Technical or hard skills are the abilities and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks. They are the technical and quantifiable learned abilities required to perform a job well.

In contrast, soft skills are the personality traits, social skills and interpersonal abilities that allow you to work efficiently and interact effectively with others. They are personal strengths that help you maintain positive working relationships. Without them, you’ll find it difficult to succeed at work.  While soft skills do not come naturally to everyone, they are also skills you can learn.

Soft skills include your ability to communicate, collaborate, think critically and solve problems. Many of these skills are also essential in leadership roles.

According to the Hays Salary Guide, employers prioritise the following soft skills when hiring permanent staff:​​​​​ 

The ability to identify and quickly solve problems is one of the most important soft skills in any tech-related role. In a fast-paced and ever-changing industry, employers need workers who can adapt quickly and develop creative solutions on the fly.

Developing effective IT problem solving skills requires a mix of analytical thinking, creative thinking and critical thinking. By learning how to think flexibly and approach problems from different angles, you'll be better equipped to find innovative solutions that other people might not think of.

Explore problem solving skills courses with Hays Learning.

Many tech specialists work in team-based environments, so the ability to achieve common goals together is just as important as completing your own individual work. Teamwork involves more than getting along – it also requires you to take direction from others, give constructive feedback, understand your individual responsibilities, remain positive and keep the team’s objectives in mind.

Teamwork skills overlap with the leadership abilities you will need to take on project management responsibilities. No matter how technically skilled you are, you can't do everything yourself, so being able to work effectively with others is paramount.

Explore teamwork skills courses with Hays Learning.

Critical thinking is an important skill for tech employees. After all, you're often required to make decisions that could impact your company's bottom line.

This requires you to make sound business decisions based on the rational analysis of information. In the tech industry, things can change rapidly and unexpectedly, so employers need workers who are good at thinking on their feet and reaching a sensible, measured solution backed up by evidence.

Explore critical thinking skills courses with Hays Learning.

Being detail-oriented is a must for most tech jobs. One small mistake can have big consequences, so it's important to pay attention to detail and double-check your work before passing it on.

This means taking the time to understand the requirements of a task before starting it, proofreading your work for errors and ensuring that all instructions are followed correctly. Attention to detail also requires good organisational skills, so you can keep track of all the different moving parts in a project and make sure nothing is forgotten.

Explore attention to detail skills courses with Hays Learning.

Once you're aware of the top soft skills needed for your career, create a plan for learning and developing them. Start with self-reflection and acknowledging the areas where you need the most improvement.

Next, determine how you’ll upskill. There are many ways to do this, such as attending workshops and courses, reading books and articles, listening to podcasts, or even just practising in your everyday life.

Working with a mentor is also a great way to develop your soft skills. A trusted mentor can provide the honest feedback you need to improve, while also helping you recognise your strengths and boosting your confidence.

Of course, it's impossible to truly develop your soft skills without practising them in the real world. Look for opportunities to demonstrate what you've learned and gauge how effective you were.

For example, practise stakeholder engagement by explaining to a client your recent deliverable. Or flex your adaptability by learning a new piece of software that can help with your role.

Lastly, regularly request feedback from your boss or a trusted colleague to assess your progress. Don't be discouraged if you're not making progress as quickly as you would like - soft skills take time to develop, but once you have them, they'll always benefit you.

Once you feel like you've significantly developed a soft skill, update your CV, LinkedIn profile and cover letter. When you go to job interviews, discuss how you developed your soft skills and provide specific examples of when they came in handy.