Soft-skills for software developers that every engineer must have in 2023

Global companies have evolved over the years: just as they have increasingly incorporated technology and automation into their processes, boosting business, they have also reconsidered the characteristics and skills they want to have in their teams. In the technology industry, it is obvious that the teams are experienced in the technical aspect, but more and more they are looking for profiles with soft-skills that complement their work.

This is verified by the Global Talent Trends report made by LinkedIn, which combines the results of surveys of 5,000 professionals in 35 countries, in charge of recruiting talent for their companies.

91% of those surveyed agreed that soft skills are essential in their work team, and it is one of the characteristics they most look for in a profile when they consider hiring it. They also highly value flexibility at work and transparency when it comes to payments.

Read More: How to Hire the Best Software Development Companies in Austin

Importance of soft skills in software developers at the time of hiring

“Soft skills have always been important, and they have become vital today. The rise of automation and artificial intelligence means that hard skills alone are not enough to achieve success”, can be read in the report.

Business leaders believe that hard-skills can change, but soft skills will always be relevant at all times: "A particular programming language may be outdated, for example, but creativity, adaptability and collaboration skills will always be valuable" , they narrowed. In the study, they affirm that 80% of the success of companies today is due to soft-skills.

In fact, at the time of hiring, the LinkedIn report indicates that the decision depends on 30% of the soft-skills. And only 8% of contracts depend on hard-skills.

An article published on the CNBC Make It portal also highlights that communication skills are one of the most demanded by employers, a soft skill par excellence. They also require staff with good time management, project management skills, analytical thinking, flexibility and the ability to work independently.

Soft-skills of software developers that all engineers should have too

Effective communication

The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with team members, managers, and clients is critical to project success.

Teamwork between software developers

Software developers often work in teams, so it's important to have collaboration skills and be able to work well with other team members.

Troubleshooting

Software engineers need to be good at solving complex problems, identifying the problems, and developing effective solutions.

Adaptability

Software developers must be able to adapt to changes in project priorities and work in different team environments.

Creativity

Creativity is important to software development because thinking outside the box is often required to solve complex problems and develop new solutions.

Analytical thinking

Software engineers need to be able to analyze data and processes to find bugs and improve software performance.

Time management

Software developers often work to tight deadlines, so time management is critical to meeting project deadlines.

Attention to detail

Attention to detail is important to software development because bugs can cause major software problems.

Curiosity and constant learning

Software developers must always be learning and staying up to date on new technologies and trends in their field.

Empathy and user perspective

Software developers must have user empathy and perspective in order to understand end-user needs and concerns and develop software that meets those needs.

Read More: Keys to starting a successful software development project in Austin

Importance of soft skills in software development

Soft skills or "soft skills" are as important as technical skills in software development. Software engineers need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with team members, managers, and customers, as this helps prevent misunderstandings, errors, and coordination issues.

Also, it must be clear that software development is a collaborative process that involves teamwork. Teamwork skills help software developers collaborate effectively, resolve conflicts, and achieve shared goals.

Another important aspect when it comes to soft-skills is problem solving: it is a critical skill in software development, since developers must be able to identify problems, analyze them, and find effective solutions. Troubleshooting skills also help developers make informed decisions and evaluate alternatives.

These are just some of the reasons why soft-skills are essential, since they guarantee that the project will continue in case of problems, be it technical, planning or communication.

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