Tech Industry Insights: What Employers Look for in IT Professionals

The technology industry is booming. With innovations in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and more, there is a growing demand for skilled IT professionals to help companies leverage these new technologies. However, the needs and priorities of tech employers are constantly evolving. So, what exactly are they looking for when hiring IT talent today?

In this blog, we’ll explore the most in-demand skills, certifications, and attributes employers seek in IT candidates for 2023 and beyond. We’ll also provide actionable tips to help you develop these competencies to stand out and land an IT job. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your tech career, read on for insider perspectives on what it takes to succeed now.

Most In-Demand IT Jobs and Skills

The good news if you’re an IT professional is that this industry is projected to grow much faster tha average over the next decade, with over 550,000 new tech jobs expected by 2029 according to CompTIA. Some of the most in-demand roles include:

• Cloud engineers/architects: With the growth of cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, companies need experts to migrate and manage cloud workloads and     infrastructure. Skills in containers, DevOps, and hybrid/multi-cloud environments are especially valuable.
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning engineers: As companies apply AI to drive insights, efficiencies, and innovations, they need specialists to develop,     implement, and maintain complex algorithms and statistical models. Expertise in languages like Python and frameworks like TensorFlow is key.
• Information security analysts: Protecting systems, networks, and data has never been more critical or more challenging. Infosec pros must stay on top of the latest cyberthreats     and solutions for attack prevention, detection, and recovery to keep assets secure.
• Software developers and quality assurance engineers: Virtually every business relies on custom software, so coders who can build, iterate on, and test secure     enterprise-grade applications in languages like Java and JavaScript are in high demand.
• Data engineers and analysts: As data volumes explode, organizations need experts who can architect databases, develop pipelines to extract/process data, analyze trends, and communicate insights to stakeholders. SQL, Spark, and cloud data platforms are important skills.

Beyond specific technical abilities like the above, many companies also prioritize soft skills and attributes like:

• Communication and collaboration competence
• Creative problem-solving ability
• Adaptability to learn new technologies
• Business acumen and project management skills
• Cultural fit and emotional intelligence

Understanding these hiring priorities will help you stand out from the competitive applicant pool and appeal to recruiters and hiring managers.

Why Certifications Matter

While degrees, technical expertise, and hands-on experience are all important, one of the easiest ways to validate your skills and get an edge is to obtain IT certifications. Not only do certifications demonstrate up-to-date proficiency in core disciplines, but they also show commitment to continued learning according to CompTIA.

Over 80% of hiring managers view IT certifications as a reliable predictor of competence for certain roles. Some top certifications include:

• CompTIA A+: Proves foundation-level knowledge for troubleshooting software/hardware and managing common IT infrastructure. Useful for help desk and desktop     support roles.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect: Validates ability to design and deploy secure cloud-based apps and systems on AWS. Highly valued for cloud     engineering roles.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert: Demonstrates expertise in managing cloud services/architecture on Microsoft Azure. Important for cloud admin and devops positions.
• Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect: Validates cloud architecture skills specifically within Google Cloud environment. Valuable for GCP cloud     roles.
• Certified Ethical Hacker: Demonstrates knowledge of cyberattack methods/vulnerabilities from an attacker's viewpoint. Useful for infosec analysts and managers.
• PMI Project Management Professional (PMP): Industry-standard certification for project managers. Relevant for IT pros looking to advance into IT leadership     roles.

The right certifications provide advantage over the competition and can give your resume a boost. Explore in-demand certification options within your technology niche.

Develop the Right Mindset and Soft Skills Too

While technical qualifications are still imperative for success, adopting the right mindset and developing soft skills matter tremendously too according to the Harvard Business Review. Thse attributes allow you to not just land an IT job but thrive and advance in the right company culture and environment.

Here are some of the top attitudes and competencies to cultivate:

·   Lifelong Learner Mindset: In an industry where new programming languages, cyberthreats, cloud innovations and more emerge constantly, you must commit to ongoing education and skill development to stay relevant. Whether that’s through certifications, seminars, or daily habits like reading tech publications, aim to keep your knowledge fresh.

·   Communication and Collaboration Ability: IT professionals don’t work in isolation - you’ll collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders like engineers, project managers, executives, and customers. Being able to decipher requirements, explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences, document work, and give constructive feedback is pivotal. These “soft skills” are often cited by tech leaders as more critical than proficiency in any single programming language that can be learned.

·  Creative Problem-Solving: When complex technical challenges and issues arise, hiring managers look for IT talent who can think critically to rapidly troubleshoot root causes and weigh alternatives to drive solutions, rather than just follow trouble tickets blindly. Analytical abilities and out-of-the-box thinking are hugely valuable here.

· Business and Financial Acumen: While you need technical mastery, employers also want IT experts who understand how technology delivers value for the business. Whether it’s strategic vision to identify innovation opportunities or grasp of budget resource constraints, apply broader business thinking.

·  Cultural Fit and EQ: IT employees interact closely across the organization. The ability to align with company values while also reading group dynamics, working cooperatively despite differences, and showing emotional maturity all matter. These “soft skills” influence productivity, morale, and team outcomes exponentially.

Make developing these well-rounded competencies and leadership qualities a priority. They enable long-term achievement.

Stand Out: Showcase Your Strengths and Achievements.

While an increasing number of IT roles support remote work arrangements post-2020 enabling access to opportunities nationwide, the competition is still intense and demands credentials that help you stand out says FlexJobs.

Beyond only listing qualifications and skills on your resume, also cite measurable achievements that provide tangible proof of strengths relevant to the target company. For example:

• What critical company systems/software did you architect, build, or improve? What functionality did they enable? What efficiencies or cost savings did you drive?
• What cyberattacks were you able to prevent or mitigate? How did you identify infrastructure weaknesses and strengthen defenses?
• Have you driven the adoption of innovations like AI, automation, or internet-of-things sensors? What quantifiable results did you achieve?
• Have you mentored or trained junior IT team members? Are you recognized as an  expert in emerging tech disciplines prized by employers?

Quantifying contributions in this way captures hiring manager’s attention and underscores how you can quickly deliver value in their role.

Finding Your Next Opportunity

If you've been polishing the sein-demand IT skills and want to explore new, exciting opportunities to propel your career, RemoteHub is an incredible platform. RemoteHub is an innovative job discovery platform specially designed for IT and tech professionals seeking remote, flexible, or hybrid work arrangements.

You can easily discover and filter legitimate remote tech jobs from thousands of startups to leading enterprises, then apply instantly right from your profile. Custom tools even help you schedule interviews and evaluate job offers stress-free.

RemoteHub also provides community forums, expert career advancement resources, and benefits guidance - giving you total support.

As the remote work revolution continues to unfold across the economy, RemoteHub gives tech professionals access to the best opportunities while maintaining flexibility and lifestyle.

Start Exploring Opportunities Today

The demand for skilled IT professionals continues to rise. Organizations need experts who can help select and implement solutions leveraging bleeding-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud platforms, cybersecurity tools and more to drive efficiency, insights, and strategic advantage.

By understanding the most in-deman droles, developing the latest technical skills as well as soft skills like communication and creative problem-solving abilities, showcasing your measurable achievements, and tapping resources like RemoteHub's tech career platform, you’ll be primed for success. The opportunities for upward mobility and fulfilling, high-paying remote or hybrid IT jobs are immense today for professionals with the right capabilities.

It’s an exciting time to propel your tech career and work on meaningful projects while avoiding location constraints or a grinding commute. Get started exploring opportunities tailored for you today!