SoftSkills #IT #CommunityCollege #Certs #Internship #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #EntryLevelJob
Hey everyone! 👋 I’m looking to dive into the world of IT by getting some certifications and hopefully landing an internship. However, I have some concerns about how my schizoaffective disorder, which affects my social interactions, might impact my ability to succeed in the field.
So, how crucial are soft skills in IT, really? Can I make up for my difficulties with small talk and socializing by excelling academically and professionally? Here’s what I’m thinking:
- Soft skills matter: While technical skills are essential in IT, soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are equally important.
- Networking is key: Building strong relationships with colleagues and industry professionals can help bridge the gap caused by social challenges.
- Seek support: Don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors, counselors, or support groups for guidance and advice on navigating the workplace.
- Continuous improvement: Practice and develop your soft skills through role-playing scenarios, workshops, or online resources to build confidence.
What do you think? Do you have any tips or experiences to share for overcoming social barriers in the IT industry? Let’s discuss! 🌟#Inclusion #Empowerment #ITCommunity
soft skills are more important than tech skills in almost every role, double true when you’re starting out
Soft skills matter for moving up rather than getting in.
You’re going to have to learn how to talk to people and build rapport, especially in a help desk job.
Soft skills is perhaps the most important
Tech knowledge by itself will keep you stagnant for a long time.
Soft skills paired with some tech knowledge will have you climbing the ladder fast.
Edit: To give an example. I started with a company and got promoted within a year. A tech who has been with the company for 3 years was looked over (he told me he had applied for the position too) The main reason I think was because his soft skills suck.
I say they suck because I’ll see how he helps people around the office. He uses technical terms that employees don’t understand. And then he’ll just stand there and stare for few seconds and then he’ll blurt out different technical terms thinking they’ll understand better.
It’s quite painful and I’ll get Teams messages that will be along the lines ‘i have a computer problem but please don’t send …..’
I mean I’ve worked cashier at a Walgreens and I was able to resolve issues with customers and even joke around a bit. Do you think getting out of restaurant work and back into working with the public would look good on my resume when trying to land that first help desk gig?
I’m not an asshole by any means but I’m also not the person who’s going to walk in and light up the room. Just kinda there you know?
I’d say soft skills matter a lot. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a customer call and just say, ‘my computer is messed up.’ My soft skills allow me to coax information out of them without being a jerk or making them feel stupid. Soft skills are the reason I have 5 out of 5 in ALL my customer comments, it’s only like 20 comments but still. Soft skills help me to explain to customers what went wrong, how to troubleshoot before calling, or how to keep the same issue from popping up again.
Soft skills also help me to talk to other departments. We have an application development department and many of them don’t know networking for instance. It’s my soft skills that help bring them up to speed again without being a jerk. They learn more, they also like working with me, and we get projects done faster.
The customer happiness has also made my bosses happy, and when they’re happy promotions and raises are possible.
Soft skills are important in any business…after all most businesses either have other people working there or they interface with clients who are people. It is hard to find a business that does not deal with people to some degree.
If you struggle with soft skills it might be challenging to retain employment long term. You should consider finding someone to help you correct that. Consider it a coach to help get you to the next level.
The most important I’d say.
The stigma of IT being full or introverted outcasts is outdated. While it’s true that it may attract more and be more welcoming/forgiving, I’d say that soft skills are just as necessary in IT as in any other industry or field.
The importance of soft skills tend to be inverse to the technical skill requirements. Someone at a distinguished engineer level can get way with having piss poor soft skills than a more entry-level role. There are exceptions, such as data scientists, which benefit from both soft skills and technical skills.
Figure out soft skills. I don’t have solid numbers, but from personal experience:
Of the those of us in my old HD gig, I was one of the weakest at tech skills. I was the best with soft skills, though.
This sounds braggy, but it’s true; I was the highest-rated tech based on ticket closures and customer satisfaction rating. I was the one that, after another tech pissed off or hurt an EU (which was pathetically common), was assigned the ticket because they knew I could do damage control.
When I left, a common thing said to me was that I didn’t make my EUs feel stupid, that they actually looked forward to having problems if it meant coming to my area. It’s what got me my new position, if I’m being honest.
So, yeah; work on those soft skills. Learn to be a good listener. Be empathetic. You’re never more than a google search away for problems that escape you, but if you can’t relate to people, you’re going to struggle.