This post is related to https://infotechmentor.com/2025/11/29/top-skills-to-have-in-2026-you-dont-want-to-miss-this/
As mentioned in my previous post, API’s, system knowledge and IT language are sound skills to have in the IT workforce. You sound professional, competent, an expert in your subject etc.
Below are some questions you can ask IT professionals about their apps, websites and systems.
API’s:
- What are the POST and GET calls for this app
- Can you provide me an example of how the POST and GET calls function for this app
- What happens if there is an unexpected data set or message in the POST or GET call
- Can the app or program still function?
- What are the consequences of this API failing to get called or delivered?
- I.e. will a team or vendor get missing or incomplete data? Is there going to be a financial or KPI consequence?
System’s knowledge:
- Can you give me a quick run down on how this app or system works
- Is there a flow chart or diagram available, or can you draw one up for me
- Most likely there won’t be so if someone can explain it to you, you should be thinking about the following
- Get to know where the data is stored. I.e. databases, file storage systems etc
- Get to know how the data is communicated. E.g. API’s, url’s, TCP/SSH, email etc
- Get to know how the data is formed. What is the code / functions in the app that put that data together and get it to submit to the end user or system
- Most likely there won’t be so if someone can explain it to you, you should be thinking about the following
- In your mind you’ll be thinking the following
- Who are the end users and vendor that need to utilise this app and system
- Is there a flow chart or diagram available, or can you draw one up for me
IT language:
- Below are examples of some IT sentences that will make you sound competent in the field of IT ops and engineering
- “What are the top 5 functions of this team, do we have a morning check for each of these functions”
- You will here create a morning check for the team and document the procedures and steps
- “Who are the 5 important people in this IT department. I want to know who has the knowledge, so I can get things explained to me and understand and grasp the aspects of this app / system”
- Here will you document a list of it user’s names and put 3 dot points to each of their names detailing their knowledge and specific niche of the app and system they know about
- “Who are the vendors that provide support for our system?”
- Similar to the 2nd point above, get a list of vendors that provide support or 3rd party expertise
- Get some information about the common names that the team used to reach out to, document these common names and have a chat with these vendors
- Trust me on this one, vendors have literally sent emails asking to get paid for their service first before you speak to team. Get on the front foot first and build a relationship with them if you are new to the IT team
- “What are the top 5 functions of this team, do we have a morning check for each of these functions”
Summary:
- When you first enter a new IT team there are aspects to their ways of working you’ll first need to learn, but there are other things you can immediately learn as well about their people culture, apps, systems and processes
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