Ansible is a highly robust IT automation platform designed to simplify the configuration of systems, provisioning of infrastructure, application deployment, and intra-service orchestration. As an integral part of the 'Tech Skills' category, Ansible possesses a user-friendly nature that eliminates the complexity of dealing with the multitudes of distinct scripts and code needed for each operating system and application. Ansible's playbook drives its operations, using human-readable, declarative programming that orchestrates highly orchestrated IT environments, making it a popular choice among companies.

Companies looking for Ansible skills usually require employees who can streamline various tasks like managing server configurations, automating deployment and continuous integration, maintaining consistent operating systems, and setting up cloud resources. Ideal candidates should be capable of writing Ansible Playbooks for server configuration, using Ansible modules in command lines, setting up a centralized Ansible server for managing client servers, and more. Familiarity with YAML syntax, understanding of underlying principles like idempotency, and ability to manage inventory in Ansible would be beneficial.

Prior experience with system administration tasks, especially on Linux platforms, would act as a sturdy foundational skill for learning Ansible. Also, decent exposure to command line tools, understanding of basic network protocols like SSH, and rudimentary programming knowledge could be an added advantage. Since Ansible is heavily used in DevOps environments, having a background in DevOps methodologies and tools can further accelerate the mastery of Ansible. In addition, exposure to cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure could be beneficial, as Ansible is often used to automate tasks in these environments.

Mastering Ansible can be a valuable asset in the fast-paced world of IT, opening up opportunities in numerous areas, including infrastructure management, application deployment, and many more. As companies continue to seek efficient ways of automating tasks and managing systems, the demand for Ansible skills is expected to grow proportionally.