Could ‘Soft’ Skills Set You Apart?

What separates those who get the offer from those who don’t? Very often, it’s the soft skills.

When you’re interviewing for a tech or engineering role, it’s easy to focus only on your technical ability. But here’s the truth: hiring managers often meet multiple candidates with similar technical skill sets. You’ll naturally highlight your experience with a certain programming language, your design expertise, or the complex projects you’ve delivered. But don’t forget to demonstrate your soft skills.

Why soft skills matter in tech and engineering

Employers know that strong coding, design, or analytical skills are essential. But they’re also looking for people who can work well in teams, communicate ideas clearly, adapt quickly, and show resilience when things go wrong.

In engineering, collaboration between design, R&D, and manufacturing is critical. If you can’t explain your ideas or adapt to feedback, projects stall.

In software and tech, agile teams need individuals who are proactive, empathetic, and able to translate complex technical issues into plain language for stakeholders.

Demonstrating these traits in your interview could be the key to standing out.

How to showcase soft skills in an interview

Here are some practical ways to highlight them:

1. Use examples of collaboration

Instead of just saying you’re a “team player,” share a specific instance where you worked across functions to solve a problem. For example: “When the mechanical design conflicted with the software parameters, I facilitated a session with both teams to map out a workable compromise.”

2. Show adaptability

The tech and engineering world moves quickly. Highlight a time you adapted to a new tool, process, or unexpected challenge. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answer so it’s clear and impactful.

3. Demonstrate communication skills

You can do this in two ways:

During the interview itself, avoid jargon unless you know your interviewer is highly technical. Clear, concise answers demonstrate strong communication naturally.

Share an example of when you explained a complex concept to a non-technical colleague or client, and how it improved the outcome.

4. Evidence problem-solving under pressure

Tech and engineering projects rarely go smoothly from start to finish. Employers want people who can think on their feet. Be ready with an example of when you solved a problem under tight deadlines or resource constraints.

5. Show emotional intelligence

This doesn’t mean oversharing personal feelings, it means demonstrating self-awareness and empathy. For example: “A junior colleague was struggling with debugging, so I paired with them to work through the logic rather than taking over the task.” This shows leadership potential as well as technical ability.

In competitive tech and engineering markets, technical skills might secure you an interview, but it’s your soft skills that could win you the job. Preparing real, specific examples that show how you communicate, collaborate, and adapt can give you the edge when the hiring manager has to choose between equally skilled candidates.

At IntaPeople, we understand the importance of both technical expertise and soft skills. If you’re working with us, we can advocate for you with hiring managers—highlighting not just your technical ability, but also the interpersonal qualities that will help you thrive in their team.