When learning software development, it's common to focus heavily on the technical side—languages, frameworks, work methodologies, and gaining years of experience to build seniority. But what makes a team of coders truly work isn't just the quality of the code. Other elements come into play—and they make all the difference.
Your interpersonal skills (often referred to as soft skills—or power skills, by those who argue they’re anything but “soft” and are actually foundational) are what determine how well you integrate with a team, build relationships with clients, and help elevate those around you. In a tech industry where remote work is no longer the exception but the rule—and where multicultural, multilingual teams are the norm—honing these skills is essential. Not just for acing a job interview, but for growing over time and becoming a well-rounded developer.
The Most Valuable Soft Skills for Software Developers
From our experience at Devlane—working with companies from a wide range of industries around the world—there’s one clear pattern: the best-performing projects are those where developers can not only code but collaborate.
Some of the key soft skills we actively look for:
- Clear, consistent communication: It’s not just about speaking fluent English with the right vocabulary. It’s about being able to explain technical ideas at different levels of complexity to teammates and leaders.
- Intrinsic motivation: Developers who thrive in autonomous environments without micromanagement, who propose new ideas, identify improvement opportunities, and act on them.
- Ability to give and receive feedback: It may sound simple, but knowing how to give and take constructive feedback is a common challenge. Professional growth, product development, and positive business outcomes depend on a culture of healthy feedback.
- Empathy: Contrary to popular belief, empathy isn’t innate—it’s developed through exposure to diverse cultures, languages, and teammates with different levels of knowledge. This skill is critical for understanding your product’s users, as well as your teammates and leadership.
- Adaptability: Your career will constantly evolve—new goals, coworkers, managers, clients, and employers. Your ability to adapt to these changes will directly impact your performance.
- Ownership: Highly valued by companies, this is the mindset of developers who take responsibility for the impact of their work, regardless of the role they were assigned.
Why Are These Skills So Valuable?
With teams increasingly distributed and companies needing to scale quickly, these soft skills allow you to:
- Reduce friction in daily communication.
- Adapt faster to new processes, goals, teams, and companies.
- Influence key decisions—both technical and non-technical—that drive business value.
- Navigate onboarding processes more efficiently.
In the long run, these traits help avoid bottlenecks, misinterpretations, and disconnects between technical and non-technical teams.
How Do We Approach This at Devlane?
Our hiring process doesn’t focus solely on technical abilities. From the very first interaction, we evaluate attitude, communication skills, autonomy, and the willingness to collaborate.
In most cases, our clients are directly involved in the interview stage, allowing for a more accurate assessment of cultural fit and ensuring a stronger match from day one.
We’re not just looking for developers to complete tasks. We look for technical partners who can collaborate with product teams, QA, and other developers as if they were an integrated part of the company they’re joining.
Do you have these soft skills and want to take your career to the next level? At Devlane, you can bring your code to new heights by working 100% remotely with the most forward-thinking companies in North America—earning in USD no matter where you live. You’ll also have access to English classes, tons of perks, courses, and rewards.
Check out our latest Open Positions and join the most talented dev community in South America.
