Because your iced coffee isn’t the only thing that should be strong.
Summer 2025 is serving up the perfect opportunity to level up your tech skills while everyone else is out-of-office. Whether you’re future-proofing your role, eyeing a career pivot, or just want to stop nodding blankly when someone says “LLM,” this is your moment.
This summer 2025 tech skills checklist is built to help you cut through the noise, focus on what actually matters in tech right now, and get the skills that will matter next. Bonus: whichever tech skill or skills you’re after, we can help you go from curious to capable in whatever time and budget you’re working with.
? Python: Still the Swiss Army knife of tech
Think of Python as the gateway to actually making tech do what you want. It’s the programming language behind the tools you use every day—search engines, recommendation systems, AI assistants—and it’s surprisingly beginner-friendly.
But it’s not just for developers. Python’s popping up everywhere: marketing teams use it to automate reporting, analysts use it to wrangle messy datasets, and product teams use it to prototype smarter features faster. It’s basically the universal remote of modern tech.
If you’re just getting started, a free Python class is an easy way to dip your toes in. From there, you can build real problem-solving muscle with a short course—where you’ll actually write code that does something useful. And if you’re thinking bigger, like a full career switch into data science or engineering, Python is at the core of both our coding and data science bootcamps. That said, even a basic grasp of Python in a workshop can level up your current work—no job change required.
? AI tools: Work smarter, not scared
No, AI isn’t here to steal your job. But it is changing how you’ll do it. And fast.
Knowing how to work alongside tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, or even simple automations is quickly becoming a baseline skill—just like knowing how to use Google once was.
Whether you’re in marketing, product, ops, or strategy, AI fluency will make you faster, sharper, and more adaptable. And no, you don’t have to become a machine learning engineer to stay relevant. Our AI Academy is a great starting point—offering short, practical workshops and classes designed for people in both technical and nontechnical roles. If you want to understand the tools, use them ethically, and actually make them work for you, start there.
? Figma: The design tool that’s not just for designers
You don’t have to be a UX pro to benefit from learning Figma. Whether you’re building wireframes, mapping out customer journeys, or just want to stop hacking together presentations in Google Slides, Figma gives you a faster, cleaner way to think visually and collaborate better.
If you’re new to the tool, check out a free class to get the basics. Want to learn how designers actually use it in product teams? Our UX design short course covers Figma along with the strategy, research, and design thinking that powers great user experiences. And we also have a quick-hit, two-day Figma workshop that covers all the fundamentals. Because learning Figma is a practical upskill—even if you’re not trying to become a full-time designer (though you could, if you wanted to).
? Generative AI + prompt writing: The new communication skill
Good prompts aren’t just about typing into a chatbot—they’re how you guide AI to help you write, brainstorm, plan, design, or even code smarter. It’s like learning to give directions to a very literal intern who happens to have access to the entire internet.
Strong prompt writing can streamline your workflow, sharpen your thinking, and give you a real edge—especially as AI tools get baked into more platforms. If you’re new here (hi, we’ve all been there), our free Prompt Writing 101 class is a great place to learn the basics. Want to go deeper? Check out a career-focused workshop, tailored for marketers, sales, product managers, sales, and beyond. You’ll learn how to write clearer instructions, get better outputs, and avoid the AI “meh” zone.
TL;DR: The skills worth building now
Here’s your recap—because summer’s not going to slow down for you or Q4.
- Python → for automation, analysis, and leveling up workflows
- AI tools → to work smarter (and faster), not harder
- Figma → to communicate visually and collaborate better
- Prompt writing → to get the most out of AI tools
- Career focused AI tools →to take your role from proficient to next-level
You could scroll TikTok for three more months. Maybe you’ll learn something cool. But having hands-on, expert-guided practice with a new tech skill (or two) might look slightly better on your resume. Just pick one, get started, and see where it takes you.
We’ll make it easy to get started:
- Head to the AI Academy
- Explore free tech classes
- Check out our workshops
- Browse resume-boosting short courses
- Explore a career change with a bootcamp
Don’t hold off until back-to-school season. Start now, and your future self (and probably your manager) will thank you. The future’s not waiting—and luckily, neither are you.