The Evergreen Tech Skills
This is list of evergreen skills I'm considering worth looking at in 2023. In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, certain skills and abilities can quickly become obsolete as new advancements take over. However, there are specific skills that have stood the test of time and are anticipated to continue doing so in the foreseeable future. This article will explore these long-lasting tech skills, drawing insights from experienced professionals in the tech industry.
Foundational Skills
First, let's talk about the foundational skills, the bedrock upon which successful tech careers are built. Here, Unix/Linux fundamentals, SQL, and mathematical foundations of computer science stand out. These are the skills that underlie much of what tech professionals do, regardless of their specific area of expertise. They're the fundamental building blocks that enable professionals to understand and engage with a broad array of tools and technologies. Skills like understanding processes/threads, builtin commands, scripting, file system/permissions, and basic system admin tasks are invaluable and applicable across many areas of tech.
Communication Skills
The ability to communicate technical topics effectively is a key skill that has far-reaching implications in the tech industry. Whether you're explaining complex technical concepts to a non-technical audience or writing a detailed technical specification, the ability to distill and communicate information is crucial. This skill becomes even more critical as you progress in your career and interact with diverse teams and stakeholders. Those practical hints will never be outdated:
- Be Polite: Maintain a respectful and courteous tone in all forms of communication, whether written or verbal, fostering positive and constructive interactions.
- Accurately Pick the Right Level of Each Message: Adapt your communication style and level of detail based on the recipient, ensuring the message is clear, concise, and appropriate for the situation.
- Follow Email Best Practices: Apply effective email communication practices, including using clear subject lines, organizing content with paragraphs and bullet points, and proofreading messages before sending.
- Follow Slack Best Practices: Utilize Slack or other messaging platforms effectively by organizing conversations, using appropriate channels, and being mindful of tone and brevity in your messages.
- Minimize Interruptions: Respect others' focus and productivity by minimizing unnecessary interruptions, such as avoiding excessive instant messaging or scheduling meetings only when essential.
Teamwork
Foster a collaborative environment where team members work together towards a shared goal, pooling their skills and efforts. Individuals are rarely smarter than a group.
- Practice Empathy: Understand and empathize with the perspectives, feelings, and challenges of your teammates, fostering better communication and understanding.
- Keep Low Egos: Promote humility and encourage team members to prioritize the success of the team over individual accomplishments.
- Be an Active Listener: Listen attentively to your teammates, seeking to understand their ideas and concerns fully. Avoid interrupting and provide space for everyone to voice their opinions.
- Be a Good Mentor: Support and guide fellow team members by sharing experiences, providing feedback, and helping them develop their skills.
- Share Knowledge: Foster a culture of knowledge sharing, where team members freely exchange ideas, insights, and expertise for the benefit of the entire team.
- Be Constructive: Provide constructive feedback and criticism, focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Maintain a positive and respectful tone in team interactions.
Problem Solving and Decision Making
In the realm of soft skills, problem-solving prowess, judgement, and decision-making capabilities are of paramount importance. The ability to identify and navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and implement effective solutions is invaluable in the tech industry. Moreover, the capability to recognize patterns, abstract and modularize, deal with ambiguity, and debug are also long-lasting skills that can significantly enhance a professional's value.
Domain Expertise
Becoming an expert in a specific domain, such as compilers, computer graphics, cybersecurity, or bioinformatics, can offer a significant advantage. While skills associated with building CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) applications may lose relevance over time due to changing technologies, deep domain knowledge remains useful and sought-after across different eras of technology.
Empathy and Customer Orientation
Empathy, especially towards the end user, is another long-lasting skill that is sometimes overlooked in tech. Understanding the user's perspective can help develop better products with superior user experience (UX). If a user repeatedly encounters issues with a product, it's often a sign that the design or engineering needs to adapt to better meet the user's needs. This perspective underscores the importance of a customer-oriented approach in tech.
Learning and Adaptability
The ability to learn independently and adapt to new tools and technologies is a valuable skill in the fast-paced world of tech. Spotting familiarities between tools and the underlying ideas can help professionals kickstart their learning process and adapt to new technologies more efficiently
Other Skills
Several other skills were highlighted by the professionals, including networking knowledge (TCP, UDP, HTTP, TLS), understanding of CS fundamentals like algorithmic complexity, and effective use of tools like Excel. A command of algebra and experience with Linux systems and specific libraries or programming languages can also be of lasting value
Conclusion
While staying updated with the latest technologies is important, developing these long-lasting tech skills can provide a strong foundation for a successful career in the tech industry. These skills not only help in tackling contemporary challenges but also equip professionals to navigate the future landscape of technology effectively. By investing time and resources in developing these skills, tech professionals can ensure their relevance and effectiveness in an ever-changing industry. Read more:
