You’ve heard people say it casually as they describe their future career plans, “I’m going into IT (Information Technology).” The strategy sounds perfect: take advantage of the continual expansion of technology by putting yourself at the center of it.
However, “going into IT” is a broad statement. It’s like saying, “I’m going into science” or “I’m going into business.” To truly chart a career path, you have to make more specific choices.
As a field of study, Information Technology describes a broad range of computer- and tech-related disciplines. Individual positions have vastly different requirements (and, as a result, offer vastly different compensation packages and career prospects).
Meanwhile, the various branches of IT require distinct underlying talents and interests. In other words, you might love one type of IT position and find another completely boring. It’s just a matter of finding the right fit for you.
4 IT Jobs to Consider as You Plan for Your Career
With all that in mind, here are some general categories of Information Technology concentration, along with a sample position within that discipline. You can use it to target the IT career path that best suits your talents and interests.
1. Support
Not everyone is great with technology. Meanwhile, technology keeps taking over more and more aspects of life. That’s bad news for people who struggle with new innovations, but good news for people paid to help them figure it all out.
Here’s where the support personnel come into play. This category of IT professional keep technologies working, and provide help to others trying to use them.
Example Position:
Computer Technical Support Specialist – Keep everyone’s computers running for your employer. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field (computer science, or IT). This is one of the more entry-level IT jobs, so it comes with a relatively lighter salary.
2. Design/Development
This category of IT jobs lets you flex your creative skills. In this field, you would help design and develop various types of technology, from software to hardware.
Example Position:
Mobile Application Developer – Of course, there are lots of options for design. You could design websites, or games, or hardware architecture. This particular position focuses on mobile apps. You’ll likely need a bachelor’s degree for this position, and it includes a slightly more robust median salary than an entry-level position.
3. Networking
The main watchword for much of the recent development of technology has been “interconnectivity.” Everything needs to talk to each other, from computers to smartphones to all our IoT household gadgets. All those connections need to be maintained, which makes networking a key job in the modern economy.
Example Position:
Network Administrator – Design and maintain the communication systems that link computers (and other devices) within an organization. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree (and sometimes a master’s degree for some positions). This area of IT concentration comes with a higher pay scale than the previous two mentioned.
4. Security
The proliferation of technology has provided dramatic boosts in flexibility and productivity, both for businesses and in our personal lives. However, this dynamic comes with a catch. With all the information now digitized and uploaded to the cloud, everything has become fair game for hackers. All this makes security a growing field for IT professionals.
Example Position:
Information Security Analyst – Help create computer security plans for organizations. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in the appropriate field (computer science, network security, etc.), as well as the associated professional certifications. The position also one of the highest paying IT positions of the four mentioned.
Contact Qualified Staffing today to learn more.
Once you select the IT career path that’s perfect for your talents, you still need to find the right position. A strong staffing agency, like Qualified Staffing, can help you accomplish this. They can steer you to the ideal situation for your long-term career development.