We all know that interviewing and getting an edge in an interview is tough. In IT that often means candidates spend hours on personal projects or brushing up on the latest tech, and while that's all great work, often the best thing you can do to position yourself is work on your soft-skills. Because the truth is, as IT becomes more and more integral to contemporary life and the entrepreneurial life blood of the 21^st century, the more crucial it is to communicate the nature of these systems to their less technical colleagues, clients, and users.

Here are some choice quotes from Rick’s talk with Kelly.  Check out the whole article at: http://www.informationweek.com/it-life/8-non-tech-skills-it-pros-need-to-succeed-/d/d-id/1325476        

And feel free to follow Kelly on twitter @kellysheridan22, she's currently an associate editor at Information Week. If you'd like to talk to rick directly, reach out to him via email: rick@ingenium.agency OR  inmail: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdionisio

Some Choice Qoutes:

Why the softskills matter:

"The hard skills are important to get you the interview and qualify for the work, but the person who gets hired has the [technical] box checked and the ability to express and communicate at a very high level," said Rick Dionisio, president and owner of Ingenium, a tech and creative talent agency

Dionisio explained how when choosing between two candidates, a hiring manager is more likely to select the one who has mastered their soft skills -- even if the alternative candidate has superior technical capabilities.

 We're here to help.

On why very capable technologists can still fail interviews

"Most candidates fall on interviews because they haven't been able to explain clearly and concisely to the interviewing panel the technical problems they have faced and how they have gone about solving them," he said. 

On what start-ups and executive leadership look for in their hires

"A lot of people out there are pretty good if they're left to their own devices," said Dionisio.

He means this guy.

"The ones really in high demand are the ones who have that same skill set but can articulate and explain what they're doing in a team environment."

Some common feedback we hear from our clients regarding sr. and jr. candidates

"The more senior you get, the more convinced you become of your own beliefs," said Dionisio.

Yes, you are...

Incoming IT pros are on the opposite end of the spectrum, Dionisio said. Their listening skills are great; however, they don't trust their own instincts because they don't feel they have the experience to bring their ideas to the table.

Oftentimes, said Dionisio, hiring manager feedback indicates new hires simply wait for their managers to give them assignments. They rarely push the envelope or try to find a better way to do things because they lack the confidence.

Speak up.

How culture affects collaboration

It's worth noting that every business has a different idea of what collaboration means, said Dionisio. Some companies claim to have an open, collaborative culture on paper, but their offices are so quiet "you can hear a pin drop." Other corporate environments are more like a trading floor, with employees chatting and holding meetings. 

Our job is to help you learn how to communicate these skills so you shine through the interview process. Feel free to drop by and we'll help you out. 

Break a leg.