Saying that information technology is ubiquitous in our everyday lives is probably the understatement of the decade. It is a big part of our personal, social, and professional lives. If you want to join the field of information technology, look up how many businesses worldwide are dependent on it. And ever since companies started going global, the role of IT has only increased tenfold. We depend on IT for manufacturing, communication, delivering, marketing, and so much more. Now IT has grown to a considerable proportion and includes everything that has anything to do with hardware, software, applications, data, and so much more. Think of any industry; you will see that IT plays an essential role in education, healthcare, business, production, and everything in between.
If you are starting on your journey to becoming an IT professional, there are a set of skills that you need to be successful. These skills help you become more productive, efficient, and an overall fantastic asset to your organization. They include both ‘hard’ skills called ‘technical’ skills and ‘soft’ skills. What you need is a balance between both of them to become a well-rounded IT professional. These skills help you face challenges, analyze situations, complete tasks, and more.
What are IT Skills?
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As we said earlier, several skills are needed to become an IT expert. They contain both hard and soft skills. Hard skills include coding, networking, machine learning, and soft skills include communication, teamwork, and more. If you are interested in this field and have done some research into it, you will realize that you already have some of the skills we will mention here. But you might not know which ones are the top skills you need that can make your career more lucrative and turn you into a valued employee. But don’t worry. As you go through your IT degree like MSIST (Master of Science in Information Science and Technology), you will pick up the things you require. Here is a list of the skills you need to excel at to become a true IT professional.
Cybersecurity
As more time passes, Cybercrimes become more and more prevalent. It means that Cybersecurity is among the topmost skills in the field of IT. Cybersecurity is evolving as rapidly as the attacks. Also, as more and more businesses come online, the need for Cybersecurity personnel is continuously growing. Many companies invest in this skill to protect their valuable and confidential data from potential hackers and malware. A recent survey conducted by IDC (International Data Corporation) revealed that organizations worldwide are putting Cybersecurity skills as their top priority, even if they are still in the middle of the pandemic. Even though their budgets are tight, they always know just how vital their security is, and they are not wrong. The attacks are continually increasing, and just phishing emails are up by 667%.
2. Cloud Computing
The next skill that you are going to benefit from is cloud computing. These skills are as high in demand as Cybersecurity. The world is moving towards cloud solutions like SaaS (Software as a Service), IaaS (Infrastructure are a Service), and more. Currently, some of the top salaries are being paid to cloud consultants. It is also the second most investment-worthy area in IT. With platforms such as AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Microsoft Azure, the cloud has made it extremely cost-effective for businesses to conduct their day-to-day operations without bearing the cost of expensive machinery. It has also brought about other technologies like IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence).
3. Data Analytics and Data Science
Data is the latest currency of the digital realm. Whether there’s a pandemic raging on or not, we continue to collect and utilize data. The third topmost skill in this regard is a data analyst and data scientist. As more and more data accumulate, organizations need experts to store, manage, and retrieve data according to their needs. Data scientists then use that data to find solutions for the problems that the company is facing. This data enables companies to make well-informed decisions. As a result, they can better connect with their customers, achieve more sales, and reach their goals.
4. Networking and Wireless
By the year 2023, the number of devices connected to various networks will become more than three times the global population. It alone lets us know how important this skill is for the future. Network engineers and network administrators will play a vital role in their organizations. According to IDC, this is again another skill that will see a lot of investment, no matter the market’s position.
5. Software and App Development
The software and app development field has seen faster growth in the IT industry than almost every other field. And you can see it all around you. Almost everyone has a mobile phone, and more and more businesses are going online. We now have Life Hack Apps and softwares for nearly everything. There’s an app for sleeping, an app for meditation, accounting software, project management software, and anything else that you can think of. By the year 2028, software and app development jobs will increase by more than 20%.
Soft Skills That You Need
How can we mention the technical skills and not give any importance to the soft skills needed to ace in Information Technology?
Here are some of those skills:
- Communication
- Organization
- Leadership
- Analytical abilities
- Creativity
- Project Management
- Curiosity
- Time Management
Conclusion
As a final word, let us tell you that it is the right time for you to choose the field of Information Technology for yourself. It is booming and doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. With the skills that we have mentioned above, you will be able to ace in the field and find money, fame, job satisfaction, and more security.