Explore a wide range of sub-fields and roles and decide where your motivations and profile lie.
Are you in the IT industry (or want to be) and don’t really know what’s the best career path to follow and invest in? Well, these next few lines were written to help you with that.
There are so many ways to build a career in tech that is not always easy to define where to start or when it’s time to make a change. One thing is for sure: there is no “right or wrong answer” and depends on the goals, ambitions and interests of each person.
First of all, why a career path in the IT industry?
Well, IT is the backbone of any company, the driver of innovation, the enabler of the connected world we live in and, consequently, one of the fastest-growing industries. With no surprise, it provides jobs full of great challenges for professional growth and the extra excitement of working with the latest advancements and game-changing offerings.
You can explore a wide range of sub-fields and roles and decide where your motivations and profile lie. And since IT is something that can be easily learned online, even if you lack the skills to transition into a new role, virtual courses can be a top ally.
So, here are some options for your IT career path:
- Database, networks and systems
Here you will work on the connectivity between software and hardware devices, or, in other words, on what allows business continuity, ensuring the security, reliability and accessibility of the network, servers, databases and systems.
Potential career path: Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, Database Administrator, Systems Analyst, Network Engineer, Systems Engineer, Network Security Engineer, Cloud Network Engineer, Senior Systems Administrator, Computer Network Architect
- Software and app development
Software development refers to a set of activities dedicated to the process of creating, designing and deploying computer programs, operating systems, and mobile and web applications – focusing on user experience, performance, and ability to get the job done. Most web developers choose one of three careers in the profession – front-end developer, back-end developer, or full-stack developer.
Potential career path: Junior Developer, Software Developer, Senior Software Developer, Lead Developer, Technical Architect, Development Team Lead, Software Development Manager
- DevOps
DevOps is the result of applying the agile paradigm to the entire service lifecycle from conception to production support. It requires the involvement of the development and operations engineers in all steps of the process and thus generalizing the automation efforts that previously were only seen during the development phases.
Potential career path: Release Manager, DevOps Test Engineer, DevOps Cloud Engineer, DevOps Architect
- Quality Assurance
Typically defined as a procedure to ensure the quality of software products or services provided by an organization, Quality Assurance aims to improve the software development process and make it efficient based on the quality standards defined.
Potential career path: Junior QA Engineer/Tester, QA Engineer/Tester, Senior QA Engineer/Tester, Lead Software Testing Specialist, QA Manager, Business Analyst
- Functional Analysis
Functional Analysts help to maximize the added value and the use of software for particular purposes, usually specializing in a line of business. They analyze the current system and procedures and then create suggestions to enhance business processes in terms of their target goals.
Potential career path: Functional Consultant, Business Analyst, Functional Analyst, Senior Functional Analyst
- Project Management
As the name implies, Project Managers plan and supervise the completion of specific projects (for instance, processes improvement, digital products development, new features launching…) while ensuring they are on time, on budget, and within scope. Many professionals in this area start in non-managerial roles and work their way up as they take on more responsibilities.
Potential career path: Junior Project Manager, Project Manager, Program Manager, Portfolio Manager, Senior-Level Roles
- (Cyber)Security
Working in cybersecurity means protecting computer systems, devices, and sensitive information from malware, unauthorized access, damage, and data breaches – using from Penetration Testing to Artificial Intelligence. Above all, it means being able to protect the business from any inconvenient “guest”.
Potential career path: Cybersecurity Analyst, Cybersecurity Engineer, Penetration Tester, Senior Cyber Engineer, Information Security Manager, Ethical Hacker, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
- Data Science
Data Science is a field that sits at the cross junction of several different areas, from Artificial Intelligence to statistical analysis, from IoT to Data Warehousing, with data being the common denominator. The massive increase in cheap processing power and storage capacity created the possibility and the necessity to extract meaningful insights from all the available data.
Potential career path: Machine Learning Engineer, Data Scientist, BI Developer, Research Scientist, Data Engineer/Architect
- Internet of Things
The IoT area works with microprocessors and sensor technologies that help business track almost every aspect of what we do. So, an IoT Engineer is someone who’s responsible for developing innovative programs and devices that help receive, control and manage information in an efficient way.
Potential career path: IoT Developer, IoT Infrastructure Architect, IoT Systems Administrator, Vulnerability/Cyber Engineer, Test Engineer
And that’s it for today! We also invite you to check the 9 hottest IT roles that may be your best path forward and, as we are talking about an industry that evolves at an incredible pace, please never stop learning, updating and improving your soft and hard skills.
Now it’s time for some action and to build an awesome career with us! At InnoTech we have many of the opportunities mentioned above, and we are certain that one of them has a perfect fit for you. Take a look at our job openings and let’s grow and re-imagine technology together 😊
