Tag: 2021

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Growing your career: permanent & freelance IT Consultants

The Top IT Skills to Master in 2024

The Top IT Skills to Master in 2021
As an IT expert, you must always keep your eyes peeled for the new top IT skills that will help you stay relevant and advance your career.

It’s renew or die in the world of technology. As an IT expert, you must always keep your eyes peeled for the new top IT skills that will help you stay relevant and advance your career. But the constant evolution of IT tools and the shifting business climate brought about by the pandemic can make it difficult. For example to decide where to focus your upskilling efforts in the year ahead.

While softer skills like communication and time management are life-long partners of success; technical knowledge needs to be periodically revisited and updated to keep up with enterprise trends. The rise of data science, the AI boom and the strong momentum of cloud computing are all setting the agenda for the most in-demand IT skills.

So, where to begin? This list is a good starting point for anyone looking to strengthen their CV/resume or redirect their career.

Top IT skills:

Python: Unmatched Versatility and Popularity

Python continues to dominate the programming language landscape, solidifying its position as a must-have skill for IT professionals. With roots dating back to the late 1980s, Python has evolved into the leading language, especially in the developer community. Its applications in data science and machine learning make it indispensable, while its clean syntax remains appealing to coders.

Looking to get your feet wet? Here are some Python projects to try, from beginner to advanced.

SQL: Managing Data in a Connected World

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a domain-specific language for handling data stored in a relational database management system – a database structured in rows and columns in which all data points are related to one another.

Developers and database administrators use the language’s code to perform actions such as inserting, retrieving and deleting data. Thanks to its database structure, SQL also allows for quick data processing and is used by some of the most popular database management systems, like Oracle’s MySQL or Microsoft’s SQL Server. 

Java: A Quarter-Century of Relevance

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Java remains a powerhouse among programming languages. Renowned for its “write once, run anywhere” portability, Java retains its position as one of the top three most popular languages. Its vast ecosystem, ranging from the Spring Framework to enterprise application servers, underscores its adaptability and continual relevance. Regular updates and refinements further emphasize Java’s commitment to staying cutting-edge.

Cloud Computing with AWS and Microsoft Azure: Navigating the Sky

In the post-COVID business world, cloud computing has become more critical than ever. Amazon Web Services (AWS) continues to lead the cloud platform space, with Microsoft Azure as a formidable competitor. Proficiency in either of these platforms enhances career prospects significantly. Whether it’s AWS’s established position or Azure’s rapid strides, having cloud expertise is a valuable asset in today’s tech landscape.

Would you like to know about life in the cloud? Check out our Microsoft Azure career overview and discover all the paths you could take.

Docker: Containerization for Modern Development

Lat but not least, Containerization, with Docker at the forefront, has become essential for future-oriented developers and IT teams. The benefits of scalability, rapid deployment, and enhanced security make Docker a vital skill. Containers enable the creation and deployment of applications in self-contained units, providing efficiency and bug-free operation across diverse computing environments. Understanding Docker’s capabilities is crucial for staying at the cutting edge of modern development practices.

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DSI challenges IT Decision-makers

IT Pros: How to Get Ready for 2021

IT Pros: How to Get Ready for 2021
If one thing can be said about 2020 is that it caught most of us completely by surprise. Here are a few steps that will help you to get ready for 2021.

If one thing can be said about 2020 is that it caught most of us completely by surprise. Sure, epidemiologists had been warning us for ages of an imminent virus outbreak that would put us all up against the ropes. But, as it’s usually the case with visionary doomsayers, they were ignored. Get ready for 2021.

Well, now we have no excuse. As 2020 draws to an end, all of us should take a deep breath and evaluate where we are in relation to where we’d like to get in the upcoming year. It’s time to do some soul-searching and make some plans. And that involves accounting for both the expected and the unexpected. Especially if you are an IT professional.  

The pandemic has made even more evident something that people in the industry had known all along: technology is vital to the success of the modern enterprise. Yet, if something is true about technology, that is that it is constantly changing. Whether you are a front-line support engineer or a CIO whose role is evolving faster than it has over the last 10 years, you will want to make some contingencies to ensure you emerge on top of the wave once the storm is over.  

Here are a few steps that will help you get there.  

Get ready for 2021 – Step 1: Know your tech 

You probably noticed the recent spike in 2021 tech prediction articles cluttering your feeds and inboxes. Yes, it’s that time of the year, and everyone is getting on board. 

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to these proverbial revelations. There’s definitely more truth than hype in—well—most of them. But we get it: you’re busy and don’t necessarily have the time to comb through lists of similar-sounding headlines during your coffee breaks. Well, we did it for you. And here’s our winner. 

When it comes to technology, few institutions can be as trusted as the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). The world’s largest tech association, IEEE’s sole goal is to literally dedicate themselves to “advancing technology for the benefit of humanity”. They recently conducted a survey of CIOs and CTOs at major companies around the world and put numbers to what we already suspected: 

AI and machine learning lead the way as the technologies set to shape the year ahead, with 5G solutions and IoT in second and third position. The main organisational tech challenge, of course, will be coping with the effects of Covid-19.  

Step 2: Conduct an honest self-assessment 

Now that you’re all caught up with the news about the future in general, it’s probably a good time to start thinking about your own future. How are your professional and personal lives compared to what you thought they’d be a year ago? Is what you thought a year ago even applicable anymore? A thorough and honest self-assessment is due. 

Such review includes everything from career development goals to how you manage your time. Is perhaps 2021 the year to go freelance as an It pro? Or perhaps the year to get a prem job? Are you already your own boss and should conduct an audit of your freelance business? How about exploring a career change? There are tons of rewarding opportunities in booming areas like SAP S/4HANA or Microsoft technologies.  

Speculation is key, as sometimes it’s more about the question than the answer. A chat with colleagues and other members of the tech community can also be very beneficial. Helping you broaden your horizons and giving you some food for thought. 

Step 3: Skill up 

Once you have a clearer picture of your current situation, it’s time to work towards your desired one. Holiday downtime is the perfect excuse to do some upskilling. Yes, Netflix and chill sounds more like the holidays, but no one ever got anywhere without a bit of extra effort. The investment will pay in time. 

Take a look at your goals and see what skills you are lacking to achieve them. If you’d like to future-proof your CV or get into a rising career field, you might want to try a crash course to get up-to-speed with AI. Or maybe it’s about time you got certified as a Microsoft professional. How about the top tech skills every IT pro should have? How many of them can you check off your list? 

Don’t forget your soft skills. From working more effectively to strengthening your business skills, it’s these nuances that will give you a competitive edge over other tech professionals. In the fast-moving, ever-changing world of today, knowing your tech is simply not enough. 

Get ready for 2021 – Step 4: Set your targets and go get them 

Last but not least to get ready for 2021, it’s time to polish your image and go after the jobs and missions that will get you to where you want to be. Even if you are currently happy with your job, things like improving your online visibility or optimising your LinkedIn profile can help you a great deal from a professional perspective.  

It might also be a good idea to work on your interview skills.