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What are the different kinds of careers you can get from Information Technology?
I'm not fully sure if there are different kinds of positions or careers that you can work in information Technology. If there are different kinds of positions could you name them for me and give me a description of what else there are?
16 answers
Updated
Nick’s Answer
Hi Raymond, Information Technology has many areas and opportunities! I'll give you some examples below, but keep in mind that you don't have to make up your mind about which one you want to do right away. Many of these share common skills and technologies you need to learn.
Software Engineer/Developer/Programmer - A lot of times when you hear people talk about IT jobs, this is the first thing that comes to mind. Being a software engineer means designing systems and writing code that helps accomplish a goal. This could mean software to help a business, the apps people use on their phones, or backend systems that make an Airline work! Software is everywhere in our lives, only 40% of software engineers work for "software companies", the rest work for banks, hotels, airlines, and other businesses to build the software they use in their companies.
IT Administration - This is a blanket term that roughly refers to the people who make the computers, software and websites at a company or organization work for their users. From schools and non-profit organizations to the largest companies in the world, everyone uses computers, email, phones and websites to do their job. An IT Administrator could need to handle everything from creating an account when a new person joins a company to fixing the WI-FI in the cafeteria.
Project Manager - Project Managers are responsible for organizing the work that others do and building a plan/schedule to make sure everything gets done the way it should and on time. This role can look different depending on the company and specifics of what you work on, but for most people, it involves being organized, writing plans and meeting with everyone involved on a regular basis. Project Managers exist outside of IT, but they are an important part of keeping IT organizations moving forward.
Network Engineer - Network engineering is a specific part of IT that involves the actual connections between computers, phones, websites and the internet. It's one of those roles that really really important but almost invisible unless something is going wrong. When you see pictures of big data centers or giant closets full of neatly arranged cables all plugged in somewhere, that's the domain of the Network Engineer.
Designer - It's easy to focus on the "Technology" side of IT, but often times it's the Human side that is critical to success. A designer in the work of IT is responsible for figuring out how a user is going to actually use the thing that's being built. From the layout of buttons in an app to the spinning logo you see when loading a video, a designer has to think about how all of these things impact the user and make sure they have the best experience possible. A little bit of artistic talent goes a long way with this role, but it's not critical.
Quality Assurance - These are the specialists who make sure that things work. If it's a website, they test whether it works and come up with strategies to monitor for if it goes down. If it's an app, they try everything to make sure it works, but also try the app on lots of different phones to make sure it works on all of them. This role is sometimes called being a "Quality Assurance Engineer" or a "Software Development Engineer in Test"
Software Engineer/Developer/Programmer - A lot of times when you hear people talk about IT jobs, this is the first thing that comes to mind. Being a software engineer means designing systems and writing code that helps accomplish a goal. This could mean software to help a business, the apps people use on their phones, or backend systems that make an Airline work! Software is everywhere in our lives, only 40% of software engineers work for "software companies", the rest work for banks, hotels, airlines, and other businesses to build the software they use in their companies.
IT Administration - This is a blanket term that roughly refers to the people who make the computers, software and websites at a company or organization work for their users. From schools and non-profit organizations to the largest companies in the world, everyone uses computers, email, phones and websites to do their job. An IT Administrator could need to handle everything from creating an account when a new person joins a company to fixing the WI-FI in the cafeteria.
Project Manager - Project Managers are responsible for organizing the work that others do and building a plan/schedule to make sure everything gets done the way it should and on time. This role can look different depending on the company and specifics of what you work on, but for most people, it involves being organized, writing plans and meeting with everyone involved on a regular basis. Project Managers exist outside of IT, but they are an important part of keeping IT organizations moving forward.
Network Engineer - Network engineering is a specific part of IT that involves the actual connections between computers, phones, websites and the internet. It's one of those roles that really really important but almost invisible unless something is going wrong. When you see pictures of big data centers or giant closets full of neatly arranged cables all plugged in somewhere, that's the domain of the Network Engineer.
Designer - It's easy to focus on the "Technology" side of IT, but often times it's the Human side that is critical to success. A designer in the work of IT is responsible for figuring out how a user is going to actually use the thing that's being built. From the layout of buttons in an app to the spinning logo you see when loading a video, a designer has to think about how all of these things impact the user and make sure they have the best experience possible. A little bit of artistic talent goes a long way with this role, but it's not critical.
Quality Assurance - These are the specialists who make sure that things work. If it's a website, they test whether it works and come up with strategies to monitor for if it goes down. If it's an app, they try everything to make sure it works, but also try the app on lots of different phones to make sure it works on all of them. This role is sometimes called being a "Quality Assurance Engineer" or a "Software Development Engineer in Test"
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Jeffrey’s Answer
Hi Raymond - I see you have received excellent advice and information from the earlier answers. I agree with the points they have covered but would also offer thinking about how your personal strengths connect to a future in IT. Two different ideas would be a career in Sales or Training based on selling or upskilling people on Information Technology.
