You're a technology enthusiast, and you know that there are some so-called “must-have” skills that you need to possess. Of course, the skills required for technology may vary widely from one situation to the next. However, there are some skills that are worth acquiring no matter what your area of expertise is.
Do these skills involve web development coding because it’s in demand globally? Is it perhaps cloud computing since this may be the “hybrid development of the future?” Could it be data for mobile apps? Or perhaps all you need are soft skills such as the skill of being resilient, having adaptability, and having awesome problem solving skills.
However, the first three above may be too technical for some people, while soft skills are basic work ethic skills that everyone needs whether working in IT or on a factory assembly line. Instead here are some “must-have” tech skills that all techie enthusiasts can relate to.
Quality Assurance
The quality assurance (QA) process is central to almost everything from developing software to systems and apps. While QA can be a job in itself, many organizations rely on developers, support professionals, and others to handle QA. If you don’t know anything about it, you’re shortchanging your career prospects. It is, therefore, important for every techie to have a sound QA background in whatever IT field they have.
Documentation
Producing documentation isn’t just for content and technical writers. Support professionals, coders, and other IT workers must often document their processes and products for other technology professionals, customers, and even their non-techie colleagues. Techies with sharp documentation skills have an edge.
Databases
The database is at the foundation of most software projects. The more you learn about databases, the more you’ll be able to contribute to projects with databases at their center. Support professionals often field calls from non-technical users about databases, while developers must often design software to work with databases.
Networks
Even in this age of Wi-Fi and mobile gadgets, everything is still connected especially in offices. If you don’t know the basics of networking, and if you can’t even set up and troubleshoot your own Wi-Fi network, then you need to familiarize yourself with the essentials of networking. Lacking knowledge about networks can be a red flag to potential employers. There have been numerous experiences by hiring managers and company proprietors who have complained about programmers who know everything about coding, but nothing about networks.
Microsoft Office
If you don’t know how to use Excel, let alone how to import an Excel worksheet, then that could spell real trouble for your hiring chances. Too often, too many techies don’t have a broad enough knowledge of Microsoft Office. MS Office – and at least the three basic programs in it, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint – is so pervasive that it makes sense to learn enough so that it’s not a barrier in the workplace. After all, you never know when you’ll need to write technical specifications in Word or prepare a presentation in PowerPoint.
