Pursuing a career in tech? Brush up on these skills first

With many employers across BC competing to hire skilled technology workers, now is a great time to join the province’s thriving tech scene. But before you do, you may want to brush up on some of your hard and soft skills. These are the skills that can be measured, such as on a test, as well as those related to teamwork and decision-making.

Head over to WorkBC’s Blueprint Builder to figure out what courses or certifications you’ll need to be successful in your dream technology job and start with these skills that are often required by tech firms in the region.

C++ and other computing languages

Image: Luis Llerena

C++ is a systems programming language used to create computer programs. If you don’t know what C++ is but you want to be a computer programmer, you’ll need to take a course or two to get started. Other computer languages include Java, JavaScript and SQL, so do some research into the job that interests you and decide which one is the most valuable.

Web analytics

Image: Luis Llerena

Companies that have websites need to know how well their online efforts are working. Are the websites reaching their customers or engaging their audiences? Are they functional? Do they meet the company’s needs? That’s where web analytics come into play. Web designers and developers use web analytics to monitor websites and social channels, evaluate their effectiveness and make changes to fix any issues.

Adobe Creative Cloud

Image: Ingvar Bjork / Shutterstock

Web designers and developers need to know how to use the different design programs available to them. The big one is the Adobe Creative Cloud (formerly known as the Adobe Creative Suite), which includes graphic design, video and web design components. If you’re familiar with technology, you’ve probably already heard of some of Adobe’s products such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. They’re all part of the Creative Cloud, and if you want a technology job that involves any sort of design, you’ll need to know how to use Adobe.

Numerical ability

Image: Negative Space

Depending on the type of technology job you want, you may need varying levels of numeracy. Managers, for example, are often responsible for managing budgets as well as understanding technical coding. Companies might also want technology employees to be able to use numerical reasoning to solve problems. Most tech jobs, from computer programmer, to software engineer, to information systems analyst, require some level of numerical ability, so do the math (or at least brush up on it)!

Soft skills

Image: Morganka / Shutterstock

These are skills that can’t necessarily be measured, like teamwork, the ability to listen and decision-making skills. Technology companies increasingly want employees who are innovative, detail-oriented and creative. Although they can’t test for these skills, jobs such as computer programmer, software engineer, web designer and more all require you to work well with others and think on your feet.

These are just some of the hard and soft skills you’ll need to brush up on to join BC’s thriving technology sector. Visit WorkBC’s Blueprint Builder to learn where you can take classes to improve your skills and take the next step towards finding your fit.