WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Developing Your Information Technology Skills
Information Technology Skills
Today, information technology (IT) is the backbone of our digital world. From thousands of interconnected devices that make our daily lives easier to complex systems driving businesses and industries, IT skills have become the key to innovation and progress.
IT skills are diverse and adaptable–they include proficiencies in different technologies, industries, languages, and problem-solving approaches. The skills vary from basic computer skills like internet navigation to advanced skills like computer programming. As innovation and reliance on technology continue to grow, the demand for IT skills continues to increase.
This guide looks at different types of IT skills, how they are used in the workplace, and how you can acquire them.
What Are Information Technology Skills?
IT skills are a wide range of abilities and knowledge of how to design, develop, manage, and maintain software, digital networks, systems, applications and hardware devices.
IT skills are basic computer skills such as internet navigation and Microsoft Office. More complex IT skills may comprise proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, and JavaScript, system administration, and network management.
The skills also include managing databases using platforms like MySQL, Oracle, or SQL, and cloud computing on platforms like AWS, and Microsoft Azure.
Why Are Information Technology Skills Important?
Developing IT skills enables you to expand your career in diverse ways. Because you can improve a company’s efficiency, creativity, and communication, these skills make you valuable to any business that wants to succeed in today’s technology-driven society.
Here are reasons why developing your IT skills is important:
- Digital literacy: Becoming digitally literate means you can effectively utilize various software tools and applications. You can efficiently handle information, enhance productivity, and improve communication in your work environment.
- Solve technical challenges: Having a set of IT skills enables you to tackle and overcome technical hurdles that may arise. Every organization, regardless of its nature, can encounter issues like software glitches or hardware malfunctions. You can swiftly resolve these challenges ensuring minimal disruptions and keep operations running smoothly.
- Digital communication: Today, the ability to communicate is crucial in any work environment. You can effectively communicate through emails, instant messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration platforms. Digital communication plays a role in promoting teamwork, sharing knowledge, and making decisions.
- Data management: IT skills allow you to effectively handle different aspects of data such as data collection, storage, organization, and interpretation. By implementing data management practices, you can ensure data accuracy, maintain its security, and comply with regulations.
- Security awareness: Cybersecurity threats underscore the critical importance of IT skills. With IT skills like network security and incident response, you can create secure systems, detect vulnerabilities and address attacks promptly, protecting your organization from data breaches and cyberattacks.
What Are the Benefits of Having Information Technology Skills?
IT skills are beneficial beyond the IT industry. With emerging technologies, you become more productive and get versatile career options that are globally competitive.
Here are some benefits of having IT skills:
- Job market demand: IT skills open doors to a wide range of career opportunities in various industries. You can work in in-demand industries like software development, cybersecurity, network administration, data analysis, cloud computing, etc.
- Adaptability to change: Technology is constantly evolving, and new tools and technologies are created every day. With IT skills, you become adept at managing change and learn to collaborate with different disciplines at the workplace to implement new challenges.
- Remote work: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the remote workforce constituted 27% of the total U.S. workforce between August and September 2022. Remote work allows you to work from any location, ultimately providing new opportunities for work-life balance. Most IT-related roles can allow for remote or hybrid working environments.
- E-learning and self-development: There are numerous e-learning platforms and online resources that you can use to continuously develop yourself in areas such as IT certifications, learning programming languages, data analytics, and much more. Self-development helps you enhance your skill set and become more marketable.
- Entrepreneurship: IT skills can help you start and manage your business. You can establish an online presence through marketing, create an e-commerce platform, and develop your website. You can also use data insights to streamline business operations and expand your customer reach.
Examples of Information Technology Skills in the Workplace
IT skills such as data analysis, cloud computing, and cybersecurity help businesses remain competitive. The skills also help businesses to improve communication within different departments.
Here are examples of how you can apply IT skills in the workplace:
Data Analysis
Data analysts use tools like Excel, Python, or SQL to organize and analyze data, making sense of large amounts of information. Data analysis helps professionals identify patterns, trends, and customer behaviors, which assist companies with decision-making.
Cybersecurity
Companies hire cybersecurity experts to safeguard their assets. Cybersecurity involves implementing security measures like firewalls and encryption to protect information from external access. By monitoring network traffic and analyzing logs, companies can swiftly respond to any security threats or breaches.
