The technology industry has come a long way from being a profession for only a handful of experts to becoming so mainstream that almost everyone wants to be a part of it. IT professionals have become one of the pillars of the modern world as they play a vital role in protecting our most vulnerable private and business information. The tech industry offers lots of high-paying career opportunities, with potential for even more in the future. So if you’re asking yourself, “Is technology a good career path?” and “Is information technology hard?” we would say this depends on your willingness to learn new technologies and quickly adapt to new trends. Now let’s talk about some things you should consider before deciding to follow this career path.
What Is a Good Career?
This is a question most people would answer differently. Is it all about the money, or are there some even more important things to pursue? Before answering these questions, you should think about your short-term and long-term goals. Having a broader picture in mind will make it easier for you to make decisions and focus on the goals you have set. Apart from being very lucrative, information technology careers also offer a lot of flexibility and many options for additional learning and development. If you’re not a fan of the traditional nine-to-five working hour routine and enjoy working night shifts or having a flexible schedule, the IT sector might just be your cup of tea.
Benefits of Information Technology Careers
Information technology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. According to Statista’s recent data, the global IT industry is valued at around five trillion US dollars in 2021, and the numbers are only expected to grow. As the industry expands, there will be even more opportunities and greater benefits for IT experts. We did mention some of them already, but let’s also check some other reasons why people choose to seek their careers in the IT field.
A Constantly Changing Industry
One of the biggest advantages of the IT industry is that it is constantly changing, and there’s always a demand to fill in various tech roles with highly skilled workers. IT professionals have to always stay on top of the latest technology trends in order to have a successful career in tech. They need to keep learning, as the more they know, the better their chances of employment and advancement opportunities will be. The industry has a talent shortage at mid or higher-level positions as there are plenty of IT workers at the graduate level.
No Degree Required
Another great benefit of the IT industry is that you can find a job without a diploma. Instead of chasing a four-year degree, you can get quick training on one of the specific areas of information technology. This can save you lots of time and vast amounts of money you would be spending on college tuition. Nowadays, more and more IT companies are hiring people from various backgrounds and reaping the benefits of having mixed teams. People coming from different backgrounds have different ways of thinking. Besides, if they don’t have much experience in the IT field, they are easier to train and adapt to a specific environment.
A Lucrative Business
In general, careers in technology are very lucrative, and the salaries tend to be very generous. IT graduate jobs pay better than many other jobs, and if you have the right combination of IT certificates, you can go a long way. As your experience grows, so will the salary.
IT Workers Are Needed Everywhere
IT professionals are a vital part of any growing industry, and they are needed everywhere. Given such a range of options, you can decide to start your journey with a start-up company or seek an opportunity in a multinational organization with thousands of employees. As an IT professional, you can work in various fields, such as media, government, banking institutions, etc.
A Good Balance Between Work and Private Life
One of the benefits of pursuing a career in technology is the ability to achieve a good balance between your life and work. People working in IT usually get to shift schedules and adjust the job tasks to their personal daily needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of the IT sector turned to remote work. As an IT professional, you can do your job whenever you are (as long as you have access to a computer), which is of the industry’s main selling points.
Drawbacks to Working in IT
Although there are many benefits to working in IT, there are also some drawbacks to it. Let’s see what those are so that you can get a clearer picture.
Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines
Even though they offer much flexibility and high income, in most cases, jobs in technology are deadline-driven. We already mentioned how quickly the industry is progressing, and IT specialists always need to keep track of that. There is often pressure to finish tasks on time, and the deadlines can sometimes be completely unreasonable compared to the amount of work that needs to be done.
You Have to Keep Learning
As the industry evolves, you have to keep up with the ongoing technology trends and constantly learn new things. In the IT industry, information quickly becomes outdated, which is why it’s essential to keep your education current.
Long Hours
Jobs in IT are very demanding and sometimes require working overnight or on weekends. If you need to perform data migration, install some upgrades, or update the software, you might need to do that outside of the regular working hours. Then there are the various unexpected bugs and glitches that can delay progress and force overtime just to keep the project on track.
Starting an IT Career
Now that you know all the perks of working in the technology industry and some of its disadvantages, you should have a clearer picture of how things work. If you’re still interested in pursuing that path, there are some things you should work on that can give you a good head start.