If you enjoy talking to people about ideas and winning them over to a solution that ultimately helps them solve business problems; Sales might be a good fit. Similarly - If you enjoy learning and describing how things work to people who want to elevate their knowledge and help advance their careers, training might be an excellent fit.
The great news is there are unlimited opportunities across IT and I hope you find the one that matches you personality and passion!
If you enjoy talking to people about ideas and winning them over to a solution that ultimately helps them solve business problems; Sales might be a good fit. Similarly - If you enjoy learning and describing how things work to people who want to elevate their knowledge and help advance their careers, training might be an excellent fit.
The great news is there are unlimited opportunities across IT and I hope you find the one that matches you personality and passion!
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Chirayu’s Answer
With Information Technology you can get a background to work as Database Administrator and / or architects. Businesses nowadays collects massive amounts data and that will also need to be analyzed. Database Administrator help store, secure and also organize that data. Some job functions include creating backups of data and recovering lost data. Permissions are valid and up to date for the applications and users who use them. Various opportunities in this role and job growth is immense with every business moving to the cloud to store data and helping the companies analyze and store data from the data it collects.
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Ryan’s Answer
Hey Raymond,
IT is an expansive career encompassing many career paths from technical roles to more business-oriented positions. Here are a few significant categories for you to research:
Software Developer, Web Developer, Systems Administrator, Network Administrator, IT Support , Database Administrator, IT Security Analyst, IT Project Manager, Data Scientist, IT Consultant, UI/UX Designer, Mobile App Developer, Game Developer, Cloud Solutions Architect
Remember as the technology landscape evolves, new IT roles and specialties will likely emerge, offering even more career opportunities.
Each of these areas requires a different set of skills, and it's crucial to evaluate which one aligns best with your strengths and preferences.
For instance, if you're someone who loves problem-solving, has a keen eye for detail, and enjoys developing functional applications, you might be more inclined toward software development. On the other hand, if you have a strong background in mathematics and statistics and enjoy extracting insights from data, a data scientist role could be more suitable for you.
It's also important to consider your personal values and long-term goals when choosing a career path. Do you value creativity, innovation, or helping others? Are you looking for a stable job with a clear growth trajectory, or are you more interested in the flexibility to work on different projects and explore new technologies? Reflecting on these questions can help you identify the IT career that resonates with your unique attributes and aspirations.
To make an informed decision, spend some time researching the various IT roles, talking to professionals in the field, and, if possible, gaining hands-on experience through internships or part-time work. As you explore your options and gain a better understanding of your strengths and interests, you'll be better equipped to choose the right IT career path that aligns with your individual attributes and goals.
IT is an expansive career encompassing many career paths from technical roles to more business-oriented positions. Here are a few significant categories for you to research:
Software Developer, Web Developer, Systems Administrator, Network Administrator, IT Support , Database Administrator, IT Security Analyst, IT Project Manager, Data Scientist, IT Consultant, UI/UX Designer, Mobile App Developer, Game Developer, Cloud Solutions Architect
Remember as the technology landscape evolves, new IT roles and specialties will likely emerge, offering even more career opportunities.
Each of these areas requires a different set of skills, and it's crucial to evaluate which one aligns best with your strengths and preferences.
For instance, if you're someone who loves problem-solving, has a keen eye for detail, and enjoys developing functional applications, you might be more inclined toward software development. On the other hand, if you have a strong background in mathematics and statistics and enjoy extracting insights from data, a data scientist role could be more suitable for you.
It's also important to consider your personal values and long-term goals when choosing a career path. Do you value creativity, innovation, or helping others? Are you looking for a stable job with a clear growth trajectory, or are you more interested in the flexibility to work on different projects and explore new technologies? Reflecting on these questions can help you identify the IT career that resonates with your unique attributes and aspirations.
To make an informed decision, spend some time researching the various IT roles, talking to professionals in the field, and, if possible, gaining hands-on experience through internships or part-time work. As you explore your options and gain a better understanding of your strengths and interests, you'll be better equipped to choose the right IT career path that aligns with your individual attributes and goals.
Updated
Austin’s Answer
Hi Raymond,
Excellent advice from Nick and Rebecca, something I would recommend you internalize is what interests you about the IT field generally? Taking a step back there are multiple disciplines within IT that you could potentially explore:
-Development/R&D: Including developing and writing code, developing software and solutions, managing a product, managing teams of developers etc. This would be geared towards the technical side of the business.
-Support/Customer Success: Helping others realize value from their IT, troubleshooting when people have issues with their devices or apps, helping people navigate a new device or app. This would be a blend of technical and customer support related work.
