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In Demand IT Skills for 2018

Robert Half Technology released their 2018 employer report and salary guide for technical professionals in North America, which includes info on in-demand positions and credentials. This information is based on the current salary data and analysis of the thousands of job placements that Robert Half makes every year. While this data isn’t specific to the cleared community, it gives you a broader view of general marketplace demand.

Their list of the most requested skills and certifications:

• .NET
• Agile and Scrum certifications
• Angular
• C#
• CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
• CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
• CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional)
• CompTIA A+
• Java
• Microsoft SQL Server
• PHP
• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• VMware

In Demand Technology Roles for 2018

Also from their report came evidence that you can expect to see many employers having critical need for technology professionals in the following roles:

• Business intelligence (BI) analysts
• Data scientists
• Database developers
• Developers
• DevOps engineers
• Help desk and desktop support professionals
• Network administrators
• Security professionals
• Systems administrators

The Softer Side of Technology

Soft skills like communication, work ethic, problem-solving, creative thinking and leadership qualities are also always in demand.  In recent years employers have shifted their search requirements to view these abilities as essential for many IT roles.

A position in technology will touch almost every aspect of today’s business so it’s crucial that technology professionals work effectively with team members and other departments. This has proven to be particularly essential for those who work in DevOps which underlines both communication and collaboration. Effective listening and critical-thinking skills are imperative to understanding and determining customers’ issues and concerns.

Where Do You Stand and What Do You Do

Wondering where you stand? Working on hard skills such as learning technology and obtaining certifications may be difficult, but the steps you need to take are straightforward. But what many struggle with is how to improve their soft skills.

If you need help with soft skills, here’s how:

Start by going through your past performance reviews. Talk to your peers, boss, and trusted past supervisors and assess which skills you need to improve first. Make a plan to pay attention to one issue at a time. Don’t try to solve it all in a week.

With the assistance of HR Consultant Patra Frame, we’ve created lists of concrete actions you can take to improve your soft skills:

To work on your communication skills:

• Take a one day professional development course
• Attend a community college or university development seminar or specific course
• Set up a development program at work if your company offers them
• Seek out a mentor at work or through other professional connections
• Ask a peer whose skills you respect to help you
• Hire a work coach
• Volunteer at a professional or community organization and seek out work that helps you learn these skills
• Establish clear goals and set up an accountability partner to help you meet your goals
• Webinars, podcasts, online newsletters
• Start reading books that support your growth

To work on your problem-solving skills:

• Take a one day professional development course
• Attend a community college development or university seminar or specific course
• Set up a development program at work if your company offers them
• Seek out a mentor at work or through other professional connections
• Ask a peer whose skills you respect to help you
• Hire a work coach
• Volunteer at a professional or community organization and seek out work that helps you learn these skills
• Establish clear goals and set up an accountability partner to help you meet your goals
• Webinars, podcasts, online newsletters
• Start reading books that support your growth

To work on work ethic, reliability and accountability:

• Seek out a mentor at work or through other professional connections
• Hire a work coach
• Study productivity tools
• Establish clear goals and set up an accountability partner to help you meet your goals
• Start reading books that support your growth

To work on creative thinking skills:

• Attend a community college or university development seminar or specific course
• Ask a peer whose skills you respect to help you
• Seek out a mentor at work or through other professional connections
• Volunteer at a professional or community organization and seek out work that helps you learn these skills
• Establish clear goals and set up an accountability partner to help you meet your goals
• Webinars, podcasts, online newsletters
• Start reading books that support your growth

Source: Robert Half 2018 Salary Guide for Technology Professionals

Pat Tovo guides job seekers in conducting successful employment searches through targeted prospecting, effective resume writing, and polished interviewing skills. She enjoys facilitating workshops and working one-on-one in career counseling.