Build Your Skills
We have already mentioned how the IT sector is one of the fastest-changing industries, and IT workers need to keep learning constantly. Therefore, you need to build your skills as much as you can. Learning SQL to build a website using WordPress is a great start for beginners looking to learn some coding.
Get Certifications
One of the fastest ways of gaining new skills is through various information technology certifications you can find online. The best thing about them is that most only take a few weeks to a couple of months to complete. You can start by applying for entry-level certifications, as those make for a great career foundation.
Create a Good Resume
There are many great career choices in the information technology field, and the first step in starting that journey is creating a good, competitive IT resume. The resume should be a summary of your work experience, skills, and education. It should have a proper format and highlight the most relevant work experience, showing you’re a good fit for the job.
Start Applying for Jobs
It might sound silly, but the sooner you start applying for the jobs, the better are the chances you will get one. Job interviews are a great way of finding out what the new market trends are and what skills are required. Even if you fail the first few times, you will get to know what is expected of you and can focus on those areas for your next interview.
Top Careers in Technology
The tech industry is currently booming, and there is a constant need for skilled workers. We compiled a list of what we think are the best technology careers based on the promising employment growth, salary range, competitive benefits packages, retirement plans, and employee satisfaction ratings. Here’s what they are:
1. Data Scientist
Data is a crucial element of the operation of any major organization. The amount of data we process keeps on enlarging daily, and according to statistics, more than 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are generated worldwide every day. This clarifies why there is a great need for tech professionals who can manage, gather and analyze it. Data scientists process and model data, and their goal is to develop plans of action based on the results they get. If you’re interested in a data scientist role, you should know that it combines statistics, mathematics, and computer science, which is why it is one of the most demanding and highest-paying tech jobs around.
2. Web Developer
This is one of the most attractive career choices in the IT industry, and those who have web development skills are highly appreciated in the technology field. There are three main types of web developers:
- Front-end web developers
- Back-end web developers
- Full-stack web developers
Front-end developers work on the look of the website, and their main goal is to ensure the visitors can easily interact with it. By combining design, programming, and technology, they code the website’s appearance and take care of debugging. On the other hand, back-end developers manage the server-side and handle the technical construction behind the site. Full-stack web developers cover both front and back-end development and can develop both client and server software, so they are in high demand.
3. Software Developer
The largest number of top tech jobs openings falls into this category. This growth is due to the ever-increasing demand for mobile apps and video games. So what exactly do the software developers do? Software developers are the creative masterminds behind apps and programs of all sorts. There are two main categories when it comes to software developers:
- Applications software developers
- System software developers
Those from the first category focus on a specific app or a program and are responsible for developing computer and mobile applications. System software developers create giant networks that help power other programs, and they are focused on operating systems-level software and network distribution software.
4. Computer Systems Analyst
Computer systems analysts, also known as systems designers, are in charge of designing and installing new computer systems. They initiate the system upgrades, configure hardware and software, train end-users, and write technical reports and requirements. If you’re looking for employment opportunities in information technology, you have probably come across the computer systems analyst role. Some of the main responsibilities this role comes with are:
- data mapping
- responding to end-users
- modifying scripting and evaluating the coding
- keeping up-to-date with the latest technological trends
5. Information Security Analyst
According to Statista, there were over a thousand data breaches in 2020 in the US alone. As the number of data breaches increases, so does the need for information security analysts, one of the fastest-growing careers in technology today. They are the ones that install security software and firewalls and also plan and execute security measures needed to ensure that computer networks and systems are adequately secured. A bachelor’s degree in a computer science-related field is required for most information security analyst positions, so keep that in mind if you’re interested in pursuing this career path.
Bottom Line
The life we know today would not be possible without technology and all its solutions to modern problems. Technology has enhanced the quality of our everyday lives and made things a lot less complicated than they used to be. If you’re looking for a job that values innovation and creativity more than anything, technology might be a great career choice for you. “Is technology a good career path?” is one of the biggest concerns of all those who think about going in that direction. Although there are many benefits to it, such as a generous income, a good balance between work and life, and constant professional development, there are also some downsides. Working hours can be long, and there’s a lot of stress involved as IT jobs tend to be deadline-driven.
