Professionals, no matter the career, need to keep their skills up-to-date so they can compete with others on the same path. An essential skill nowadays is tech-savviness. But, if you want to be even more prepared, you should consider retraining and entering a tech profession. Here is why.

Why You Should Learn Tech Skills
It is not a secret that technology has taken over many aspects of our lives, including our house, workplace, entertainment, and much more. With new developments, this will only continue to grow. The first benefit of learning a tech skill is that you will have work opportunities no matter what. It is almost impossible to envision a future without technology.

Another thing is that automation and new technologies are replacing some jobs that humans used to do. They are expected to eliminate professions like customer service and even drivers. Accordingly, the second benefit is that you won’t run the risk of your profession disappearing, at least in the next decade.

Tech skills are also easy to learn because you don’t have to go to university to learn them. You can attend online courses or coding bootcamps, or even study on your own using free resources on the web. On top of all this, the tech industry has some of the highest salaries and incredible benefits and perks. If you are considering retraining for the future of work, tech skills are the route to take.

Data Science
This tech skill is one that needs a high technical level. If you are good at math and statistics, then this may be the correct choice for you. Some of the main responsibilities of data scientists include wrangling data, creating A/B testing models, and designing artificial intelligence algorithms.

These professionals have become in high demand because of data. Everything we do on the Internet generates data. The same goes for everything we do with our smart devices. Data scientists help businesses analyze that data and generate powerful insights that lead to more revenue.

Anyone can learn to be a data scientist, even if they don’t have a technical background, in which case they simply have to put more effort into learning the concepts. Flatiron School offers a complete course to become a data scientist.

Machine Learning Engineer
Machine learning a type of artificial intelligence to program computers and machines to learn. These engineers create models that train the machine. Later, the computer can respond to new data on its own. It is being used in different industries to automatize processes and operations.

For example, in healthcare, many scientists are exploring AI technologies to save lives. They already use machine learning to create an algorithm capable of detecting malignant breast cancer with 99 percent accuracy.

This career also requires some math and statists knowledge, but nothing that you can’t learn. If you want to make an impact in the world, this is probably one of the best technologies to learn right now. You can also become a machine learning engineer with a coding bootcamp or online course. It depends on the company, but most tech giants accept professionals without a bachelor’s degree as long as they prove their skills.

Software Development
Software development is the process of designing, deploying, and maintaining programs, applications, and software in the devices we use every day. Software developers create operating systems that make possible the use of our smartphones and computers. They also develop programs like Microsoft Office and Photoshop.

It is obvious why this skill is in high demand. Many companies even outside of the tech industry need these professionals. Software development is also one of the most popular skills for remote work. You can learn with Coding Dojo’s software engineering course. You can also try out some free courses first to know if is something you like.

Blockchain Literacy

Blockchain is the technology behind cryptocurrency. This technology started with Bitcoin but now has a lot more applications than just cryptocurrencies. Blockchain has the potential to improve security in almost all aspects of online platforms. Everyone should learn how this technology works.

You can start by learning the basics like what is blockchain and how it works. Then move to other concepts like decentralized apps, ledgers, and public and private keys. You can also read about some real applications of these technologies in different industries. Blockchain will be part of our future and it is important to understand it.

For further resources up-to-date , listing the top seven courses where you can learn the fundamentals of blockchain technology for free from edX, Coursera, Udemy, and Pluralsight check out this article from Java programmer Javin Paul.

Guest post from Artur Meyster (Twitter / LinkedIn), who is the CTO of Career Karma (YC W19), an online marketplace that matches career switchers with coding bootcamps. He is also the host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, which features people with non-traditional backgrounds who broke into tech.