5 Skills You’ll Need to Be Ready for IoT

The Internet of Things or IoT as it is more commonly referred to today is predicted to bring about another industrial revolution. It is not only predicted that there will be 50 to 200 billion connected devices by 2020, but that global spending on IoT devices and services could rise to as much as $6.2 trillion in the next ten years (stats courtesy CISCO and Intel).

What does this mean for you? Well quite simply, it means that the Internet of Things will be the best thing that has ever happened to your career. So, if you haven’t already begun learning more about what IoT is and how you can be ready to meet the tremendous opportunities of the “IoT Age’, then it is time to wake up folks because you definitely don’t want to be left behind. 

The Essential Skills you will need to succeed in the IoT Industry:

PROGRAMMING SKILLS

The ability to code computer programs has become an almost essential skill in recent times. This skill is particularly critical in the IoT industry because for devices to get connected, they firstly need software to drive them.

Today C, C++, Java and Python are used in the IoT sector, as well as programs like SQL, MySQL, MariaDB and Postgre.

ANALYTICS AND BIG DATA KNOWLEDGE

The one thing that will come out of every connected device will be data. So having the necessary skills to look at the data and make sense of it, will be essential for developers and other IOT players. Get skilled in popular analytic tools like SAS and R and become Big Data-savvy. Professionals who can organize, analyze and architect disparate sources of data and who have experience with Hadoop and Apache Spark are sure to catch the eye of  IoT recruiters.

USER INTERFACE SKILLS

The success of the IoT industry largely depends on a host of connected devices, each requiring a unique user interface (UI). Those who are able to build UI skills around visual design, metrics, analytics, wireframing and prototyping, will be highly valued IoT players.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DEVELOPMENT

With artificial intelligence (AI) exploding right before our eyes, the future of IoT will definitely witness high levels of AI integration, probably more than we can even imagine. Investing in AI skills and being able to apply them to the development of IoT devices, pushing them to address more complicated decisions,  makes one highly marketable.

SECURITY KNOWLEDGE

This last decade, as we witnessed the explosion of the data industry, we saw security issues at the top of the list of priorities of top management. More so in the IoT industry, because consumers will want to be assured that their information is safe. Having security skills to conduct vulnerability assessments, ensuring that data is secured at every level whether it be collection or processing, will be a valuable part of developing IoT devices and the key to the success of the industry.

SUMMING IT UP IN ONE WORD- VERSATILITY

There is no one skill that will help you succeed in your IOT career, but rather a varied skill set that includes the technical skills mentioned above and certain soft skills like associated thinking, communication and collaboration.

Also, as you prepare to upskill and learn the technical skills that will be in high demand in the next few decades, what you will have to always keep in mind is that the IoT industry will evolve as it grows. You, in turn, will have to evolve and expand your skill set in order to keep up with the industry and meet its talent needs. To do this you have to be open to learning new things and constantly challenge yourself to be one step ahead.

In one word, that spells ‘Versatility’.  Being adaptable, doing varied tasks, and continuously upskilling, all the while being ingenious, is the key to a great IoT career path.

Being a part of the IoT industry and building your career within its folds will be a game changer. Invest now in the skills that IoT recruiters are looking for and prepare for the biggest boost your career is ever going to get. The time is now. Are you ready?