When you are applying for a new tech job, how do you know what information to include about yourself?
Including your tech skills is easy, but how do you effectively include your soft skills too?
Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your soft skills stand out on your tech CV.
How to showcase your soft skills.
Provide context.
The overarching problem with many CVs is that hiring managers can’t see the wood for the trees. Without context and supporting details, your accomplishments are just a list. Your reader will be none the wiser.
Highlighting your soft skills is important. However, without including the context around your work, your CV won’t stand out.
Add real-world examples.
Many job seekers use a list of adjectives to highlight their soft skills on a CV. This method isn’t particularly effective, mainly because you haven’t provided proof to back up your claims.
Even with your soft skills, it’s a good idea to create context around the skill. You can do this by using storytelling within real work examples.
How to create context around your soft skills.
Here are some examples of commonly used soft skills and how you can create meaning for the hiring manager.
- “Creative”
To back this up, try to include examples of how you have approached a problem and how you used creative problem-solving to get to a solution.
- “Adaptable”
Use an example of where you have adapted to a change in your role or mid-project.
- “Excellent communicator”
Provide examples of instances where you have successfully collaborated or negotiated with others. Include any occasions where you have led a team, especially if this was across multiple locations or departments.
- “Team player”
HIghlight team projects you’ve participated in or give examples of where you have successfully worked with others.
How to showcase your personal development.
You may think that it is just your technical skills that can be improved through hard work and dedicated effort. Not so. Your personal development is also something you can include to highlight your soft skills.
Here are some ways to showcase your soft skills through personal development.
- Include training courses you’ve attended.
- Qualifications you’ve gained.
- Awards or accolades earned will be evidence of tenacity and hard work.
- Relevant extra-curricular hobbies or projects.
- Communities you are a participant in – either in person or online.
How to successfully demonstrate team leadership and responsibility.
When it comes to leading a team, facts and data are critical. Context is key, so try to be as detailed as possible. For each leadership role you showcase, give context around the following
- The number of people.
- Was it remote, hybrid, or in-person?
- Was it across sites or locations?
- What were the retention rates of the team?
- Did you offer any mentorship/coaching to junior team members that enabled a progression for them?
- How did the team progress the work or be successful?
This section may not be relevant for everybody, but certainly, if you are seeking a senior role, you need to include real work examples of leadership.
How to successfully demonstrate teamwork.
If you are more junior, and you haven’t led a team this section is for you. Most roles require some element of teamwork and collaboration. As a result, teamwork is an essential soft skill to include on a CV.
To demonstrate teamwork, focus on the role and the responsibilities you held within the team.
Your focus should be on examples of
- Collaboration
- Cooperation
- Communication
Soft skills and tech CVs.
Soft skills are becoming more and more critical to employers. Just because the job you are applying for has a tech focus, it doesn’t mean your soft skills aren’t important.
To know which soft skills to focus on, really read between the lines of the JD. This should give you some clues about which skills you should highlight.
- Do you need to interpret data? You are detailed and analytical.
- Do you need to influence or manage external stakeholders? You are a strong communicator.
- Do you need to offer guidance around strategy and product? You are curious and always learning.
The JD will help you identify the skills you should highlight, so remember to tailor your CV accordingly.
Many of your competitors will probably have the same technical stats as you. Often, you and your peers will be developing at the same rate and will be on par in terms of ability and commercial experience. This makes highlighting your soft skills effectively on your tech CV even more important.
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