While technical skills can be taught, soft skills are inherently more difficult to develop—and the most successful hires are often those evaluated primarily for their soft skills.

At first glance, this idea may seem counterintuitive. The IT industry is in a constant state of flux, with the demand for expertise in emerging technologies growing rapidly. For instance, generative AI and large language models have become critical, with Fortune estimating that 1 million machine learning specialists will be needed by 2027. These candidates will undeniably be assessed on their technical skills and practical knowledge.

For hiring managers, evaluating hard skills during interviews is straightforward. Assessing a candidate’s proficiency in system design, technical theory, and data structures and algorithms provides a clear measure of their potential success in a role. However, with over two decades in the IT staffing industry, I have observed that the most successful hires are those where soft skills are given precedence over hard-skill competencies.

Read More - Smarter IT Recruiting Starts With Assessing Soft Skills