Top 5 Skills Tech Companies Want in 2026

The tech landscape is evolving faster than ever. As we approach 2026, the baseline for entry-level talent is shifting. Here are the top 5 skills we see appearing most frequently in job descriptions on Intern Connect.

1. AI & LLM Literacy

You don't need to be an ML researcher, but you need to know how to use AI tools to accelerate your workflow. Prompt engineering and understanding the limitations of AI models are now essential productivity skills.

2. Cloud Native Fundamentals

AWS, Azure, Google Cloud. Understanding how to deploy an application, manage secrets, and read logs in a cloud environment is often the difference between a "Junior" and a "Mid-level" engineer.

3. Data Fluency

Can you open a CSV and make sense of it? Can you write a basic SQL query? Data is the lifeblood of modern business, and being data-illiterate is no longer an option.

4. Asynchronous Communication

Remote and hybrid work are here to stay. The ability to write clear, concise documentation and updates is a superpower.

5. User Empathy

Understanding that code is a means to an end—helping a user solve a problem—is what separates code monkeys from product engineers.