-Professional Services: Installing a new device, app or service, helping people answer the questions on why they are needing x or y solution. This also blends technical with business acumen.
-Sales: Selling a product or service to a customer, articulating how that product or service solves a problem for the customer and why you solution is the best choice. This would naturally be the sales side of the business.
-Internal IT: Represents a blend of the the support, professional services and business aspects with multiple roles available from architects to project managers etc.
-Business: Helping run the operations of an IT business, supply chain, finance, legal etc. All of the items that make a business run but with a bent towards IT and understanding the fundamentals of IT as the main drivers of the business
Those are just a few examples but if you can zero in on what about IT you find interesting there are countless avenues available to you.
Excellent advice from Nick and Rebecca, something I would recommend you internalize is what interests you about the IT field generally? Taking a step back there are multiple disciplines within IT that you could potentially explore:
-Development/R&D: Including developing and writing code, developing software and solutions, managing a product, managing teams of developers etc. This would be geared towards the technical side of the business.
-Support/Customer Success: Helping others realize value from their IT, troubleshooting when people have issues with their devices or apps, helping people navigate a new device or app. This would be a blend of technical and customer support related work.
-Professional Services: Installing a new device, app or service, helping people answer the questions on why they are needing x or y solution. This also blends technical with business acumen.
-Sales: Selling a product or service to a customer, articulating how that product or service solves a problem for the customer and why you solution is the best choice. This would naturally be the sales side of the business.
-Internal IT: Represents a blend of the the support, professional services and business aspects with multiple roles available from architects to project managers etc.
-Business: Helping run the operations of an IT business, supply chain, finance, legal etc. All of the items that make a business run but with a bent towards IT and understanding the fundamentals of IT as the main drivers of the business
Those are just a few examples but if you can zero in on what about IT you find interesting there are countless avenues available to you.
Updated
Leslie’s Answer
Hi Raymond. AT&T has many positions where your skills and credentials can be transferable. There are Engineering, SENIOR-TECHNICAL PROCESS/QUALITY, Manager Network Services just to name a few. Your Information Technology background carries quite a bit of leverage. Once you get in the door, you can move around and advance even. AT&T is looking for talented, motivated employees like yourself. You may want to be open to doing a variety of things as the world of technology has tremendous opportunities. You'll find that in many positions, your training can be utilized at AT&T. Good luck!
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Wilson’s Answer
The answers given are good answers, but I like to give descriptions on what branches you can pursue if you want to do Cybersecurity:
- Penetration Tester: You will be "hacking" a computer system with permission from an entity or company. It is used to evaluate the entity/company's system security for determining how secure their systems are or for maintaining security compliance.
- Security Analyst: Identify/Monitor computer systems and networks to protect them from threats.
- Security Engineer: Develop/Supervise computer security systems to prevent any breaches and cybercrime.
- Security Consultant: Identify/Evaluate any security and risk to develop solutions to advise clients on.
- Penetration Tester: You will be "hacking" a computer system with permission from an entity or company. It is used to evaluate the entity/company's system security for determining how secure their systems are or for maintaining security compliance.
- Security Analyst: Identify/Monitor computer systems and networks to protect them from threats.
- Security Engineer: Develop/Supervise computer security systems to prevent any breaches and cybercrime.
- Security Consultant: Identify/Evaluate any security and risk to develop solutions to advise clients on.
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Simone’s Answer
There are many careers you can consider in tech when working for a SaaS software company from sales, to devops, HR to marketing to project manager. There are lots of roles in tech that are non-technical, you don't have to be coder to excel in the IT industry. Many at PagerDuty have interesting backgrounds, we have folks that hold various degrees from business, to computer science, to natural physics and history and they all landed in tech because they pursued what interests them, researched articles in the space, attended tech conferences and spoke to as many people in the tech space which may land you an internship or great starter role and provide opportunities to advance.
Updated
Roxanne’s Answer
Sharing a few IT areas:
Cloud computing
Cybersecurity
Data Intelligence
Software development
Systems Engineering
IT Project Management
Database Management
Tech support
Cloud computing
Cybersecurity
Data Intelligence
Software development
Systems Engineering
IT Project Management
Database Management
Tech support
Updated
Wojciech’s Answer
There are many different career options in the field of Information Technology, including:
Software development and programming, including roles such as web developer, mobile developer, and software engineer.
Network and system administration, including roles such as network administrator, system administrator, and network engineer.
Database administration, including roles such as database administrator and data analyst.
Cybersecurity, including roles such as security analyst, security engineer, and penetration tester.
IT project management, including roles such as IT project manager and IT consultant.
Technical support, including roles such as technical support specialist and helpdesk technician.
Business analysis, including roles such as business analyst and systems analyst.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning, including roles such as Machine learning engineer, AI Engineer, Data scientist.
These are just a few examples of the many different career options available in the field of IT.
