A career in information technology (IT) requires a combination of technical expertise and professional skills to excel. While the technical skills come with deep learning, studying, earning certifications, hands-on experience and sometimes a degree, the professional skills that lend themselves to a career in tech are likely skills you already have!

It may seem simpler to stick to your current job role in lieu of a career in tech, but before you draw that conclusion, look at this list of professional and durable skills that are valuable in the IT field. You may be surprised how many of the items are transferable from your current job role. Since professional skills are a big part of being ready for a career in tech, you’re already halfway to your goal!

Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills

Encountering problems is inevitable in every job role, and the way you’ve battled issues at jobs in the past can help you transition into a problem-solving and analytical IT professional. It’s important for IT pros to possess these skills to provide efficient, secure and accurate services to their organizations:

• Critical thinking: This is the ability to analyze problems, identify root causes and develop effective solutions. IT systems are complex and interconnected. With critical thinking skills, professionals can examine and comprehend these systems' components to anticipate potential issues.
• Attention to detail: Have you ever created a new process at your current job where you had to be extremely detail-oriented? IT pros are known for doing the same and being meticulous in coding, system configurations and security protocols to avoid errors.

Like an IT pro, you’ve likely had to conquer problems with a thorough and innovative solution in the past. Your problem-solving experience will transfer well into a career in tech!

Durable Skills

Proper durable skills – in any job role – simply make you more enjoyable to work with. Whether you’ve worked in a customer-facing job, a physical job or an office job, you’ve had to manage your own professional skills to collaborate well with others.

See how these durable skills are essential for IT professionals to succeed:

• Communication: IT professionals often need to explain complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders. Strong communication skills are essential to making intricate concepts easy to understand, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
• Teamwork: IT pros must have the ability to collaborate effectively with team members, clients and other departments to achieve common goals. Teamwork encourages knowledge sharing within the team, fostering a learning environment that benefits everyone.
• Adaptability: The world of IT is ever-changing, and it's important for professionals to keep up with the latest programming languages, tools and methodologies. Being adaptable is key to embracing new technologies and staying relevant in the field.
• Time management: Efficiently managing time and priorities is key, especially when dealing with multiple projects or tasks. Time management is imperative to professional success, but especially as an IT pro when you need to be efficient in your tasks.
• Customer service: For IT professionals who provide user support, customer service skills are crucial in managing user issues with patience and professionalism. This approach enhances overall user satisfaction.

IT professionals often work in multidisciplinary teams and interact with clients and end-users. Durable skills enable them to collaborate, communicate effectively, adapt to change, manage their time efficiently and provide excellent service to clients and users.

Project Management

Project management isn’t just something you encounter in any job role, but in your personal life too! We are all project managers in our own lives. Whether that involves children’s schedules, pet feedings, homework and studying or cleaning and chores – you are managing schedules and optimizing timelines every day. Here’s how IT pros utilize project management skills:

• Organization: In a tech career, you work hard to structure tasks, set timelines and organize resources for successful project completion. Being organized helps your team plan and manage resources efficiently and ensure that projects stay on schedule.

• Leadership: Leadership skills enable IT professionals to inspire and guide members of the organization that are apprehensive about technology. If you’ve successfully led projects in the past, you bring a calm and cool demeanor to the workplace.

You’re likely more of a project manager than you give yourself credit for! Those organization and leadership skills will serve you well in a tech career.

Desire to Learn

Interest in expanding your knowledge of your job or hobbies is an admirable quality. Being a proactive learner and explorer can significantly improve your effectiveness as an IT professional. These characteristics naturally lend themselves to successful IT pros:

• Curiosity: A true passion for learning motivates you to stay informed about the newest technologies and tools and keep up with the latest trends. Adopting a curious mindset also motivates you to ask questions and seek clarifications when needed.
• Understanding of business processes: By understanding how businesses function, you can better comprehend the challenges faced by teams at your organization. Your thirst for knowledge not only makes you a good IT professional, but also a valuable contributor to your organization's growth and success.

After looking at these qualities in a different light, you’re probably pleasantly surprised to discover you have a lot more in common with seasoned IT professionals than you think! Combining technical expertise with these professional skills like these enhances an IT professional's ability to collaborate, innovate and contribute effectively to their organization's success.