Why Soft Skills Matter as Much as Code in Tech Interviews

Your resume will get your foot in the door and that is simply a list of core skills, technologies and tools listed throughout your career but when you are in the interview, the hiring team are looking at far more than just your ability to write code.

Soft soft skills are no longer nice-to-haves.

When the majority of teams are asking for the same mentality and set of soft skills, it’s time to start paying real attention, especially if you want to thrive in a small, fast-moving team.

Here’s why soft skills matter, and how to showcase them in your next tech interview.

Why Soft Skills Are Game-Changers in Tech

The myth that tech hiring is based only on your ability to write the best piece of code is faded. Yes, you need to know your stack. But the most successful engineers bring more to the table:

• Collaboration: Most projects live or die by how well teams work together. One brilliant coder who can’t communicate can stall progress for everyone.

• Adaptability: Tech stacks evolve, roadmaps pivot, and start-ups change direction (sometimes overnight). Employers want people who don’t just cope with change, they lean into it.

• Problem-Solving: It’s not just about writing clean code; it’s about seeing the bigger picture and applying creativity when there’s no obvious solution.

• Business Awareness: The best tech professionals understand how their work connects to customer needs, revenue, or growth.

• Drive: Heard of the phrase ‘Get shit done’? Start-ups and scale-ups that were once stable are dying out. Now is the age of knuckle down and simply get shit done to keep afloat or thrive.

How to Show Your Soft Skills in an Interview

The challenge? You can’t exactly put “good communicator” or “team player” on a whiteboard. Soft skills don’t show up in a code test. They show up in the way you approach the interview itself.

Here are some practical ways to make them visible:

Storytelling through examples

When asked behavioural questions (“Tell me about a time when…”), go beyond the technical detail. Share how you handled conflict, explained complex ideas to non-technical colleagues, or kept a project moving when the spec changed last minute. These stories show resilience, empathy, and leadership.

Communication style in real time

Every answer you give is a live demo of your communication skills. Are you following the three C’s: Clear, Concise, and in Control? Do you adapt your language depending on whether your interviewer is technical or not? These nuances matter far more than you might think.

Asking smart questions

Your questions reveal your mindset. Asking about the product roadmap, team culture, or how success is measured shows business awareness and genuine curiosity. It positions you as someone who sees the bigger picture, not just the code. Think of yourself as an investor of the company, especially if there is stock or equity on offer… ask questions that are hard hitting instead of surface level… remember you need to spend usually 4-5 years at the company for any payout to happen, therefore investing your life for the benefit of an outcome.

Handling curveballs

Interviews often include ambiguous or open-ended challenges. This is your moment to demonstrate problem-solving under pressure. Don’t panic if you don’t know the “perfect” answer. Talk through your reasoning. Show how you break down complexity into actionable steps. Be open to live feedback.

Presence and professionalism

Whether it’s showing up prepared, making eye contact on a video call, or following up with a thoughtful thank-you note, the small signals add up. They tell employers that you’re reliable, engaged, and invested.

Hard skills prove you can do the job. Soft skills prove you can do the job well, in a real-world team, under real-world conditions.

The best candidates don’t just showcase their ability to code, analyse, or design. They demonstrate curiosity, resilience, empathy, and adaptability. They make it easy for an employer to picture them not just as an individual contributor, but as a key part of the team’s future.

At Peritus Partners, we know that great hiring in tech goes beyond the CV. That’s why we help both candidates and clients dig deeper, finding the right skills and the right mindset for long-term success.

Peritus Partners is a next generation recruitment team that focuses on blending education, business and community together. Interested to see how we can help find the best talent for your team or interested in finding a new job? Reach out today 😎