Technologists need these essential skills for continuous improvement

New tech advancements can leave you with a lot of questions. Are your current skills still relevant? What new skills do you need to learn? How can you meet your career goals in the ever-changing technology landscape?

You might not know the answers, but there is a way to set yourself up for success in the face of AI and other emerging technologies. From technical skills to professional skills and soft skills, we cover the essentials you need to adapt to new tech faster and solidify your career—no matter what the future holds.

Want to learn more about our tech trends and predictions and what you need to succeed? Download the 2024 Tech Forecast.

Coding is key for software development, cloud computing, and automation. Python, Java, and JavaScript are widely used languages, but it’s important to think about what you’ll use a programming language for, not just the language itself.

“For me, it's much less about the language, and more about your ability to recognize what options are available to you in the platform and language you're already comfortable with,” says Simon Allardice, Creative Director and Principal Author at Pluralsight.

As important as technical skills are, soft skills are just as important—perhaps even more so. Develop these essential soft skills to level up your tech career. 

Some professional skills combine technology skills and soft skills.

• Explore prompt engineering and how you can use it in your role, whether you’re an IT administrator, data scientist, business professional, marketer, or creative

• Learn technical writing to aid prompt engineering and communicate complex technical information to audiences with different skill levels

• Understand the ethical considerations of emerging technologies to use and build tech responsibly

Build the soft skills you need in today’s workplace.

Certifications can add a boost to your resume and showcase your technical expertise, even if you lack a traditional university degree. Some certifications that continue to be in high demand include:

AWS also launched the new AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate certification. This new certification highlights the data skills gap and the need for quality data engineers who can analyze and manipulate data, work with AI models, and drive business outcomes.

“When Microsoft makes OpenAI certs, those should be pretty popular. Information Security is always a winner,” adds Tim Warner, Principal Author for IT Ops at Pluralsight.

But certifications aren’t the only way to show off your skills—completing portfolio projects and gaining hands-on experience at bootcamps and hackathons are also valuable ways to demonstrate your knowledge.

No matter your area of expertise, learning is the most important skill to develop. If you aren’t keeping up with the latest tech trends, deepening your current skills, or exploring new technologies, you’re already falling behind.

As Amber Israelsen, Pluralsight Author, succinctly says, “Learn how to learn. Be willing to let go of old ways of doing things. Find your favorite sources for the latest tech news, and visit often to stay current.”

Ready for more tech trends and tips to stay ahead of the curve? Explore these resources: