Information Technology has become an indispensable part of everyone’s life owing to the marvelous benefits that it provides to individuals, businesses, and communities.
The prediction that technology will rule the lives of people has indeed come true and this trend will certainly move upwards in the future. From mobile alarm clocks that wake you up every morning to digital planning apps using which you analyze your daily activities every night, various technological tools, devices, and platforms play a vital role in every aspect of your personal and professional life.
Therefore, the demand for information technology skills has also grown over the years. Every enterprise and industry depend on IT solutions and personnel to a small or large extent for carrying out operations. Now, you cannot argue with the fact that the field of information technology or IT is ever-evolving in nature. New and advanced technologies are developed every day for smoothening life.
So, new capabilities and skillsets are also required for utilizing these technologies optimally and creating a win-win situation for everyone involved. As a result, a wide variety of job roles and positions exist in the IT sector. You can easily find vacancies that match your expertise level and area of specialization. Whether you have always been a tech-enthusiast or have made a career change recently, you can cultivate IT skills that can enhance your career.
Information Technology Skills You Need to Acquire
We have curated a list of the most sought-after skills that can help both inexperienced and experienced professionals build a rewarding career in the field of information technology.
[Note: These skills have been ranked in no particular order]
- Coding
Human beings interact with computers and conduct several tasks on a daily basis with the help of programs and instructions created by specialists, viz., coders and programmers. Set of instructions required for generating any kind of output from the computer have to be in a computer language.
You can use coding skills to enable end users to accomplish tasks related to their occupation, entertainment, and much more. From building websites to making online games, many jobs can be undertaken by coders. Knowledge of HTML, C++, JavaScript, and PHP is highly desirable.
Entry level computer science jobs often demand candidates to possess coding skills. Advertisements for the post of quality assurance analyst (QA Analyst) also specify the requirement of having decent coding skills as a person selected for the job will have to test and approve code.
- Networking
In every organization, duties are segregated amongst groups or teams that comprise individuals working in different capacities. Desktops and laptops used by team members are connected with each other, thereby forming a network.
Computer network architects design and build networks for all types and scales of organizations to ensure flawless communication and data transfer across the departments or teams. They assess the requirements, procure hardware and software, and create the most suitable IT infrastructure.
Professionals equipped with networking skills should also possess skills for cyber security management as they need to protect devices and gadgets from cyber-attacks. Individuals who use their computer networking skills for maintaining the network are known as system administrators.
- Application Development
Whether you want to discuss age-old IT skills or coveted IT skills, the list is incomplete without the skill of application development. From performing simple mathematical calculations to preparing comprehensive diet charts, a large array of tasks can be handled by using applications.
Application developers conceptualize, design, and create applications (apps) that can be used on various types of devices, such as computers, laptops, mobile phones, and iPads. Most of the applications run with the help of the Internet. But some mobile applications work offline too.
In today’s time, people rely a lot on different applications for completing their day-to-day and occasional activities. While apps used for listening to music and reading books are preferred by individuals, apps used for interacting with clients and recording financial transactions are preferred by companies.
- Machine Learning
Considered as a component of artificial intelligence, machine learning refers to the use of algorithms for enabling computers to learn and make decisions. Thus, machine learning or ML aims to reduce the workload of people by automating various processes.
A machine learning engineer develops computer systems and programs that learn from past data and utilize the knowledge gathered for identifying and predicting trends. Machine learning involves analyzing a large volume of data and applying reliable techniques.
Machine learning skills are in huge demand in many industries ranging from banking and insurance to healthcare and manufacturing. Once you learn machine learning skills, you can also learn other skills that can make you an artificial intelligence specialist.
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- Blockchain
With the advent of cryptocurrency, blockchain became popular all over the world. Blockchain engineering and development are fields which have turned out to be extremely lucrative for entry-level and experienced IT professionals in the past few years.
Though used interchangeably most of the time, the terms blockchain engineer and blockchain developer are different. Professionals owning blockchain skills use blockchain technology for creating systems, contracts, and applications required in various environments.
As this technology and field have emerged recently, there is a wide scope for your career growth, as you can explore a lot of things. Blockchain development and engineering are those information technology skills that can help you expand your horizons and get attractive salary packages.
- Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is undoubtedly the future of data storage across various industries, especially ones that generate a lot of data due to the massive scale of operations and continuous need for improvement. Many companies find cloud computing solutions to be more comprehensive and affordable than conventional solutions for storing and accessing the data.
Cloud computing skills comprise programming, database management, and many more skills. Cloud computing professionals also possess skills related to cyber security management as they have to ensure the security of cloud computing infrastructure built for clients.
A large number of servers used for cloud computing are Linux-based. So, you need to develop skills for designing, building, and maintaining Linux servers in a cloud environment. Major cloud computing service providers, namely Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Azure provide courses for people who want to learn and grow in this field.
- Data Analytics
The importance of data cannot be stressed enough as entrepreneurs and managers in the present era make data-backed decisions for every area of business. As the name suggests, data analytics involves the systems, processes, and techniques used for analyzing data to achieve desirable outcomes for the business.
Now, these outcomes can be improving operational efficiency, anticipating market demands, establishing fruitful relationships, and many more. With the help of various tools, companies can collect data that reflects the preferences and behavior of target consumers.
Data analytics is a means to utilize this data for studying perceptions of existing and potential consumers to fulfill their needs in the best manner possible. You can develop skills for organizing and processing data to derive meaningful conclusions for the benefit of all internal and external stakeholders. A data analyst should also be able to present data in the form of tables, charts, and graphs.
- Virtual Reality
Virtual reality refers to the use of computer technology for creating a simulated experience for users. Virtual reality or VR helps the users to see and hear things that are not real or present in front of them. Virtual reality is used in a variety of applications across fields, such as medicine, defense, education, automotive, engineering, and entertainment.
You can become a virtual reality developer by learning essential skills, namely, software development, UI/UX designing, animation, and audio production. VR developers need to have a certain level of creativity for creating engaging products.
Virtual reality technology will be increasingly used for attaining different purposes in the future. So, becoming a virtual reality developer can boost your career. If you want to move one step ahead, you can even learn augmented reality or AR.
Final Takeaway
The above-mentioned skills are just a few from the vast ocean of IT skills that you can grow for achieving your short-term and long-term goals. We will try to cover some more skills in our upcoming blog posts. In the end, we will just like to say that people who are planning to make a career in the field of information technology should exhibit not only technical or hard skills but also soft skills.