When it comes to a successful career in tech, it's not just about technical skills. Non-technical skills are just as important, if not more so! Some examples of non-technical skills that can help you succeed in tech include:
- Communication
- Leadership
- Time management
- Collaboration
- Critical thinking
What other, maybe less obvious. non-technical skills do you think are important for a career in tech? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Latest comments (25)
Be it professional life, social life or personal life, many of these soft skills are needed. The list is long and may not be complete:
If I think I may add a couple more skills to this list recalling from my experience.
Learn from books
I have null social skill and i don't have leadership.
I am surprised I missed this discussion! PATIENCE! Patience, patience.
Time management is huge. One of the things I have to do so I don't get bogged down in constant meetings is block out time on my calendar every day specifically for work -- at least two hours. I do this on the first or second day of a new job, and I defend that time viciously. I'll outright reject meetings during that time, unless it's my boss, in which case, I'll propose a new time. But I don't back down from it. During that time, my headphones are on, my IDE is open, and I'm pounding out work. I find that when I'm interruption-free, I can get more done in those two hours than I can all week when trying to squeeze in time around meetings. (Also, definitely don't go to a place that has a meeting-heavy culture.)
Curiosity: Be curious about your users.
Try to understand how they do their job. What are the challenges they face with the current approach?
What would an ideal solution look like from their point of view?
Sometimes, you get the chance to sit down with your (potential) users and ask them all these questions.
But even if you're not in contact with them, try to make the effort, for instance by reading support emails or ask to work on the support team once a week to have these conversations.
Gathering this first-hand knowledge opens doors. First of all, you get to see the problem from the user's point of view.
Additionally, your users might lead you to a solution you haven't thought about before.
Discipline, and being open-minded for my taste :)
is personality development important as a non-technical skill for a career in tech?
imo, patience and listening... and the humility to question my own assumptions...
Thanks for your sharing. Add life-long learning skill here 👉How to Boost Learning Efficiency-9 Tips You Should Know
Self confidence
Endurance
Open-mindedness
Salesmanship
( not sure if that counts as skills or if it’s just personality traits that are good to possess )