IT Support
IT support professionals resolve issues related to devices, systems, software, and networks promptly to ensure productivity. IT support may include configuring equipment, assisting with software installations, and troubleshooting to identify areas of inefficiency.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing allows users to access and use computing resources, including storage, processing power, and software applications, over internet servers. By utilizing platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, companies can efficiently store, process and manage data and applications without having to pay for the physical hardware.
Project Management
Project managers use IT skills to streamline the planning, communication, and execution of projects. They leverage software tools for scheduling, risk management, data analysis, and reporting, enhancing decision-making and ensuring project success. IT proficiency also makes it easy to engage and collaborate with stakeholders remotely.
Mobile App Development
Mobile developers design and create applications that cater to the needs of users on smartphones and tablets. The apps can range from e-commerce platforms to productivity tools and entertainment services. Businesses use mobile apps to engage with customers, provide personalized experiences, and build loyalty.
Social Media Management
Social media managers help businesses connect with their target audience, build relationships, and showcase their brand through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Social media also serves as a platform for addressing customer inquiries and concerns while demonstrating customer service. Social media management is part of IT skills that help companies to stay relevant and responsive in today's digital world.
How Can I Use Information Technology Skills?
IT skills allow you to explore a wide array of opportunities and confidently and efficiently navigate the world of technology.
- Creating, designing, and maintaining software: Software engineers can develop, design, and manage software applications and systems. With programming language skills such as Python, Java, C++, or JavaScript, they can become front-end developers, back-end developers, or full-stack developers.
- Analyzing data: Data scientists can utilize data to gain insights and make decisions. Proficiency in IT skills such as programming, data handling, statistical analysis, and machine learning help individuals in the field analyze large data sets.
- Securing computer systems and networks: As cybersecurity engineers, individuals' understanding of network security, ethical hacking, and cryptography can help them design security features to protect the assets of their organization from threats and attacks.
- Designing and creating websites: Web developers' proficiencies in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript will enable them to build websites and web applications for their clients.
- Designing and developing mobile apps: With the increasing popularity of smartphones and mobile applications, app developers will be in demand. Your iOS or Android app development expertise will be vital in writing programs for use across different mobile operating systems.
- Database administration: Database administrators will use database management systems such as MySQL, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server to manage, keep, and store their company's data.
- Cloud computing: Cloud architects can use cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud to create, implement and manage cloud-based solutions such as data storage and video streaming platforms.
How Can I Learn Information Technology Skills?
Acquiring IT skills can be a fulfilling and enriching experience. WGU offers programs in the Leavitt School of Health, College of Business, and College of Information Technology that will help you learn these vital skills.
In our programs you will learn how to:
- Access evidence-based data for patients through online databases and professional journals.
- Analyze trends and impacts of emerging technologies on the business.
- Articulate the fundamentals of networking and database concepts for storing and interacting with data.
- Demonstrate Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) practices as they relate to the six activities of the service value chain.
- Demonstrate the latest updates to the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certification accreditation.
- Employ iterative software development tactics, such as agile development, waterfall development, scrum, or other such methodologies.
- Identify a single technology solution for multiple business needs.
- Identify current digital technologies driving interventions across healthcare settings.
- Identify methods to securely transmit data.
- Implement an information technology infrastructure library (ITIL) in organizations that adopt the ITIL framework.
- Integrate new digital technologies driving interventions across health care settings into existing practice for improved processes.
- Lead an organization's information technology infrastructure library (ITIL) practices.
- Leverage technology to record and access data.
- List applicable technologies for communication.
- Monitor existing services to ensure that they are performing correctly.
- Propose the adoption of new digital technologies for improved processes and organizational efficiency.
- Provide solutions to address technology and business issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
When starting your journey in the field of IT, it is important to prioritize skills like computer proficiency and knowledge of operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and software programs like Adobe Photoshop, SketchUp, Blender, and GIMP.
If you're just starting in the field of IT, there are entry-level positions that can help you get your foot in the door.
One option is to pursue a role as an IT support specialist, where you'll be responsible for assisting users with any issues they may encounter and troubleshooting problems that arise. Another possibility is to become a help desk technician, where you'll provide support to users via phone or in person.
According to the Dice Tech Salary report in 2023, the most in-demand IT skills in the job market are managing large data sets, creating cloud-native apps, handling data streams, designing software systems, implementing DevOps practices, and managing cloud workloads.
