Tech is a broad field. You can choose to specialize in anything from user experience (UX) design to hybrid cloud infrastructure and so much in between. All of these fields require extensive training and education. That being said, there are a set of general skills that are important for anyone working in tech to know. Keep reading to learn more about what those five skills are.
1. Programming
Tech professionals of all sorts — engineers, of course, but also product managers (PMs), user experience designers, etc — can benefit from learning how to program. Not only is coding useful for automating processes, it will also help you understand how computers work on a base-level and teach foundational algorithmic thinking. For designers, PMs, and business leaders, it can help provide insight into how products function and the care that goes into building them.
2. Big Data
Big data has been a buzzword for years and is only continuing to grow. In fact, 97.2% of companies reported that they’re investing in big data and artificial intelligence (AI) within their organizations now to stay up-to-date with the current markets.
While it’s not critical for every tech role to have a thorough understanding of data management, it is important to have a basic understanding of how big data benefits a product or organization. Big data skills can help you understand your customers, become more efficient, and even save your company money.
3. Cybersecurity
Security, especially data security, is more important than ever. This past year, every single app that was tested showed at least one vulnerability, with most apps showing many more.
Companies are starting to understand that cybersecurity is key for the whole product lifecycle, not just cybersecurity specialists. When everyone on a product team — from designers to PMs, developers to salespeople — understand security, the final product will be significantly less vulnerable.
4. Technical Writing
While it’s often joked about that engineers are bad writers, communication through writing is actually a critical skill for software developers to master. Many times, big software systems are developed by one person, or a team of a few, and then passed down to new teams to be maintained and improved. Without documentation, communicating across teams is nearly an impossible task.
With good technical writing skills, developers can help people understand their code and work efficiently within a new code base — whether that’s through code comments, manuals, presentations, blog posts, or whatever other medium is used to communicate.
5. User Experience
User experience often refers to the user’s interaction with the user interface (UI) in an app, but really it can be about any time a customer uses a product. UX designers definitely need top-notch skills in user experience, but it doesn’t hurt for everyone in the product lifecycle to gain an understanding of how the user feels.
For DevOps Engineers, this would have to do with how long it takes data in the app to load. For developers, this would have to do with how data is processed and stored. Lastly, for product managers, this would be around how often new features are added that enhance the experience.
Enhance Your Resume with Technical Training
Working in tech is rewarding because the work is multifaceted and always changing. Ten or twenty years ago, it might have been possible to work in tech and stick to one specific speciality. These days, it’s key to have a wide understanding of many areas, including programming, big data, cybersecurity, technical writing, and user experience.
If you’re looking to beef up your resume with any of these skills, take a look at Udacity’s course catalog. There’s a wide range of tech Nanodegree programs that can get you where you need to go. Start today!
