Information Technology is blooming, and with each passing day, many enterprises worldwide are looking to automate business tasks using customized software to cut costs and reduce timeframes.
For this reason, both existing and new software companies are opening their doors to employ IT experts to catch their share of the current market.
Computer Science graduates are expected to keep up with the talent demands that revolve around the scope of these roles, which is why the IT job sector is witnessing massive growth in the USA and the rest of the world.
Switching to an IT career at this time is likely to reward you with higher pay along with other long-term benefits like a strong resume and in-demand skillset. Additionally, if you decide to specialize in machine learning and artificial intelligence, you are looking north of $350,000 in salaries alone.
Here’s a detailed analysis of how switching to an IT career will benefit you in 2022.
You cannot simply switch your career randomly by applying to IT jobs and expect yourself to find a lucrative role.
Even though you can quickly get into the IT field and enjoy more job security with higher payrolls, you still have to consider some things before making this decision.
The first thing you should research is the scope of an Information Technology or Computer Science career in your local market. The best way to explore this is by going through your region’s job portals and checking the ratio of IT-related jobs posted there.
If many roles are available, you should have no problem finding a new one and switching careers to an IT field without worry.
Information Technology and Computer Science require a certain level of skills and prior knowledge for anyone to excel in their careers. Therefore, it is recommended to enhance your skillset before switching to these fields and taking up new jobs.
Polishing skills and having sound knowledge of IT is especially important for people switching careers from entirely different roles. For example, you cannot expect to be a database engineer if you have worked as a graphic designer your entire life.
Therefore, the second thing to do before switching to an IT career should be to audit your skillset.
Your certifications are also necessary for the IT field. A certified IT expert is ten times more likely to be hired than a professional without credentials.
So, what should you do if you do not have any certifications?
We recommend enrolling in short courses and online degrees from reputable firms like Google, Udemy, Udacity, and Coursera to build up your skills and get that certification before moving forward with a career switch.
The final, most crucial thing before switching careers is to grow your network in the IT field. LinkedIn is a gold mine for networking and connections to hiring managers and CEOs for leading software companies.
Accordingly, setting up a LinkedIn profile and connecting with these people can help you gain more exposure to the market and equally present you with career opportunities.
Tip: Keep in mind to upsell yourself using the free LinkedIn Premium trial and send specialized messages to hiring managers to let them know you are on the market and open to IT positions.
Now that you are aware of the prerequisites of an IT Field, it is time we showed you how a career in an IT field could be more rewarding and future-proof for you.
Here’s why switching to an IT career might be the most fantastic choice you will ever make.
In a report published in 2021, most people who graduated with an IT-related degree took jobs starting at $120,000, with specialized experts in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence earning as much as $350,000 a year.
The hiring demands of IT experts are too great as many companies regularly hire talented individuals for various software roles. Therefore, IT professionals hold a secure spot in the job market and can expect enormous growth opportunities if they meet the talent requirements.
As the freelance industry skyrockets and is likely to beat the in-house job market, remote work opportunities for IT experts are also rising. As an IT expert, your primary role will usually be sitting at a desk with a computer and doing your thing.
However, you can also negotiate to work from home or remotely and save time and resources on daily commutes and shared workspaces.
IT experts are dynamic individuals with many different skills that they can employ based on the applications of their roles. Therefore, you can expect a wide variety of jobs in the current market if you choose to move to another position within the scope of your IT career.
Switching jobs based on skills rather than your degree gives you unprecedented career security compared to other roles, say engineering and social sciences.
As an IT professional, you constantly use your skills and improve them each time you sit at your desk. This will often help you acquire new knowledge and grow instead of working a 9-5 routine and being stuck in the same position for years.
The growth opportunity will also enable you to keep up with the latest trends in the market and make the most out of your career accordingly.
Yes, you should switch to an IT career in one sentence, but only if you have the skills and time to hunt for a new job.
By now, you should know what a career in IT needs and what it gives back. Therefore, we recommend sitting around and thinking it over a cup of coffee. Make sure to compare the two choices and what they offer.
Carefully review the prerequisites of the IT field and your current position before making the switch. It will take some time to go through the market altogether, but you can always speed up the process by talking to a well-versed career counselor in the IT field.
