Each year seems to bring a new list of the hottest jobs skills in the IT market, and every year there are a few of those skills that are there every year. For the year 2020, cybersecurity seems to be the hottest trend among job skills, while virtualization and storage remain key skill sets. Either way, a new year is a good time to take stock of your current skill set and see how you align with the hottest skills today. If you are lacking in some of the skill areas, you can find some training to get up to speed or find ways to expand your knowledge by working with someone on your current team with the skills you want.
On the job training is very helpful in bringing your skills up to par with the latest and greatest if you have a company that is willing to let you do something out of your comfort zone. In order to get better at certain skills, you may have to get out of your comfort zone and learn to do things you haven’t done before. Making mistakes and learning from them (as long as it’s in a non-production environment!) will help you to build up the skills you want which may be on the hot skills list for 2020.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning
AI has become a hot topic that has been debated by some as good, while others think it is bad. Those in the category of debating AI as a bad thing are most concerned about human jobs being replaced. While those who think it is good, see it as a way to get more done and done more efficiently. Automation has a real advantage in the datacenter space. Automating tasks that need to be done on a daily basis can save time and eliminate human error. Embrace this technology and don’t see it as a threat to your job, instead learn iti and become proficient at the skill and it will only enhance your resume.
Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)
HCI continues to be a highly sought after skill set in the tech industry. Many organizations have adopted this datacenter technology to consolidate their infrastructure into a 2U form factor. What is even more enticing about HCI is the ability to scale on demand, without the typical red tape and procurement process that comes with a traditional hardware upgrade or scale out. HCI companies such as Nutanix, Cohesity, HP (Simplivity) and Cisco (UCS) all offer training on their platforms so you can get your skills up to speed quickly.
Python
The open-source language of choice for many developers in the AI space, Python is one skill you should learn if you can. Having a good knowledge and hands on experience with a programming language can vault your resume to the top of the pile. Python is also considered one of the easier languages to learn as a beginner. If you want to get on board with Python, check out Mark Myers book, it is full of exercises and presents an easy way to learn.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS has become an industry leader in the cloud space. Their AWS cloud offering includes multiple services like cloud computing, storage, developer tools and more. Learning AWS is easy as Amazon offers some free training and entry level certifications that won’t break the bank. Scaling on demand within AWS is very simple and an attractive option for smaller shops that don’t have the power space and cooling to manage their own datacenter. Becoming proficient with AWS and their cloud offerings will make you a very attractive candidate now and in the years to come.
Linux
Created by Linus Torvalds in 1991, Linux has become a popular operating system for developers and mobile platforms alike. Currently, Linux is the OS behind the Android OS as well as the popular Chrome OS which powers Chromebooks and tables. What is great about Linux is you can make it your own. By downloading the OS, you can make kernel level changes to suit your needs. Learning Linux can be very valuable as more and more organizations turn to open-source software for their OS needs.
Software Defined Datacenter
The datacenter is ever-evolving. Each year there is something new in the way of the software defined datacenter. What used to be clunky and not cost effective datacenter space is now streamlined and agile thanks to hardware abstraction. Companies like VMware, Microsoft and Nutanix have fine tuned their hypervisor solutions to provide the best bang for your buck in the datacenter. Software Defined Networking (SDN) is also something that has come to the forefront of technology today. With VMware’s NSX (formerly Nicira Networks), micro-segmentation allows for a more robust networking solution that eliminates the hairpinning of datacenter networks of old. Learn more about SDDC by visiting VMware’s SDDC site that is full of good information and options for training as well.
