Often, when discussing requirements for jobs for new immigrants, hard skills are implied. However, soft skills are equally valuable, even though employers often underestimate them. Certainly, proficiency in multiple programming languages and experience with various technologies and tools are important.
But what benefit does it bring to a company if an employee can’t collaborate within a team, listen to management, meet deadlines, and work with project specifications? We discussed with HHR BAZAR why it’s necessary to have soft skills for obtaining immigration jobs (USA) in the IT field and how to develop them.
What Are Soft Skills, and What Is Their Significance for an IT Professional?
Unlike hard skills, which represent professional knowledge and abilities and are measurable, soft skills are a more abstract concept. They are partly personality traits that are essential for the job because employees need to communicate with colleagues, management, and clients constantly. This can directly impact overall work performance.
Surely, you’ve encountered an expert in your niche with whom it was difficult to find common ground? Lack of understanding of personal space, undervaluing and unwillingness to listen to others’ opinions, shifting responsibility—all of this may look funny only in comedy movies. In reality, it can create problems with tasks and project completion.
Soft skills are all about how to be a promising employee and a nice coworker. Of course, career growth is possible without these skills. But why? It’s easier and faster with them!
What soft skills include:
- Faster employment and career advancement. For example, in front of an employer, there are two candidates with an identical set of hard skills. Building strong relationships, adapting quickly to change, and expressing opinions are key to securing the position.
- Compensating for the lack of experience. The LinkedIn Global Talent Trends report shows that 92% of professionals equate hard skills and soft skills. Accordingly, a shortage of the former can be filled with the latter if presented deeply and interestingly.
- Easy adaptation to a new environment. Skills to actively listen and be open to new friends can be an advantage—corporate processes will be much easier to grasp.
And that’s not all! The gradual automation of work processes increases the value of soft skills and those who possess them.
What Soft Skills Should an IT Professional Possess and How to Improve Them?
On the internet, you can find over 50 non-specific skills, but we’ve identified 7 key ones that we’ll explain in terms of their professional importance. We’ll also discuss how to develop and enhance them.
Skill 1: Communication
The ability to establish effective communication means being able to communicate productively with colleagues, which means NOT:
- Interrupting when the other person is speaking.
- Violating personal boundaries.
- Inquiring about confidential information.
- Using diminutive or condescending language.
- Devaluing what your colleague shares with you.
This applies not only to professional communication but also to everyday interactions. Thanks to this skill, a specialist not only gains a competitive edge but also works more successfully in a team, building strong relationships.
How to improve it: A simple piece of advice is to not avoid communication, even if it seems challenging at first. If you doubt your public speaking skills, don’t worry! Written communication is also a form of interaction.
Personal recommendation: Works by Dale Carnegie, for example, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” can be beneficial.
Skill 2: Adaptability
Changes can confidently be labeled as synonymous with IT since new tools, approaches, and technologies emerge regularly. Due to the rapid growth of the industry, there is always a need for professionals who can keep up with it. Adaptability means having the ability to embrace the challenges of the times, from restructuring work processes and schedules to mastering cutting-edge technologies.
How to improve it: To more effectively grasp something unfamiliar and new, consider using the small-steps approach. Break down the tasks into minor sub-tasks and allocate some time to them each day. This will help you avoid stress and make the process more manageable.
Personal recommendation: Pay attention to the most flexible team member and observe their actions. Apply similar tools and approaches in your work.
Skill 3: Teamwork
The efficiency of each team member affects the team’s performance. If one of its members sabotages the process, it will impact the productivity of all colleagues and the overall outcome.
The skill of working in a team involves that, upon receiving an assignment, you:
- Complete it on time and hand it over to another specialist.
- Participate in problem-solving, even if the issues didn’t arise during your phase.
- Provide clear and understandable feedback to others.
- Respond calmly to feedback about your work, especially if it’s constructive criticism.
How to improve it: Participate in team-building events if they are conducted in your company or engage in team sports.
Personal recommendation: Read Daniel Pink’s “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us,” Patrick Lencioni’s “The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues,” and Robert I. Sutton’s “The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t.”
Skill 4: Time Management
Time management includes self-discipline, the ability to plan, delegate authority, and set priorities. Modern IT professionals rarely work on just one project; typically, they are responsible for several at once. Soft skills enable such multitasking.
How to improve it: Use different approaches in your work, “eat the frog in the morning,” use electronic/paper planners, and learn the SMART planning method.
Personal recommendation: Books that can help develop this skill include “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman and “Don’t Read this Book. Time Management for Creative People” by Donald Ross.
Skill 5: Critical Thinking
This term can be interpreted as intellectual skepticism. It is the ability to look at a situation from various angles, conduct an objective analysis, recognize potential problems or motives, anticipate multiple outcomes, and verify all data for accuracy and relevance. All of this minimizes errors and prevents unnecessary actions. This skill is often required in job listings for work for immigrants on a job board.
How to improve it: Only relentless practice can help. Practice conducting research in your field and beyond, supporting it with credible sources.
Skill 6: Creativity
According to LinkedIn statistics, creativity is one of the most valuable skills among the 50,000! It is in demand in any field: the ability to think outside the box and view situations from a different perspective is important for all employers. Many IT processes are becoming automated, such as website creation and promotion. Therefore, specialists who cannot be replaced by software are especially valuable.
How to improve it: Learn to work with new professional tools, seek information in related areas, and use creative approaches (idea notebooks, mind maps). Push yourself to generate new solutions, and for some time, give up your usual routines, movies, and food.
Personal recommendation: A book that delves into the essence of creativity is “The Agile Mind: How Your Brain Makes Creativity Happen” by Estanislao Bachrach.
Skill 7: Problem Solving
If avoiding professional conflicts is difficult or impossible, you need to know how to solve them. Clearly articulate and convey your thoughts to the opponent, and listen to their arguments without bullying or pressure. Most importantly, resolve them peacefully on your own, without involving a manager.
How to improve it: You can develop this skill particularly well through debates, but companies rarely organize them. So, books are the only solution.
Personal recommendation: “Dealing with Difficult People: Fast, Effective Strategies for Handling Problem People” by Roy C. Lilley and “Making Conflict Work: Navigating Disagreement Up and Down Your Organization” by Peter T. Coleman and Robert Ferguson can be helpful.
Don't Argue with Recruiters!
Around 94% of recruiters are convinced that a candidate with enhanced soft skills is far more valuable than an experienced professional who can’t work in a team. What does this tell us? Being communicative and adaptable is no less important than the ability to write perfect code and master all programming languages.
It also gives confidence that obtaining a well-paying job post in the USA, even with imperfect language skills, is possible! Explore our BAZAR immigrant guide and creatively showcase your soft skills to IT employers. Don’t settle for the status quo, and keep developing constantly!
