Top 5 soft skills that all IT contractors should have

In the world of IT contracting, having strong technical skills is undoubtedly important. However, it's equally vital to recognise the value of soft skills in determining the success of IT contractors.

Drawing from our experience working with IT contractors and the companies that hire them, we've compiled a list of the top five essential soft skills for thriving, not just surviving, in the competitive field of IT contracting.

Let’s take a closer look…

Project Management

Being able to manage projects effectively is crucial when trying to executive complex tasks. Project Management requires a lot of planning, organisation, and coordination, and also leads us into our next point regarding being independent and working autonomously.

Autonomy

If you've been in the IT contracting game for some time, you're likely well acquainted with the expectation of working independently and often autonomously, without the need for constant supervision.

Working autonomously isn’t for everyone and is an important skill to have if you take on IT contracts.

Emotional Independence

While physical independence is an important aspect, it's not the only consideration for IT contractors. Unlike full-time employees, contractors may not have the same level of support from business leaders and management.

As a result, it becomes crucial for IT contractors to cultivate emotional independence, often referred to as having a 'thick skin,' in order to safeguard their mental health and overall well-being, as well as setting personal boundaries to develop a healthy work-life balance.

Problem Solving

IT contractors are hired for one main reason – to solve a problem, quickly. Therefore, business leaders expect their IT contractors to have the knowledge and expertise required to help them troubleshoot and contribute to company success and improvements.??

Where new, full time employees may take time to get to grips with the role, IT contractors have the advantage of being able to hit the ground running.

Creativity

IT contractors are often brought into a project to provide fresh perspectives and creative ideas due to their vast amount of experience working in diverse environments, therefore creativity is crucial to adding value to a project.

Are you on the hunt for your next IT contract role?

If you are on the hunt for your next IT contract and are confident that you possess all of the soft skills we have mentioned, we can help you!

We have a range of IT contract roles available, just get in touch .?