The Right Way To Build A Career In Information Technology

Choosing a career in Information Technology can be overwhelming, especially if you are a fresher who feels swamped by the innumerable opportunities that come your way. There are multiple ways to build a career in IT. It takes a lot more than mere first-hand information to find the right career in an industry that has innumerable directions. I.T jobs in the USA may seem like they are a dime a dozen. Unless you land yourself in the right one, it will be a waste of money, time, and resources.

In this post, we will analyze the promising career paths in the IT sector and then discuss how to get things going with your career.

Career in Information Technology that are currently in demand

1. Data scientist

The job of a data scientist is to derive insights from an organization’s consolidated data. All further decisions made by the organization will be based on these insights. To do his job, a data scientist will deploy various tools and methodologies to collect, clean, process, and accurately interpret the data.

A data scientist’s prowess can be put to use in more ways than one. The prospects of this career look very promising in terms of salary, job openings, and employee satisfaction rates. Furthermore, good data scientists are relatively scarce, and now is the right time to hone your skills if you think you are right for this job.

2. Front end engineer

The prime responsibility of a front-end engineer is to build User Interfaces for websites by using CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. They mostly focus on important aspects such as security, functionality, usability, and accessibility that are vital for any good website.

What are the job requirements for a front end engineer? For starters, you will have to be proficient in coding languages like jQuery, CSS, Java, JavaScript, and HTML.  A good understanding of graphic design applications, attention to detail, and knowledge of server-side frameworks like .Net and Django will be useful to build a career.

3. DevOps engineer

Going by the term, a DevOps engineer handles both the development end and the operational end of a job. A DevOps engineer’s job comprises everything from coding, scripting, integration, project management, deployment, maintenance, and updates.

Hence, it is understandable that a DevOps engineer’s skills list must include proficiency in multiple coding languages. As far as skills are concerned, the sky’s the limit for this career. If you want to become the “go-to” guy when something unexpected happens, this is the job for you!

4. Project manager

The definition of the term is simple: project managers manage projects. But the task itself is very demanding and apt for the person who can shoulder multiple responsibilities at a time. You will also need to know how to handle, guide, and mentor a team of people who will be reporting to you. The biggest challenge of being a project manager is to complete the given project on time and with the promised quality.

Knowledge of Agile and Scrum methodologies and project tools such as Jira, Quip, Trello, and Excel is a necessary requirement.

5. Mobile developer

Of all the information technology jobs in Colorado and other states in the US, mobile developers are the most in demand. These are the people that build apps for companies, so every time you use an app on your phone, you are interacting with a mobile developer’s work.

Also known as an Android or iOS developer, candidates with an eye for design, technical prowess, and attention to visual detail may choose this path.

Guidelines for choosing the right career in Information Technology

So, once you’ve chosen what’s most apt for you, here’s how you get the ball rolling:

1. Identify your niche areas

Identifying your niche or major target areas is the first step to carving your career path. Categories such as training, software development, storage and data, IT management, network and cloud technologies, and information security are some of the biggest arenas in IT. You need to assess which one fits your skills list and stick to that.

2. Customizing your skills

To thrive in this fiercely competitive industry, you will need to make yourself unique with a customized set of skills and certifications that will propel you in your career. Here’s where you have to be choosy about what will make you the master of your domain. You can choose one or multiple vendors to hone your skills and customize your career pathway.

3. Arming yourself with certifications

All important IT vendors furnish four basic certifications:

1. Fundamental certificates: for freshers and those with limited experience.
2. Professional certificates: for entry-level or candidates with a couple of years of experience.
3. Specialty certificates: Given for programs that enhance one’s skills in specific areas. 
4. Mastery certificates: For experienced IT candidates who require additional expertise. 

The overall outlook for IT jobs in USA looks very promising, even though work from home will be the trend for a few more years to come.