must be able to explain complex issues in terms of the non-experts. Your emails should also represent your business in the best possible light.
Time management
IT professionals most often work on tasks that bring real value to the business, so you have to know how to prioritize the most important ones. This means that you will also need to manage your time by doing the less important tasks at another moment but never losing sight of the ultimate goal.
Professionalism
If you find yourself in an interview with a potential employer, then it can always entail some sort of testing to see what your reaction would be under pressure. Stay always professional, so the employer will know that you will handle difficult situations with the client.
Empathy
Empathy can be described as identifying with and understanding another person's situation and feelings, which is often the cornerstone of successful interpersonal relationships. It is also helpful in IT jobs because it allows you to relate to your client's situations, understand their pains and needs. The same goes for your colleagues, it's better to work with a person who shows empathy.
Problem-solving
Problem-solving is the process of breaking down a complex problem into smaller, more manageable pieces. It involves different steps like defining the problem, generating possible solutions and selecting the best solution from them. Problem-solving skills are useful in IT because they allow you to find several ways to solve problems quickly and effectively. It also comes in handy in critical situations, where you have to do something quickly.
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is a particular kind of problem-solving that involves analyzing information in order to reach sensible conclusions. This skill is especially important for security specialists, who need to find the most efficient ways to solve complex problems. In the world of business and technology, information is changing rapidly, sometimes you will have to solve a problem in a different way than you anticipated. That's where critical thinking comes into play.
Writing
Good writing skills are indispensable in IT, where you have to write reports, but not only that. You have to communicate with other employees, and writing memos or emails is the most common vehicle for doing this. Writing skills are something we often overlook, but we shouldn't. A good IT expert will want to share his knowledge, and the best way to do it is by writing down what he knows. It doesn't mean that you have to write poems or books. If you can write a short article where you talk about a new technology that interests you or something that caught your attention, then you will outshine most candidates.
Teamwork
Teamwork is a very important skill in every IT company. You have to be a team player, you won't deliver a huge project on your own. It is not like in a movie where the main character works day and night to finish his project on time. You have to work with other people, share your knowledge, skills, and expertise with them. It is very important that you are able to communicate well with others so that they know what you need from them. They will also be more eager to help you if you help them.
Open-mindedness
Be open-minded. One thing that you should know about working in IT is that most of the time someone else already found an answer to your problem, so be sure to ask someone. This will save you a lot of time and effort, as well as showing everyone around you how capable and proactive you are. It doesn't put you in a bad light, asking for help is a characteristic of a mature person that wants to improve further.
Leadership
A good IT professional doesn't have to be a team leader or project manager. But having leadership skills can often come in handy. For example, if a new person joins the team you can help him/her find a place in the team and make them feel that they belong. Thanks to leadership skills you will help your team members grow with you.
Passion and enthusiasm
It's a fact that passion for something translates into better performance. It also helps to keep your motivation level high during hard times when no one else pushes you further. Also, people around you will know that IT is your passion and that will motivate them to give their best.
Conclusion
To land the perfect job, you have to also work on your soft skills. If you can show that you have skills in the above list, then it will go a long way towards making you a top choice for many employers. Every employer wants to have people on board that want to grow together with the company and their teams. You can be an integral part of the company if you will take care of the atmosphere and make the people around you better.
