Starting Your Career In Information Technology - Or Accelerating Your Current One !
Information Technology (IT) careers are a popular choice for many people. Becoming an IT professional has many benefits, including salary potential and job satisfaction, but the industry also shows high demand with a projected growth rate of twenty-two percent by 2020.
If you're interested in pursuing a career in IT, this blog post will show you how to successfully enter the industry! We'll cover what certifications you can use to improve your chances at getting jobs and pay with the goal of helping accelerate your current career path. It's never too soon or too late to start planning for success. In addition, we've compiled links to some helpful resources that will make your journey easy.
What Do You Want To Do In Your Career?
Job titles in IT vary, but they are usually computer-related. The most basic jobs are terminology-based and include Technical Support, Help Desk and Computer Support Specialists. These roles require hands-on technical knowledge to fix or support a computer or network that is having problems. The goal of the role is to enable users to resume normal work activities as quickly as possible. This may involve supporting mobile devices or working with software vendors if the issue was software-related. Keep in mind that this role does not have any management responsibilities like hiring people for the organization (although some of these roles may be considered entry level).
Other IT-related job titles include Database Administrators and Network IT Specialists. The responsibilities of these roles can vary widely and are often more specific to the company they work for. Their duties include maintenance, configuration, development and support of a company's database or network. Network IT Specialists generally have the highest salaries in the industry. Still, it is important to note that not all jobs are called something so precise; some job titles may be generic like "Systems Administrator."
Companies that use computers for business will often require IT professionals to have Computer Support Specialist or Help Desk Specialist certifications. These certifications usually address various aspects of computing including: security, networking, software installation, problem solving and computer safety. The skills involved in these certifications are called technical and require a solid working knowledge of computers, operating systems, networking and other technologies.
Other professional or technical titles that may be useful for IT professionals include: Software Engineer, Analyst, Architect and Network Administrator. If you are an entry-level candidate with an IT degree and little experience, the role of Database Administrator is sometimes the best fit. This role involves designing and creating databases as well as maintaining them.
No matter what job title you choose to focus on in IT, it's important to know how much demand there is for your preferred type of work. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has a good chart that breaks down the projected employment growth for different job titles in IT for the period between 2016 and 2026. You can look at specific job titles in industry sectors such as software and computer systems design or search by state.
It's also important to know how each of these roles could be useful within your desired industry or speciality. For example, a database administrator position is essential for any company that deals with consumer data. Network and computer administrators are also crucial to many companies since they help ensure the right infrastructure is available internally and externally.
How Can Certifications Help?
As you can see from the BLS statistics, IT positions are in high demand. In addition to teaching you about the many paths to success, certifications make the path for working in IT easier. This is because IT professionals are increasingly being required to have additional knowledge and skills that weren't previously required of them. In fact, you may have worked with other individuals who have considerably more skills than you have now but didn't know that they had certification.
The best way to find out if a certification will help your job search is to browse through job vacancies at software and computer training companies like ours. Software and computer training companies usually create specific job descriptions for the positions they are looking to fill. This is a far more accurate way to gauge demand for certifications rather than relying on a generic overview from the BLS.
Since IT jobs are plentiful, you will want to start with certifications that specifically address skills that are needed by software and computer companies and businesses. Some of these certifications include Microsoft courses and Oracle courses (depending on the company). Other good ones include Cisco courses, Linux courses or even Security+ or Network+ certifications. For example, according to the BLS, demand for security roles is projected to grow 14% by 2022. Do you have the right skills to succeed? It's time to take the first step!
In addition to certifications, it's important to have the right qualifications that show employers that you are capable of handling various computer-based tasks. For example, there are many preparation courses available for IT professionals that train them in how to interface with a database, build a computer network or troubleshoot software applications. If you're interested in pursuing a career in IT, these courses will help you find out if your qualifications are enough for one of these roles. If a new career as an IT specialist is your first choice, then these courses can help you prepare for the exam.
What Does It Take to Become an IT Professional?
In order to work in an IT role, it's important to have some of the skills mentioned above. You'll need at least a high school diploma and will likely want some additional training or certifications. While many of these professional skills are obtained through on-the-job training, many employers prefer people with solid formal education or training for working with computer systems and software.
According to the BLS, the number of ITrelated jobs has increased about 10% since 2004. In fact, there are more than 700,000 IT related jobs currently up for grabs. Searching for certifications and developing your skills is a great way to get started in this booming industry.
Luckily, getting an IT-related job is easier than ever thanks to a variety of digital tools that can help you prepare for the position you want. One of the best tools for preparing for an IT role is an internship where you'll have hands-on experience in a specific area such as Business Intelligence or Server Administration.
In addition to technical aspects such as certification, it's also important to take intelligence tests that are specifically aligned with your job. For example, domain knowledge like Microsoft Office is a great skill that's in high demand. Job candidates who have higher than average scores on site-related and functional competency tests will be preferred over less qualified individuals.
While you can't expect to apply for a position and get it immediately, you can still find many entry-level jobs or internships for IT professionals by browsing through our website. As we mentioned before, software and computer training companies like ours usually create specific job descriptions for the positions they are looking to fill.
Conclusion
It's difficult to know where the career path will lead, but you can be sure that IT-related careers are going to be in demand for the foreseeable future. To make it easier for you to find the right path, we suggest that you create a list of certifications and combine it with specific technical skills according to what employers seem interested in. You will want to focus on developing those skills first and foremost if you want a well-paying job in IT.
While there is a lot of flexibility with available jobs within this niche field, getting started with the right credentials is a great way to ensure your success as an IT professional.