Must-Have Soft Skills in The Workplace in 2023

In today’s fast-paced and changing technological world, having technical skills and knowledge is no longer enough to attract organizations to your résumé. In recent years, soft skills have also become increasingly important. A LinkedIn study showed that out of talent acquisition professionals, 92% reported that soft skills are more or equally important when hiring than hard skills.

Soft skills highlight the importance of effective communication, teamwork, and problem solving in virtual and in-person environments. Additionally, the emergence of technological advancements and introduction into new industries require individuals to possess unique talent. Candidates need to go into the job market knowing what companies are looking for and showcasing more than just their technical talent.

Here are some of the most sought-after soft skills in the workplace going into 2023.

Soft Skills in the Workplace 

Adaptability 

Organizations value adaptability as it ensures that their employees will be resilient and versatile through changing market, economic, and workplace conditions. These employees are confident that their organization will remain competitive and adaptable when challenged. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, projects tend to be unpredictable and often change from remote to in-person, so companies value employees that are equipped to work in both environments and comfortable when plans change. In an IT specific environment, employers want candidates that can adapt when programs lack compatibility or there are technical issues in their original strategy. Adaptability allows companies to overcome obstacles and remain productive even in unideal circumstances. 

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Individuals with high EI are valuable to employers because they can empathize with others and respond to their specific needs in a professional and appropriate manner. EI is essential for leadership, conflict management and resolution, and teamwork. In fact, companies value emotional intelligence over IQ, with a study reporting that 71% of employers value emotional intelligence in an employee over IQ. IT professionals, like in any other industry, may deal with issues in the office space, so having EI to approach these conflicts and help employees will be valuable. EI is a crucial characteristic for group projects as team members are likely to interact and disagree; therefore, EI will help facilitate communication more smoothly and problem solve within a team setting.  

Creative Problem-Solving 

Creative problem-solving is a sought-after skill specifically with today’s unforeseen economic challenges and innovative technologies. Critical thinking has always been important in a business environment, but creative problem-solving furthers typical brainstorming by enabling individuals to think outside the box and produce unique solutions. According to an Outlook survey, more than 60% of employers reported they are seeking evidence of their abilities to solve problems when vetting a candidate. Undoubtedly, there will be a tech error of some sort during an important business moment, like presenting to a client or pitching to your boss. It’s crucial to have out-of-the-box thinkers when these issues arise. Creative problem solving can help overcome unpredictable obstacles and lead to improved outcomes. Having a creative mindset while critically thinking can make you extremely valuable to an organization. 

Time Management and Multitasking 

The skills above are great to have and valuable to organizations; however, time-management and multitasking drives productivity. You can be great at creative problem solving or adaptability but without the ability to organize your time effectively it renders your other skills useless. These skills allow you to prioritize tasks while staying within deadlines, along with creating a healthy, balanced relationship between the workplace and home life. Specifically in IT positions, employees will push their advanced coding or technical issues on to you, so being able to work through them in a timely manner is critical. Timely and productive individuals thrive in the workplace and contribute to the organization’s overall accomplishments.  

Conclusion

As we enter 2023, candidates should expect employers to not only look for their technical talent and experience but also to their ability to communicate, manage time, be flexible, and work in teams. In fact, not having soft skills can be a deal breaker with 89% of talent recruiters reporting it usually is due to a lack of soft skills when a hire doesn’t work out. Through developing and highlighting your specific soft talents, individuals can become successful and accomplished in their organization. 

For more information on leveraging these must-have soft skills in the workplace or landing your dream tech job, contact our team at BCTG. 

Contributions from Leah Harding