There are many directions that IT professionals can go when deciding which skill to add to their repertoire. There is a wide range of technology skills in demand, whether considering a new platform, language, or methodology – and the more skills IT personnel can amass, the more in demand they will become. Unfortunately, technology professionals typically deal with limited time and resources outside of their careers, making the pursuit of several new skills difficult. Those seeking a unique skill set should take an evergreen skills approach that will pay off for years to come.
Professional “soft” skills such as communication, leadership, and teamwork are tech-adjacent skills in high demand. Technology evolves too rapidly to commit to a single platform or solution, so one of the most significant assets an IT professional can offer is the ability to learn, lead and work with a team of professionals. This reality means that high emotional intelligence is a desired asset. Experts recognize that new skills can be learned by an employee who brings these characteristics to the table.
An evergreen approach to learning means no matter the new programming language or security threat that emerges, employees should be able to keep up. Evergreen skills are proving particularly valuable with the evolution of cloud computing. The benefits related to the cloud aren’t only in its infrastructure. They also lie in the flexibility organizations experience when IT professionals are knowledgeable regarding cloud operations and possess the ability to think creatively as situations and problems evolve.
Outsourcing providers and their clients will need to rethink their current protocols when migrating to a cloud environment. Professionals who can both comprehend how the system has worked in a traditional environment and imagine it in the cloud environment will prove exceptionally valuable in the near future. The pandemic proved this in real-time, as rapid response and digital transformation showcased the need for fast thinkers with innovative ideas and the ability to adapt. IT managers were forced to operate more as business strategy and management professionals than day-to-day coders and network administrators.
Coding is also considered an evergreen skill. No matter what the changes – from hybridization of the workplace to cloud migration – processes require recoding. Even as companies move into automation, the new scenario will require up-to-date coding, making that skill an evergreen specialty.
Evergreen Skills and the Skills Gap
We have discussed in the past that many small organizations experiencing growth may find themselves without any of the IT knowledge they need. As their operation outgrows the skills of their original team members, companies are forced to fill the skills gap with seasoned professionals. Unfortunately, IT personnel are often costly to hire and employ. When an organization finds that they can not afford the best talent – those with evergreen skills that will continue to benefit the organization as they grow – they settle instead for lesser skilled employees. These individuals may have a narrow skill set that will become obsolete as the company evolves unless they develop evergreen skills that can grow with it.
Many organizations are turning to managed services solutions because of the challenges associated with finding, hiring, and retaining IT professionals with the needed skills. Managed services firms employ a deep bench of professionals with a broad range of skills and expertise in troubleshooting common networking and IT challenges. If your Sarasota area SMB needs more experienced people to help you grow, call Alliance IT today. We will show you how managed services can help you fill the skills gap with dedicated professionals with evergreen skills and capabilities – without the overhead.
