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When you’re looking to hire the best talent, you’re probably looking for things like experience, education, certifications and even professional organizations. You might call references and double-check project portfolios. But in addition to making sure they have all the technical and experiential qualifications in place, the best candidates are usually more well rounded and have other attributes beyond training. Here are some soft skills to keep an eye out for in your interviews.

  1. Communication. Chances are lots of technology employees are heads-down at their desks working problems, programming, testing or troubleshooting, but good communication skills are still necessary. Team members could be called on to lead a presentation, pitch a new project or give an update on progress, so it’s important your potential team members are comfortable communicating with other people in their department and all throughout the business. Communication also includes clear emails, asking questions and understanding instructions.
  2. Creativity. Creativity isn’t limited to painters, writers and musicians. Creativity is something everyone can develop, and it goes a long way in helping people innovate and find solutions. Engaging in creative exercises can also keep mental abilities sharp and help build stronger brain plasticity, which can be important for staying engaged and productive in any job.
  3. Customer service. A customer can be anyone. Whether it’s helping internally, like assisting a team member with a help desk ticket or suggesting to HR the best human capital management software package to invest in, or external, like working with an account on a system update or speaking with a vendor, customer service means patience, clarity and thoughtfulness.
  4. Problem solving. Creativity can go a long way in helping people become better problem solvers. But good problem-solving skills can also come from years of experience or even working in different industries and gaining new perspectives. Problems and challenges will always come up, so it’s important to have solution-minded, proactive people on your tech team.
  5. Adaptability. Technology can change fast and so can business. It’s important to bring people onto your team who can embrace change and adapt well to whatever’s next. A firm understanding of the present along with an excitement about the future and a desire to learn can help you identify the candidates who are most adaptable.

Candidates who have soft skills in addition to specific, teachable abilities will be the most productive and resilient members of your team. If you’re looking for your next tech hire, get in touch today. Our industry expertise and years of recruitment experience can help you find the best fit for your business.

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