Information on features necessary for productive professional work is interesting for both scientists and employers. Single systematized contradictory data don’t allow to improve training programs, make effective training programs for IT-specialists for productive professional work. Goal – identify critical important, important and desirable professional qualities for IT-specialists, according to the data of literature determine the most important means of their effective development. Methods, participants, and organization. The study participants were 142 students who study at the university in the 3rd year and have experience in the specialty information technology for at least 2 years. Students evaluated soft-skills (on a 4-point system) by the degree of importance for the successful work of IT-professionals. The results were calculated in%, and the reliability of the discrepancies between neighbouring groups of indicators was determined using the χ2 criterion. Results. It has been determined that emotional intelligence is a crucial quality for IT professionals, as well as leading and desired skills. Whereas the leading skills are studying ability and strive for self-education and self-improvement; independent decision making and problem solving; establishing communication and team-working; creativity, attention to details, and adaptiveness. An adequate level of physical conditions and leadership are regarded as desirable. The level of importance of psychophysical parameters for IT professional’s work efficiency has been determined. It has been determined, that means of physical activities as mental fitness (hatha yoga, Bodyflex and Pilates), sports games (and other measures for promote agility) have worked well in the development of cognitive qualities of students. To form professionally important skills, IT-specialists have been recommended to use aids to promote agility and mental fitness, to reinforce the workload on physical education sessions, increase the number of academic classes on physical education up to 3 per week, or supplement academic activities with sports. In professional literature, there has been found no datum on the type of motor activity that encourages forming a number of leading professionally important qualities.