The IT sector has been a hotbed of innovation since the early 2000s. It has the eyes of venture capitalists and investors and is expected to transform the world for good.
Hundreds of technology startups are being founded daily in the US alone. Thus, more jobs and better career opportunities for aspiring graduates.
This blog will highlight the hottest computer science and information technology fields offering fresh graduates the highest pay.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
Most In-Demand IT Career Options
Here’s our pick for the most in-demand IT career options this year:
Web Development
The web development industry proliferates as more businesses strive to establish an online presence.
The pandemic has drastically impacted consumer behavior. Today, people don’t roam around the markets like the old-school way. Instead, they search the internet for what they want and where to buy it. This drastic change in consumer behavior has forced businesses to go digital. Thus, creating a boom in demand for web development services.
So, it would be just to say web development is the most reliable option for fresh IT grads.
Career Options in Web Development Industry
Following are the prominent roles in the web development industry:
- Front-end Web Designer
- Back-end Web Developer
- Web Copywriter
- Project Manager
- Graphics & Visual Designer
Average Salary
Professionals working in the web development industry
Mobile Application Development
As businesses progress to embrace digital transformation, mobile app development is becoming increasingly popular.
Over 40% of businesses in the US have a dedicated mobile app. And these numbers are increasing rapidly. Thus, pursuing a career as a mobile app developer can be an excellent choice if you like to code and write algorithms.
Career Options in Mobile App Development
Following are the prominent roles in the app development industry:
- Front end developer
- Back end developer
- UI/UX designer
- Quality assurance engineer
- Project manager
Software Development
Software development, be it custom software or commercial-off-the-shelf software, is proliferating these days, especially in the enterprise sector. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Google, etc., are always on the hunt for skilled software developers.
Computer science graduates with solid comprehension and technical knowledge should pursue a career in the software development industry.
Career Options in Software Development
Following are the primary roles in the software development industry:
- Software Architect
- Backend Developer
- Frontend Developer
- Technical Project Manager
- Business Analyst
- Scrum Master
Game Development
Game development is among the fastest growing industry globally, with over 1.8 million gaming apps on the App store and Play Store combined.
The mobile gaming industry alone stands at over $200 billion valuation in 2021 and is expected to cross the $300 billion mark before 2030. Thus, more and more game development companies will come into action and the competition will get fierce.
With that being said, the game development industry is really a fascinating choice to pursue a career with high salaries and a creative work environment.
Career Options in Game Development
Following are the primary roles in the game development industry:
- Game Designer
- Game Animator
- Programmer
- Game Artist
- Network Engineer
- Quality Assurance Engineer
Data Science
Data science is one of, if not the fastest growing fields globally. Linked In and Glass Door are flooded with data science jobs with decent salary packages.
Although data science is relatively a newer field, it has a lot of potential and endless possible opportunities for aspiring graduates.
Career Options in Data Science Industry
Following are the primary roles in the data science industry:
- Data Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Data Engineer
- Business Analyst
- Data Architect
- Marketing Analyst
- Data Administrator
- Machine Learning Engineer
IT Sales
IT sales or software sales is among the most promising career fields in technology. IT sales experts generally make more than any other professional associated with the IT industry.
With hands-on product knowledge and exceptional communication skills, IT grads can turn their lives around working in the sales industry.
Career Options in IT Sales Industry
Following are the primary roles in the IT sales industry:
- IT Sales Representative
- Sales Architect
- Sales Engineer
- Sales Executives
- Strategic Sales Consultant
- Business Analyst
- Project Managers
Must-Have Skills to Acquire a Job in the IT Industry
If you are enrolled in a CS degree or even have graduated recently, acquiring the following skills will help you secure a high-paying job at the leading IT companies in the world:
Programming
This one is the most obvious. A computer science graduate should have hands-on experience in programming. Make sure you attend the OOP lectures with complete attention and polish your coding skills to the next level.
Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert in every programming language. Interviewers usually ask candidates to write algorithms in natural language and judge them based on logic building and comprehension.
Data Science
A computer science graduate should have experience working with data sets. As the data science field is proliferating, it’s important to have knowledge of basic concepts like data scrapping, warehousing, and cleaning, along with a solid grasp of statistics and computing.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is becoming increasingly popular as businesses progressively switch to the cloud. Today, almost every future-thinking business is on the cloud one way or another. Thus, it’s crucial to have a firm grip on cloud technologies like data migration, cloud database creation, and cloud administration.
Soft Skills
Last and probably the most important of all on our list is acquiring exceptional soft skills. No matter how technically sound a candidate is, they are less likely to secure the job if they fail to represent themselves to the interviewer.
Soft skills include exceptional communication skills, a positive attitude, the right mindset, and empathy. Mastering these skills will help you land your dream job and make you a better person eventually.
Wrapping Up…
Pursuing a career in the IT industry is more secure and rewarding than in other industries. But the most crucial benefit that IT professionals get and others don’t is the possibility to work remotely. You can literally roam around the world with your laptop and enjoy working at beaches, hotels, or wherever you want.