IT professionals know that the development of technical skills is fundamental and non-negotiable in the development of their careers. The degree to which these technical skills are achieved and applied can be easily measured through tests.
They can also be noted at a glance by simply finding out what tertiary education they have done and what qualifications were achieved at any one of the country's 21 universities.
At the Cape Peninsula University of Technology alone, there are 25 000 students developing their technical skills and preparing themselves for the working world by coming to grips with the technologies, theories and histories of their chosen careers.
But learning about and mastering the subject matter is only one of the necessary talents every IT professional must cultivate. There is a strong human component: essentially eight soft skills that must also be mastered for industry players to excel in their chosen technology fields.
Energy
Whether your technical skills are average or above-average, applying a positive attitude and energy can improve the working environment and your career prospects significantly. Be energised about how you view problems; be positive in your approach to solving them; and show conviction.
Attitude and energy applies as much to what you do as it does to how you do it. It also applies to the interpersonal skills you bring to the workplace. Simply because you are a friendly person does not mean that you automatically have the energy and attitude to be successful in your chosen IT career.
Communication
In any profession, communication is important. The more communicative you are, the more you will find yourself surrounded by people and projects that help you grow your career prospects rather than bog you down with problems and hurdles. Communicating ideas is important; doing so in ways that the people you are talking to will understand is even more so.
In IT, however, there is an added need for written communication as it is important to provide users of systems or products with manuals and information on how to maximise the solution.
Perspective
Keeping perspective when faced with major obstacles is a must. It enables you to see complaints, compliments, issues and non-issues for what they really are.
Understanding the context in which things occur is also important. If neither is done, it becomes difficult to overcome issues; little problems can be blown out of proportion; and solutions mismatched.
Without context, you could find yourself scrambling to chase away the smoke rather than putting out the fire. Worse, without perspective you could be fuelling the fire instead of fighting it.
Business savvy
To ensure a successful, prosperous and long career in IT, it is important to understand the business as well. It is necessary to get a grip on what drives the business, to understand what the business's objectives are and what your role is in getting it there. To effectively do your job, it is necessary to know what your managers and directors want of you and what the company's clients expect of you.
In coming to terms with the business, you must align yourself with it. If you find that alignment is not possible, it is best to move on as you serve no one working for a company that you do not understand or appreciate.
Control
Control relates to how you approach leadership. There must be an understanding and respect for those in positions of leadership in the business. They must be used as mentors to expand your skills and knowledge on as many fronts as possible. Even occasionally, management decisions should be challenged, provided the business stands to benefit.
Responsibility
On the other side of the control coin, those in positions of leadership must apply themselves to sharing their knowledge and they must lead by example. Your leadership ambition must be fuelled by energy, but it must be checked by perspective and context, assisted through communication, and guided by business savvy and control.
Direction
Responsibility for your career is yours and yours alone. Companies cannot be expected to tell you what career you should be following or how to get there. Rather, they should assist in your career growth. This is most effectively done when you align yourself with the business and take responsibility for yourself, your knowledge and your actions.
Generalisation
Technology requires specific skills to be acquired, but to ensure a successful career in IT, you must complement these skills with a generalist approach. Broadening your knowledge and understanding in your chosen field, and coming to terms with the more general concerns that surround it, gives you power to go places. It makes you more marketable to employers and more sellable to customers. While specialists can make money, generalists rule the world.
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