5 Ways IT Employees Can Stand Out at Work

In a technical field like IT, it might seem difficult to distinguish yourself from your peers. Savvy tech skills are important, but they’re not always enough if you’re looking to grow in your career. Employers typically value more than just your ability to troubleshoot or write code. Soft skills like initiative, communication, and dependability can be powerful differentiators.

If your goal is to make a strong impression at work, demonstrate your proficiency, and potentially fast-track your path to a promotion, the following five strategies can help you stand out and succeed. Read on to learn more.

1. Be Consistently Reliable

Building trust with your manager starts with being dependable. Showing up on time, staying engaged, and completing tasks on schedule help to prove you can be relied on. Reliability also means being proactive—starting assignments promptly, managing your time well, and communicating if you need help prioritizing tasks.

Mistakes will happen, especially if you’re entering a different role or starting a new job. What matters is how you respond. It’s important to take ownership, resolve the issue, and demonstrate that you’re learning from the experience. Your ability to follow through, even while under pressure, will likely show leaders that you’re someone they can count on.

2. Show Resourcefulness

Problem-solving is often at the core of IT work. Employees who can independently troubleshoot, think outside the box, and seek creative solutions to difficult or unusual problems are particularly valuable.

But being resourceful doesn’t mean doing everything alone. It means knowing how to take initiative, including researching solutions, asking coworkers for input, and referring to trusted technical tools when needed. Resourceful professionals know to save escalations for when they’re truly necessary. Leaders tend to notice team members who exhibit resilience, curiosity, and an innovative mindset.

3. Communicate Effectively

Strong communication skills are essential in IT, especially when translating complex technical concepts to nontechnical audiences.

Consider learning how your manager prefers to receive updates—via email, chat, or in-person check-ins—and keep your progress visible. Clear, concise updates help prevent miscommunication and illustrate that you're organized and accountable.

Depending on who you work with, tailor your language to your audience. Jargon may be fine among IT colleagues, but clarity is essential when talking with stakeholders, leadership, or end users. When you communicate well, it shows, and it often results in better teamwork and trust across the organization.

4. Take Initiative

When your workload allows, look for chances to contribute beyond your assigned duties. Volunteering for new projects or assisting others with their duties during busy periods indicates a team-first attitude and leadership potential.

Think about the unique strengths that you bring to your team or organization. Do you excel at presentation design? Offer to polish your manager’s next slide deck. Notice recurring issues with office technology? Research better equipment options. Small acts of ownership and initiative can lead to promising career opportunities over time.

5. Never Stop Learning

Technology changes fast, and successful IT professionals prioritize continuous learning to keep pace with it.

Explore free webinars, industry blogs, or online courses. Participate in company training sessions or attend IT summits. If you’re ready for a bigger commitment, consider pursuing an IT degree or certification program. Fortunately, WGU’s flexible, online degree programs are designed for working professionals, making it easier to upskill without putting your career on hold.

Let your manager know that you’re interested in learning about or stepping into more advanced responsibilities. For instance, if you currently offer Tier 1 tech support, express your interest in Tier 2 troubleshooting. When you present your goals thoughtfully—and highlight how they might align with your organization’s needs—you’re more likely to get the support you seek. And the more you diversify your IT skill set, the more value you may bring to your organization.

Bonus Tip: Build Cross-Functional Relationships

No matter your specific role, try to forge and maintain strong connections with individuals on different but related teams. For example, if you’re a software developer or engineer and work closely with a user experience (UX) design team, make an effort to learn about their day-to-day tasks or ask about what kinds of challenges they face. Doing so can improve collaboration and foster a community of trust.

Before and during projects, align together on shared goals and frame your work in terms of mutual success. Be open to new ideas and ask questions like, “how can we both meet or exceed our goals?”

Next Steps

Soft skills may not be listed in your job description, but they’re often the key to standing out and achieving career advancement. As you strive to be proactive, build trust, and commit to your professional growth, you position yourself to thrive on a rewarding career path.

But where should you start?

WGU supports learners who want to stand out and level up. Whether you're new to the tech industry or looking to move into a leadership role, WGU’s career-aligned degree programs can help you build a successful IT career and reach new heights. Plus, our competency-based learning model means that you advance through your coursework as quickly as you master the material, potentially saving you time and money.