Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!

Information technology (IT) companies rely on skilled teams of qualified professionals to work together effectively and efficiently to develop and sustain effective systems that support the strategy and operations of an organization. Many IT employers view baseline skills as critical capabilities employees need to have in order to be successful in a role. As one manager explained, “Technical skills only matter so much.” Unlike “technical skills” such as coding and database management that are commonly improved on the job, many employers find baseline skills, including communication and coordination skills, as harder to learn over time without intentional effort. Consequently, employers value applicants that demonstrate such skills though many employers report that finding such skills can be challenging. IT employers view some baseline skills as basic requirements for many roles: (1) Coordination: Working well with others and thinking through how one’s individual decisions impact the broader team. Focused on helping achieve team goals and not losing sight of the bigger picture by getting overly absorbed in one’s own work; (2) Writing: Communicating effectively given the audience (e.g., technical writing for peers, everyday language for users) and use case (e.g., short status update with important points highlighted, in-depth explanation of a technical solution). “You need to be able to explain yourself to others,” one IT manager explained. (3) Active Listening: Focusing attention on people when they speak, understanding their key points and asking questions to learn more. Not just listening but comprehending’s what’s been said so you can explain what you heard to others. Beyond being able to coordinate, write and listen, employers highly value the following additional key baseline skills: (1) Active Learning: Independently seeking out valuable new information relevant to one’s job (e.g., new software or coding languages) and thinking about the implications of that new information to one’s job, team and broader organization. Learning and using new tools and processes and proactively seeking out training and growth opportunities. As one IT manager explained, “In IT, most things become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. We want people who always want to learn more”; (2) Critical Thinking: Taking the time to think through problems and opportunities using logic and reasoning to identify the pros and cons of possible solutions. Able to critically assess one’s own choices and approach to improve and being open to improving; (3) Complex Problem Solving: Able to think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to important problems and to decompose problems into smaller, inter-related sub-components to develop valuable insights and recommendations. When considering this career option, be sure to check your own skills in these important areas to ensure you will meet and exceed what employers will value!