I’ve thought about this many times since I got involved in computers as a full-time occupation (and it occurred to me yet again this past week as we held a couple interviews for an intern spot in our group). It comes up when I see or hear discussions about what a person needs if they want to get into a computer-related job, which I would say are mostly programming (software) or system administration (OS and hardware). What is the one ability or skill that a person must have if they are to excel in these lines of work? What, could you say, is a basic prerequisite ability or skill needed to make it?
I believe it can be answered with a simple question: How are you at problem solving? I’m not talking about Sudoku or Scrabble. I want to know about how you handle tackling problems that you encounter, not just at work, but also in general, in life itself of which work is only a part. How you go about analyzing a broken system (whether it’s a PC or server, or C code for an app, or your truck’s clutch going out, or the home water heater quitting, etc.) and come up with a plan tells me a lot about how you will perform in working in IT.
I feel that this is the absolutely most critical ability that has got me to where I am today. It was a developing factor in my life way before I hit the work force. I think for about any person, it’s adopting an attitude early in life where you decide that you will try to work out a problem on your own (for me, it started out in fixing up my own bikes). It’s about learning how to analyze and think through your situation, look at the tools you have available, consider your options, and see what you yourself can do about it. I’m so grateful for a dad who was a do-it-yourselfer, and I’m trying to instill this attitude in my own children.
I admit, there are some areas in which my first reaction is to call in help (electrician work!). And there are plenty of times when it just finally comes down to having to start a support case. But, I know I’ll make every possible effort to figure any issue out on my own. I don’t think it’s a matter of being too prideful, it’s just in my nature to figure it out on my own.