notacomputergeek

For those of us who have been in the Information Technology field for a long time, we have seen our share of changes. Anybody still punching cards for data processing? No, not unless you have a technology reenactment museum. Creating two-digit variable names to save memory? Using dial-up internet? Changing DIP switches when adding a 2nd hard drive? No, no, and no.

For those of you looking for a job in technology or hiring technology workers, the last 10 years or so is all that matters regarding specific technology skills. In my 44 working years, I’ve forgotten more skills than I know how to do today. But the fact that I’m still supporting technology is because I’ve adapted. Adapting to change can be difficult and exciting. One major change in the last 10 years that can cause frustration is working with online apps, because they can change overnight. How often have you gone to work the next day and the interface has changed? Good luck writing your Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – what you wrote last week is no longer accurate. The use of AI will now transform how we work in the next 5-10 years.

However, this does not discount the other skills people obtained more than 10 years ago. Soft skills, such as leadership, problem solving, communication, time management, resilience, intuition, project management, and teamwork can be far more important than technology skills. Many of these traits are learned and polished over years and decades.

The Law of Accelerating Returns, popularized by Ray Kurzweil, states that technology advancements increase exponentially and the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, is attributed with saying, “the only thing constant is change”. If you are in a field of technology or thinking of joining one, you must realize that adaptability will increase your chances of success. If you don’t adapt, your skills will become outdated, and technological changes will leave you behind.

If you’re hiring, look for more recent skills, but don’t overlook the soft skills built over time and try to find out how adaptable the candidate is. If you’re looking for or have a job in technology, learn to improve adaptability by embracing continuous learning, have an open mindset, stay informed of industry trends, and be curious.