Tech workers, stunned by rounds of layoffs in the aftermath of the dot-com crash and the downturn in the economy, continue to hit a wall in a labor market that has fewer jobs, lower salaries, pickier bosses, and a new job requirement: soft skills.

Soft skills? Today, tech workers who do not expand their experiences and interests outside the world of computers and labs may get passed over for those who also have good communication and leadership skills and can work in teams. Employers are adamant that they have to have soft skills. They want to see people who are better rounded, not just absorbed in the techie thing.

Five years ago employers were looking for code warriors - employees who knew what all the acronyms meant. That has all changed. Today they're looking for employees who have the ability to work in teams, communicate effectively, and be aware of the social and cultural context of what they're doing and how it enables them to relate to others. A couple of years ago, employers would have hired somebody with great technical skills; today, potential employees have to have more than that. For tech workers accustomed to winning over employers with their beefy résumés, the demand for soft skills could be a challenge. The days of head-down coding are over - at least for now. Code jockeys are so last century.

During the bubble and the ensuing war for talent, some hiring managers wanted to get a person in front of the computer as soon as possible. Now the motto is to get the right person for the right job at the right time. Things are bound to slowly pick up.

Still, we may be in for a long winter. The tech industry is on life support nationwide. Large employers that laid off thousands aren't expected to hire again anytime soon. And much of the growth in technology is in areas such as security, defense, and biotechnology, which may require a set of skills many of us do not yet have.

There are glimmers of hope. The government, pharmaceutical companies, and some banks have been able to pick up highly skilled tech workers they couldn't afford before, and the information sector, including broadcasting companies, call centers, and managed data firms, are still hiring.

Some of us have turned to other careers or taken cover in graduate school; many of us are waiting out the storm by taking lower-paying or temporary jobs, or going into business for ourselves.

We were among the first professionals to feel the impact of the economic slowdown starting with the dot-com bust late in 2000. Before that, we were the darlings of the working world, commanding signing bonuses, high salaries, and on-the-job perks. The technology workforce is suffering more than anybody as the labor market we're experiencing has affected the tech industry the most. The unemployment rate among tech professionals is 12-20% depending on your market.

In my market (Chicago), recent tech professionals have been especially hurt by massive layoffs at large companies such as Motorola, Sears, Tellabs, Arthur Andersen, and Lucent. Because there is so much overcapacity (supply) of labor, salaries and contract rates have fallen. With so many experienced professionals on the market, there is almost no work for recent graduates or for those with little or no experience.

If you are a recent graduate and are lucky enough to find any tech job, starting pay is stagnant - starting salaries for computer science and engineering graduates range from $39,000 to $45,000. Companies that are hiring not only prefer experienced candidates but also people who are well rounded. These days, it takes more than a college degree, up-to-date skills, and a pair of Doc Martens to land a job. Employers still place a high value on expertise, prompting many tech professionals to earn certification in the most popular tech skills, with Microsoft certification being one of the most popular. Certification helps employers differentiate one candidate from another.

However, even experience and certification will not guarantee a job in today's climate. Like other industries, the health of the tech world hinges on employer confidence. Some experts estimate that the tech job market will lag for another 18 to 24 months before employers start hiring again.

Temporary or contract work is still out there at a reduced rate. When things improve, these workers will be among the first to be called back. Since employers are nervous about making long-term commitments to full-time employees, they are increasingly farming out small projects to free agents.

Don't give up. Keep your résumé up to date. Focus on the "whys" and not the "hows". As one headhunter told me, you should be able to explain why your past project was able to use XML to streamline data access and provide value to its users, and you should be able to explain it in nontechnical terms. Chances are that the person interviewing you could care less if you know a SAX parser from a DOM parser. He or she wants to know how you can take your knowledge and experience and communicate it to a team - both technical and nontechnical.