IT skills are impermanent in an evolving environment, says AOL CTO

The skills IT workers have today may lose their luster and usefulness by tomorrow, was the message Seth Demsey, CTO of AOL Platforms, told the Wall Street Journal.

In discussing the quickly evolving technology landscape, Mr. Demsey said acquired IT skills aren't necessarily evergreen as software becomes disposable and new tools are rapidly developed.

"Whatever skill you've built, whatever framework you know, it's impermanent," Mr. Demsey told WSJ. "Your success as an individual depends on how able you are to adapt and evolve as the tooling and frameworks and processes around you evolve."

What does this mean for IT professionals and job seekers? Mr. Demsey said those who contribute to open source projects and prioritize continuing education are more attractive to employers and better suited for the environment than individuals who include a laundry list of skills on their resumes.

Continued education is a shared responsibility between employees and employers, Mr. Demsey said. While an individual should take the initiative to enroll in courses or stay up to date with the latest technologies and developments, employers should also offer professional development and encourage employees to keep learning and try new things.

"You need to be not just tolerant but enthusiastic about people spending their time, their actual time at work, doing professional development," Mr. Demsey said.

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