Technical skills are important in getting you the job. However, soft skills not only get you the job, but they also ensure that you grow in your career and maintain excellence in your work. Prioritizing these skills directly impacts talent productivity and client team harmony. Strong soft skills also enhance customer satisfaction and boost our overall Net Promoter Score (NPS) with clients, which is why matchers value them so highly.
Based on direct feedback from our matching team, here is a guide on the core competencies that will help you stand out.
The owner mindset and autonomy: In a remote-first environment, clients need to know that you can work autonomously, taking a task from "zero to one" without needing constant hand-holding. You also need to demonstrate accountability, taking full responsibility for your code, your deadlines, and your mistakes.
Effective communication: Practice clarity of thought before the Interview. Treat the interview like a technical demo. Be concise, structured, and professional. Clients love candidates who can explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Genuine curiosity: This is the most frequent feedback from our team: "Don't treat an application as a routine task." Do your homework and research the client’s product, their market position, and their challenges. Ask insightful questions about their sprint culture or their long-term product vision. Authentic enthusiasm resonates deeply with clients.
Adaptability: Demonstrate that you are flexible when project requirements pivot (as they often do in high-growth companies).
Problem-solving and critical thinking: Matchers often use scenario-based questions to assess how you handle real-world challenges, such as unexpected bugs that cause project delays. Be ready to share specific past experiences where you encountered a significant problem in a project, how you approached it, and the solution you ultimately implemented.
Building trust with the client: Clients aren't just hiring a "coder"; they are hiring a teammate. You build trust by being reliable and transparent.
Collaboration: Highlight how you’ve mentored others, contributed to peer reviews, or worked across time zones and departments to achieve a common goal.
We have launched our first Andela Soft Skills Learning Path, hosted by our EPIC community champions in the Andela Community. For this learning path, you get to earn a community badge upon completion!