Every high schooler is required to make a lot of big decisions, including which career path to take.

Individuals with technology skills are highly sought after in today’s workplace. According to a 2016 report, the percentage of jobs requiring medium to high digital skills was 70%. Industries that rely on skilled tech professionals include entertainment, retail, transportation, education, communication, financial services, healthcare and real estate.

If you are a high schooler thinking about a career in technology, you need to consider which skills will be most in-demand in future. Tech is a very broad discipline and there are many options you could pursue. And since this is a field that evolves very fast, you need to keep track of the skills and technologies that will be relevant for the next 10 years or more.

As you prepare for college and the workplace, here are some of the top technology skills you need to learn now:

Technical skills 

Top technical skills of the future include artificial intelligence, data engineering, machine learning, cloud computing, internet of things, cybersecurity, blockchain, robotics and data analytics. You can learn more about these fields by reading books and watching YouTube videos. In addition, you could take a few basic technology courses. This will help you discover what you are truly passionate about before college.   

Analytical skills 

Analytical skills allow you to identify technology problems and fix them. This could be figuring out why a server is down or why a line of code is not working. With an analytical mind, you can even diagnose problems before they happen and institute preventative measures. 

Project management skills

IT professionals often juggle multiple responsibilities and projects while working towards meeting deadlines. A good project manager should be able to set goals and work with teammates to accomplish them. Having great project management skills will make you a suitable fit for multiple careers in technology. 

Curiosity 

Do you find satisfaction in wanting to know how things work and learning new concepts? Such curiosity will take you far not only in technology, but also in other areas of life. The best IT professionals are always eager to learn about the inner workings of devices.      

Communication skills

Contrary to popular belief, technology is not a solitary field. You will often be required to work with different groups and teams. A tech professional should therefore be able to communicate effectively with colleagues, supervisors and customers. Besides developing verbal and written communication skills, you should also hone your active listening techniques.   

An Apprenticeship Program Could Help 

Even if you were the high schooler that chose wisely and went to college for a technology related degree, you may still need on-the-job training before landing your ideal job. Tech One IT’s Technology Apprenticeship Program (TAP) partners with various technology schools and universities. Contact us for more information about these programs, and also to learn more about our program where you acquire on-the-job experience while getting a paycheck.