Software development and programming, including roles such as web developer, mobile developer, and software engineer.
Network and system administration, including roles such as network administrator, system administrator, and network engineer.
Database administration, including roles such as database administrator and data analyst.
Cybersecurity, including roles such as security analyst, security engineer, and penetration tester.
IT project management, including roles such as IT project manager and IT consultant.
Technical support, including roles such as technical support specialist and helpdesk technician.
Business analysis, including roles such as business analyst and systems analyst.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning, including roles such as Machine learning engineer, AI Engineer, Data scientist.
These are just a few examples of the many different career options available in the field of IT.
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Liz’s Answer
Hi there! IT Companies are made up of more than just software developers. Here are some examples of roles outside of software development:
-Customer Success
-Customer Support
-Sales
-Professional Services
-Marketing Manager
-Data Analytics
-Project Manager
-Finance
-HR
-Sales Operations
-Legal
-Data Engineer
-Cyber Security
-Data Science
-Customer Success
-Customer Support
-Sales
-Professional Services
-Marketing Manager
-Data Analytics
-Project Manager
-Finance
-HR
-Sales Operations
-Legal
-Data Engineer
-Cyber Security
-Data Science
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Ben’s Answer
Hi Raymond,
It sounds like you are interested in IT but unsure where or what you should be looking as specifically. First of all, it's fantastic you are considering a career in IT. It can be fulfilling and rewarding in equal measure.
Lot's of good advice on here. I would echo David's thoughts and encourage you to put down on paper why it is you are interested in IT. Some things to consider:
- What is it that motivates you?
- What are your passions and interests?
- What kind of environment do you want to work in?
- What are your strengths, talents, expertise?
-What are your weaknesses, areas of improvement?
Come back and share with us what you have come up with and we can try and guide you on what areas of IT could be a good fit.
It sounds like you are interested in IT but unsure where or what you should be looking as specifically. First of all, it's fantastic you are considering a career in IT. It can be fulfilling and rewarding in equal measure.
Lot's of good advice on here. I would echo David's thoughts and encourage you to put down on paper why it is you are interested in IT. Some things to consider:
- What is it that motivates you?
- What are your passions and interests?
- What kind of environment do you want to work in?
- What are your strengths, talents, expertise?
-What are your weaknesses, areas of improvement?
Come back and share with us what you have come up with and we can try and guide you on what areas of IT could be a good fit.
Updated
Heather’s Answer
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/types-of-it-jobs
Here is a good list. I would ignore the income as it looks out dated imo.
Here is a good list. I would ignore the income as it looks out dated imo.
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you are interested in Tech. There are many different types of Tech position. E.g. Developers, Application Support, System Support, Database Administrator, System Administrator, Network Administrator, etc.
Within each of these positions, it may be further divided into more sub categories, e.g. Developers - There are developers on web developer, apps developer, ERP developer, system developer, etc. Each of these careers have their own domain of knowledge.
It would be difficult to provide a description of every position. Suggest you can find out more information online. Also, you can speak to someone working in these careers to acquire more understanding.
If you would like to pursue your careers in Tech, suggest you can consider to take Computer Science course in the college. The course will give you an overview of different roles in Tech and help you to determine what roles you would like to develop your careers in the future.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Within each of these positions, it may be further divided into more sub categories, e.g. Developers - There are developers on web developer, apps developer, ERP developer, system developer, etc. Each of these careers have their own domain of knowledge.
It would be difficult to provide a description of every position. Suggest you can find out more information online. Also, you can speak to someone working in these careers to acquire more understanding.
If you would like to pursue your careers in Tech, suggest you can consider to take Computer Science course in the college. The course will give you an overview of different roles in Tech and help you to determine what roles you would like to develop your careers in the future.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Updated
Will’s Answer
Hey Raymond,
Just wanna point to another thread from another student, Finn - "What are some jobs of the future that may not even fully exist yet?"
https://www.careervillage.org/questions/638208/what-are-some-jobs-of-the-future-that-may-not-even-fully-exist-yet
Most of the answers are focused in Tech industry. Hope that helps and good luck!🤞
Will
Just wanna point to another thread from another student, Finn - "What are some jobs of the future that may not even fully exist yet?"
https://www.careervillage.org/questions/638208/what-are-some-jobs-of-the-future-that-may-not-even-fully-exist-yet
Most of the answers are focused in Tech industry. Hope that helps and good luck!🤞
Will
Updated
Sanja’s Answer
Another IT career that you might consider is IT Supply Chain. You purchase IT services, software, hardware and work closely with the IT department. It's great learning opportunity to understand both IT and Supply Chain. Purchasing software and hardware is entirely different than purchasing material or any other services. Learning the license agreements and how to review them and mitigate risk for the Company is very unique and a career that's popular in almost all companies now.
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