Not everyone is born with a knack to hack, but most people find technology careers very attractive. Salary potential and job opportunities and the ability to be innovative are some of the factors that attract most college grads to qualify with specialisation in IT and technology.
“Considering the broadening role of technology in business and its prominence in everyday life, as well as the ongoing conversation around opportunities in tech, it’s easy to understand the appeal of the industry,” said John Reed, executive director, Robert Half Technology.
Reed further added: “With a low unemployment rate, and a projected overall salary increase of 5.3 percent in 2016, the widening demand for technology talent makes now a great time for interested job seekers to find their place in the tech field.”
“Many tech jobs require a college degree and training, but some have fewer barriers to entry and can be attractive career paths for those who are looking to transition into the field,” said Reed. “Those who have strong interpersonal skills and the aptitude for technology may be strong candidates for tech support jobs, for example.”
See: 4 Risks You Should Never Take in Your Career
Here’s a list of three key roles in IT, with relevant courses and certification guide for non-IT professionals who are fascinated to be a part of the rapidly growing technology world.
Job Title
2016 Average
Starting
Salary
Description
Transferrable Skills
Help Desk/
Desk Side Support
$35,000
–
$50,250
• Manage service requests relating to all technology, including: workstations, servers, printers, networks and mobile devices
• Certifications such as HDI, Microsoft or CompTIA are sought after by hiring managers
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem-solving abilities
• Customer-friendly attitude
• Ability to be calm in stressful situations
Network Associate/
Network Administrator
$76,250
– $112,000
• Maintain and administer systems and technologies
• Monitor and ensure appropriate performance of systems/technologies and resolve issues
• Provide testing and integration of systems
• Microsoft certified system engineer (MCSE) status or Cisco certified internetwork experts (CCIE) are most typically desired.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Problem-solving abilities
• Detail-oriented
Data Analyst/Report Writer
$ 74,500
–
$114,500
• Analyzing complex data systems and documenting data elements, compiling detailed reports using reporting tools such as Crystal Reports, and making recommendations based on findings.
• Employers seek candidates with experience in major database platforms, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle and IBM DB2.
• Strong analytical, quantitative and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively with data systems teams
• Excel expertise
These tips should help you draw a neat divide between career in IT and your fascination for technology, to decide better on career choices for long-run and not get lured by the salary potential and job appeal.
Furthermore, having worked for different organisations, you might soon notice that the same kind of personalities tend to appear everywhere. There is the big picture visionary, the “nuts and bolts” taskmaster, and the team player. There are also less positive archetypes – but let’s keep it positive.
It’s no different with IT jobs. It takes a certain personality type to, say, code for 10 hours a day and struggle through something not working because of one typo. Are you wondering what your tech archetype is now? Take this quick quiz and all will be revealed if you’re programmed to be a part of the IT industry or not.
News source: RobertHalf.com
Also read: How to Seek Expert Career Advice?
Image credit: flickr.com
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