Read on for the hard skills vs soft skills comparison. 100% of the team and technical leaders that provide Django development services have achieved career growth thanks to their developed soft skills.
There were no cases in the company where developers who relied solely on hard skills grew above the level of junior 3.
Table of Contents
Hard Skills Vs Soft Skills: What Are They?
Hard skills are technical abilities and skills that can be measured. In vacancies, they are called “professional skills”.
Soft skills are universal skills that are not related to a specific position but are significant in any profession. Simply put, these are personal qualities and skills.
In this Hard Skills Vs Soft Skills article, Team Lead Android developers will talk about the importance of soft skills in the IT industry.
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Why Are Soft Skills Important For An IT Specialist?
When conducting interviews, I notice that the following picture often emerges in the minds of programmers:
– he receives a clear technical task
– works only with your computer
And he doesn't talk to anyone else.
This is not entirely true. The larger the team and the more specialists from other areas in it, the more important soft skills are. A task can be accelerated simply by discussing it with a team member. You will not waste time and energy trying to solve it alone.
Without communication skills, it will be very difficult for any person to establish a workflow, build relationships with colleagues, develop within a team and grow professionally.
What Soft Skills Are Needed?
Proactivity
We are constantly looking for proactive people who care about the product and its users.
A year ago, a developer came to the company, who from the first days began to find small flaws in the product code. The team agreed that there is a problem, and it needed to be corrected, but it is not always possible to do everything perfectly and immediately.
Many would close the topic and put the decision in the backlog. But not this developer – he approached the solution of the problem in a complex way. Improved the project, gave lectures, and developed the team. The team took the initiative and got involved in the process.
A year later, the CFU (crash-free users) in Wheels increased from 99.4% to 99.92%.
Engagement
We want to work with people who will not blindly follow only the terms of reference “as it was written, so I did it.” Everything is elementary: you see a problem – offer a solution, perhaps not obvious, but effective. With such people you can fly to Mars. Yes, you can make a mistake, or miss something, but the team will always insure and help because we care.
Mindfulness
Often, candidates say that they want to do interesting tasks and complete them on time. But they do not understand the main thing – why. We need to be aware of what we are doing, and what is the benefit of developer's work.
At work, there are often tasks that close before they start. If the team agrees that the tasks will not bring value, but will take time and resources to develop, then such tasks are quickly curtailed. This is awareness.
As a team, we think in terms of results, not processes. Each member of the team treats the work as if it were their own property.
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How To Communicate With Colleagues, With Your Team, And Come To Compromises
It would be best if you always remembered that you all have a common goal. Allow me to explain with a real-life example from the practice of a company (https://www.softformance.com/).
Furniture can be assembled at the factory and brought to the user's home, or assembled at their home. You need to choose the appropriate action scenario depending on the situation.
In this case, there is a task with similar logic. It can be done on the side of back-end development or mobile development. On the one hand, make the functionality on the server, but wait 2 weeks, or make it faster on users' phones, but at the same time loading their gadgets.
What to do?
It is necessary to bring together a backender, a mobile operator, and even better a product and a tester, and brainstorm. Discuss all the pros and cons, and choose the best solution for that moment.
Solution
The backend is currently very busy with other equally important projects. Let the mobile phone take over the implementation of the task for one release. But as soon as the backend unloads, this logic will be returned to them. Such compromises must be sought because the whole team has one global goal – to make the user's life better.
General Recommendations For The Development Of Soft Skills
For the development of soft skills, I advise the “skill octopus”. Tentacles are skills. The longer the tentacles, the more powerful the skill.
You can write down each of the important “soft skills” and rate them on a ten-point scale. Ask someone close to you to rate you and/or do it yourself. This way, you will see your strengths and weaknesses. You can download your software.
Ideally, all the tentacles in the skill octopus should be at about the same level. Pumping weaknesses to the level of strengths will allow you not to sag on many points.
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Hard Skills Vs Soft Skills: Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly are hard skills?
Hard skills are technical skills acquired through education, training, or experience. They are often quantifiable and measurable, making them easier to define and assess. Examples include:
- Programming languages: Java, Python, C++
- Financial modeling: Excel, Bloomberg
- Design software: Photoshop, Figma
- Foreign languages: French, Spanish, Mandarin
- Scientific expertise: Biochemistry, Mechanical Engineering
What about soft skills?
Soft skills are personal qualities and interpersonal skills that contribute to your ability to work effectively with others. They are less easily quantified but equally crucial for success.
Examples include:
- Communication: Ability to listen, speak clearly, and write effectively
- Teamwork: Collaborative spirit, ability to work towards common goals
- Problem-solving: Identifying and resolving challenges creatively
- Time management: Organizing, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
- Critical thinking: Analyzing information and making sound decisions
- Adaptability: Adjusting to change and learning new things
- Leadership: Inspiring and motivating others
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Which one is more important?
The answer depends on the specific role and industry. However, most employers nowadays seek a balance of both:
- Hard skills provide the technical foundation for performing a job.
- Soft skills enable you to thrive in the workplace, collaborate effectively, and build strong relationships.
How can I improve my soft skills?
Developing soft skills takes time and effort, but several strategies can help:
- Seek feedback: Ask colleagues, mentors, or superiors for honest feedback on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Participate in workshops and training: Many organizations offer training programs to improve communication, teamwork, and other soft skills.
- Join professional organizations: Network and learn from others in your field.
- Volunteer: Volunteering provides opportunities to practice teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.
- Reflect and self-evaluate: Regularly assess your own performance and identify areas for improvement.
Can I compensate for weak soft skills with strong hard skills?
In some cases, yes. However, relying solely on hard skills can limit your career advancement. Strong soft skills allow you to:
- Build trust and rapport with colleagues and clients.
- Navigate conflict effectively.
- Lead and motivate others.
- Adapt to change and embrace new challenges.
Both hard and soft skills are dynamic and require continuous learning.
A Final Word
In conclusion, I want to recommend books that will help you strengthen your soft skills and communicate effectively with people:
- “Games People Play” by Eric Byrne.
- “45 Manager Tattoos”, Maxim Batyrev.
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About the Author:
Chandra Palan is an Indian-born content writer, currently based in Australia with her husband and two kids. She is a passionate writer and has been writing for the past decade, covering topics ranging from technology, cybersecurity, data privacy and more. She currently works as a content writer for SecureBlitz.com, covering the latest cyber threats and trends. With her in-depth knowledge of the industry, she strives to deliver accurate and helpful advice to her readers.
