In tech career, go for soft skills to improve interviews
Q: Most of my experience is in manufacturing, where I spent 16 years developing technical skills supervising a plant. My last interview was an eye-opener. I was asked about my background and experience, but when it came to managing people, I did not give a good answer. Coming from a technical field, how are you supposed to answer questions involving people?
A: Manufacturing and industries involved in producing products have undergone tremendous change in the last few years. How work is delivered and produced is more streamlined and efficient. At the same time, recruiting and retaining talented workers is a significant need that employers strive to improve. As companies merge and acquisitions grow, hiring-decision makers are expressing their desire for job candidates who have broader skill sets, those towards adaptability, and manage team-based culture.
It is common for candidates interested in technical fields to find job descriptions divided into two areas: technical skills and people skills. One of the mistakes made during an interview is talking more about technical (hard) skills and underestimating the power of people (soft) skills.
The latest hiring trends support the need for strong people skills in managing a diverse team. In a competitive market, you want to emphasize your ability to do both with results to back up your claims.
When talking with interviewers, they observe candidates who must be more specific about their background and experience. Interviewers support the notion that giving brief answers without results sends a message reflecting your communication skills.
Your goal during an interview is naturally to make it to the next phase by building a good rapport and demonstrating an understanding of the industry. Other candidates could have the same experience as you, but that will not distinguish you from the rest.
Many times, your people skills are what make you stand out, especially in a technical field. You will likely be asked behavior-based questions, such as how you would handle a difficult situation or explaining how you make decisions.
Employers are looking for candidates with good discernment about people skills and potential for future growth. The most sought-after soft skills are adaptability, problem-solving, collaboration, team building, leadership, and communication.
Even though you are working in a technical field, you can improve your interviews by discussing how you have successfully used these skills during your career.
Having tech expertise gives you credibility while having interpersonal skills gives you likability. It takes a combination of the two to make a strong impression.
Here are some suggestions for how to demonstrate soft skills during an interview.
• Keep good eye contact and be aware of your nonverbal language when talking with an interviewer.
• Find common ground or shared interest and use it as a connection point.
• Be genuine with your interactions. Interviewers can usually spot someone who is insincere.
• Listen attentively by responding with a smile and asking thoughtful questions that reflect your interest in working with them.
• Ask clarifying questions, especially if you feel uncertain about the interviewer’s questions. It helps the interviewer to feel understood and sends a message that you are listening.
• Get familiar with and practice using storytelling techniques to highlight your soft skills to help make your answers memorable.