Hidden Gold for IT Professionals, Educators, and Students: Insights from Stack Overflow Survey

It is undeniable that technological advancements have taken significant changes in the nature of work, resulting in the loss of many jobs and the emergence of new ones. As a result, information technology (IT) job seekers and professionals must be aware of changes required in their respective fields. This study identified and ranked the most-used technologies, such as programming languages, databases, operating systems (OSs), and collaborative tools, specific to twenty-three (23) different IT roles. Furthermore, this study advocates that individuals focus on critical skills required in various domains to achieve career success. Similarly, individuals with a set of valued technical skills may decide whether to change jobs or roles if they are interested in a position that requires their current competence. The findings of this study can be helpful to career counselors, instructors, students, professionals, recruiters, curriculum designers, and decision-makers. © 2014 IEEE.