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5 Must-have Skills for Launching a Successful Tech Career

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The tech industry is one of the most rapidly changing industries in the world today. Almost every field requires the services of software engineers, data scientists, or artificial intelligence experts to automate work and maximise profit. This is why it is not a surprise that coding bootcamps have gained popularity over the last few decades as providers of fast-paced tech education.

Diving Into the Tech Industry

If you want to dive into the tech industry, you need to pick a specialisation that interests you. There are many high-demand fields that pay well, so you should be able to build a satisfying career. For example, cyber security is one of the most in-demand fields right now, and you can trust that it won’t become obsolete anytime soon.

The Bureau of Labour Statistics projects that the demand for cyber security experts will rise by 33 percent between 2020 and 2030. To put this into perspective, the projected rise for all other occupations is 8 percent. Other tech roles that are in high demand are software developer, data scientist, web developer, computer network architect, and cloud engineer.

The best part about diving into tech is that you do not need to get a bachelor’s degree for many tech roles, especially entry-level positions. You can teach yourself with the unlimited resources online or you can attend a coding bootcamp for a more structured program. In any case, there are some key skills you should acquire for a successful career in tech.

Top Skills for a Career in Tech

Each tech career has a unique set of required skills that will help you excel. However, there are some fundamental skills that will give you more versatility when it comes to job hunting. Some of these skills are listed below:

Coding/Programming

Keep in mind that software engineers aren’t the only tech experts who need to learn coding. While there are many tech fields that do not require advanced programming skills, understanding the basics of how coding works and how programs are written will benefit you in the long run.

Systems Security

You now know how to code, that’s great, but do you know how to secure software from internal and external vulnerabilities? Systems security is a broad field that includes cyber security, information security, ethical hacking, penetration testing, and a host of other measures that are put in place to protect computer networks.

You can learn basic, intermediate, and advanced systems security from a cyber security bootcamp, such as Flatiron School within three to six months. The job opportunities for an expert in system security are promising.

Data Analysis

Data analysis is something all data scientists must learn, but they aren’t the only ones who will benefit from these skills. You can choose to specialise as a data analyst who identifies insights and predicts trends based on structured or unstructured data.

As a data analytics expert, you can earn up to $99,586 annually according to ZipRecruiter. Even if you are not in the data field, being able to identify and sort data is a vital tech skill that will make your job easier.

Technical Project Management

As you grow in tech, you may need to oversee tasks that require group effort and collaboration. Technical project management is a skill that will come in handy. You can also learn technical project management as a discipline and work with software development companies.

A technical project manager is charged with ensuring that project objectives are carried out according to plan. They are among the top earners in the tech industry and their skills are in demand across various fields.

Problem Solving

Irrespective of your tech specialisation, you will need to be an excellent problem solver to thrive. Good problem solvers apply themselves and provide solutions to problems that companies didn’t know they had. It requires innovative thinking, critical thinking, planning, evaluating, and delegating skills.

Conclusion

The tech industry is one of the highest paying sectors in the world today. Tech experts are also most likely to get remote working options that other jobs do not provide. Most importantly, you can break into the tech industry without a bachelor’s degree thanks to accelerated learning opportunities. Just make sure you are open to learning new skills as the industry continues to evolve.

Business: 6 Skills to Nurture in The Future Leaders of Your Company

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Nurturing the future talent of your business is critical for any business owner, as you will need the reassurance of having someone to hand the reins over to once you retire. It is a good idea to start grooming future leadership early, so they have plenty of time to learn while you’re still at the helm. This will give you plenty of time to mould them into the leader your business needs to thrive.

You should carefully consider the skills that future leaders of your business will need. There are some clear necessities such as communication, delegation and negotiation skills. There are also skills necessary to run your business in a way that matches your values, like integrity and empathy.

1. Communication

Communication is one of the most important skills a business leader can possess. Leading a team effectively requires you to communicate the needs of the business to employees, suppliers and other third parties. You should look for potential future leaders with excellent communication skills and give them opportunities to improve their existing skills through things like public speaking and taking part in negotiations.

2. Delegation

Delegation can be a difficult skill to learn, but it can get much easier with time. One of the major mistakes many new business leaders make is trying to do everything themselves. Delegation shows employees that you trust them and prevents burnout in leadership. You should talk to the employee you’re mentoring and give them advice and tips on how and when to delegate and how to identify the right employees to delegate specific tasks to.

3. Data Analysis

Being a business leader requires an understanding of the various data and metrics that show how well your business is operating. Future leaders will need to be able to identify the critical data and use it to make decisions to drive the business forward. Courses in data analysis can be invaluable to help future leaders learn how to make data-driven decisions.

4. Integrity

Integrity is another critical skill for future leaders, ensuring they will run your business with the same honesty and morals you prize. You should be a role model for your future leader and run your business with the same integrity you expect them to emulate.

5. Empathy

Running a business with empathy is crucial. Leaders will need to be able to empathise with employees, customers and other parties to understand the best ways to motivate and inspire those around them. They will also need to be approachable, ensuring that any employee feels comfortable discussing concerns and ideas with them. Empathy can be a tough skill to learn, so encouraging them to put themselves in the shoes of others regularly can be invaluable.

6. Negotiation

As a business leader, negotiation is a near-daily task. The future leader you choose will need to be able to negotiate contracts with suppliers, other businesses and employees. Having your chosen future leader shadow you throughout various negotiations can be invaluable to help them learn how to negotiate effectively. You can also consider sending the employee on a negotiation skills course to learn some of the best ways to negotiate well.