Progressing in IT: 5 Different Industries and Methods

A career in tech covers a wide range of paths. Working in IT can involve a number of different ways to progress and provides a variety of career paths within different industries. Let’s show you some of the most common ones to give you an idea of how you can progress.

IT Support

Computer support roles such as an IT support technician or help desk technician can provide a useful starting point. For those who do not have the skills, you can get an entry-level certification to start on this ladder.

Software Development

Because software covers a wide variety of disciplines there can be major career progressions and provide paths into a number of different industries. Alex Graveley, the Chief Architect at GitHub on Copilot started out by creating and contributing to many open-source projects before developing within a wide number of organizations, eventually becoming the founder and CEO of Hackpad Inc. which was later acquired by Dropbox.

A natural progression in software development begins with understanding coding languages. Common languages like Java or Python can be learned online. This is an area with a projected job growth of 25% and is almost always a lucrative role.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is critical in every industry and is expected to see the most demand alongside cloud computing. Roles such as cybersecurity engineers and cybersecurity analysts are the best place to begin where you can eventually progress to roles such as an ethical hacker or a senior cyber engineer. Experience is critical here but you can start by understanding common cybersecurity principles. There are many ways to gain entry-level certifications in cybersecurity if you have an interest in protecting a company’s infrastructure or want to delve into security analysis.

Web Development

This is another area that is incredibly popular because there is always a great demand for websites. In addition to web pages, web developers can also create and maintain phone apps. There are two different areas here that generally fall under the category of front-end or back-end, which literally means the front-facing aspects of the website or behind-the-scenes. Many people can be more competitive by specializing in both.

Roles such as web designer, web developer, back-end or front-end engineer, as well as full-stack developers and engineers, can all be achieved by getting an understanding of web programming languages like JavaScript or HTML. The best approach is to start building your own websites before applying. There are a number of professional certifications you can earn online.

Cloud Computing

Developing a career in cloud technology usually includes programming on cloud software platforms, and individuals can get started in their career by working as a cloud computing programmer or a cloud engineer before progressing to a cloud consultant or cloud architect. The key to developing in this industry usually consists of having cloud knowledge. There are a variety of cloud certifications available to help you progress.

These are some of the most popular careers in IT, and if you are looking to develop your computing career there are a number of options to suit you.