Skip to main content
6 answers
6
Updated 898 views

What are current job prospects like in technology?

This will help me think about what careers I might want to focus on. What are some of the areas where job prospects are strong? Are jobs more common in some areas? Where is demand for workers much higher than supply? Thank you!
#technology #it

[This question was updated by an admin for clarity]

+25 Karma if successful
From: You
To: Friend
Subject: Career question for you

6

6 answers


0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Bhabani’s Answer

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Engineer. AI/Machine Learning Engineers are in high demand as the tech industry shifts its focus toward the emerging field of automation, making AI and Machine Learning gigs the best tech jobs for the future by most measures.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

robert’s Answer

It depends on the field that you choose.  Artificial Intelligence and others are booming, while some of the old traditional are being replaced.

0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Bryan’s Answer

They're good. You'll be able to find work, and once you get experience, you'll be able to make make a good salary. There are many different fields in technology, so it can be difficult to figure out how to get started.


A good way to take that first step is to focus on getting experience in a professional setting even if it does not pay initially. Getting the experience was a big hurdle for me when I was searching for my first job, and there are several ways to get it. You can volunteer for a summer or 6 months working at a school or local business. If you have to make money right away, then the volunteer work will have to be limited so you can focus on the necessities, but keep in mind that even volunteer work can look good on a resume, and it will pay off in a different way later on.


Try to get your hands on any technology you can, and the more variety the better initially. Eventually, once you get exposed to many different aspects of technology--software, hardware, electronics--you'll start to find things that you enjoy. When you find something like that keep the variety going but dig in on those things you like. Focusing on what you like will build on itself because you'll learn more about it and probably will like it more (because you know it better). Keeping yourself out of your comfort zone by getting hands-on experience with lots of new things will make sure that you can get a good idea of what your options are.


If you are interested in the job prospects, you're probably looking for steady employment and earning potential over the long term, and you have probably heard on the news and through others that there is a shortage of employees who are skilled in certain areas. This is good news, but one thing I've noticed over the years is that it's a constantly changing list that has more to do with a short-term burst of activity around a few big companies' chosen technologies. They're trends, so they're good things to know, but sometimes they're also fads and will fade quickly in a year or two. My point here is that today's hot jobs might not even exist 2 years from now. If you are interested in longer term employment in technology, get your hands on everything you can, get some experience doing work even if you don't get paid for it, make sure you stay open to new technologies, and don't fight against changes in technology because if you do, you'll be giving your job away to someone who is willing to learn and do something new.

Bryan recommends the following next steps:

Spend 5 minutes learning about 5 new technologies that you've never heard of before. If you need some ideas, cyber security is getting a ton of attention lately, and I imagine there is a lot of money being spent on that right now. Look into artificial intelligence in a general way, and try to get a handle on a few major areas which are active in AI today. Cyber security and AI are both really getting a lot of attention today, so you'll find a lot of information on those fields. Finding 5 new technologies will be no problem.
Spend 10 minutes learning something new about 3 technologies you already know. This is about getting deeper into things you already are aware of and it helps if you enjoy reading about them and working on them, so try to pick your favorites.
Check out code.org for some software ideas. You don't need more than a browser to get started there and you can spend hours learning. It's kind of fun too.
Help someone you know with a technology problem they are having. This can be anything, and you'll build skills while you get some good experience dealing with technologies when they are not working. If a family member is getting a ton of RoboCalls, see what's out there to help with that. If a friend can't get WiFi when they go to a specific place, see if you figure out why or how. Install OpenSignal on your phone and go find the cell tower where your phone is connected. If you have a family member with a slow laptop. Sit down and figure it out. Google a ton of stuff about it, install Malwarebytes to clean off all the spyware, update it, install your favorite browser on there. Get it working. Don't break it. Leave yourself a trail of breadcrumbs as you work and either use a text editor or note program on your phone or even a piece of paper so you know how to un-do the changes you made. If you're like me, sometimes you'll break stuff and that'll be OK too. Just make sure you fix it before you leave, and also restart it a couple of times after your work just to make sure you didn't leave something broken for them to discover the next day. :) Good luck.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Ryan’s Answer

Job prospects are great! We're currently in a very hot economy so that is helpful but IMO the outlook for technology jobs is great, especially compared to some other industries.

Technology is such a broad term and encompasses everything from iPhone app developer to engineering autonomous vehicles.

If we narrow the scope to "IT" there is still a ton of potential. Currently all eyes are on AI (artificial intelligence), IoT (internet of things - think Amazon Alexa), and various cloud V.S on prem infrastructures options, there has never been a better time.

To Roberts point, building computers and performing hardware repairs has become a commodity. Certainly not a bad place to start but tough to make a lucrative career from.

Next steps: I recommend deciding what kind of tech interests you and Investigate tech companies like Cisco (networking), Microsoft (software), VMWare (virtualization software), Dell Tech (end to end infrastructure, etc. Understand at a high level what business they're in and pursue certification if wanted. You can also learn relevant skills and get industry standard certifications from companies like CompTIA (A+, Network +, etc.). You may be more interested in management/process and look at ITIL as a cert.

0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Billie’s Answer

Job prospects are booming but you are correct, some are booming more than others.  My personal recommendation would be to pursue a path with Cyber Security.   Find an area of security that interests you and pursue a certification in that field.  It is universal that is needed and will continue to grow.  It is also one of the few jobs that isn't quickly offshored by larger corporations.

0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Aleksandar’s Answer

It really depends on what field you are in. If you are looking into what field may have a good future then i would suggest jobs in IT which are related to artificial intelligence, devops, data anayisis ect...

However i would also suggest thinking about what field you may be passionate in, this is important if you want to become succesful in the role.





0