Despite innovations, disruptions, and rapid changes, IT is one industry that continues to survive and thrive

Contrary to popular misconceptions, the information technology sector is flourishing and will continue to employ skilled workers in large numbers. Factors like automation and new technologies only open new opportunities for your IT career path.

Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics, scientific advancements like space exploration and medical procedures, provide tremendous opportunities for IT experts.

For IT professionals in the US who are scared of outsourcing, fear not! Most of the outsourced jobs are mundane, repetitive jobs which will be automated sooner or later.

However, the innovative IT jobs are on the rise. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for someone who is a tech wizard.

If you’re interested in knowing what an IT professional’s career path looks like, keep reading….

It’s difficult but interesting

Working in the IT industry is not a cakewalk. But then, nor is it in any other industry!

If you have an affinity for technology and enjoy working on new complex challenges, the IT industry is for you.

You might have heard numerous stories of IT professionals who work day and night in their offices without even the time to go home just for a few hours.

It’s true. There are times when they have to slog and stretch. However, what most of the people ignore is the fact that a large number of people in this industry are highly passionate about their job. They enjoy their work more than anything else, which is the reason for their sustainability and growth despite the work pressure.

Working in the IT industry lets you apply your analytical mind, logic, and creativity.

If you want to become a successful IT professional, you must have passion, persistence and stamina.  If you do, success will be yours.

Career paths in the IT industry

Information technology is a vast industry with 100s of specialties. Some are discussed here:

Database Administrator

Big Data’s a revolution. Every enterprise generates massive volumes of data through its customer interactions, which is needed for analytics. This is where a DBA plays a key role.

Graphic Design

It’s where the creativity meets technology. If you’re a skilled artist, becoming a graphic designer is the right career for you.

Video Game Developer and Tester

Advancements in technology and graphic designing have made video games more sophisticated than ever. There’s tremendous scope as a games developer or tester.

Animator

Animators get to show their skills to a far greater extent now than ever. From animated movies to live action films, and advertisements and games, animation offers tremendous scope.

IT Security

The advancements in IT have also increased the threats. Viruses and malware are pretty common, and there’s always a requirement for more skilled IT security professionals to deal with the threats.

Programming and Coding

Coding shall never be out of the fashion. Most of the top entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerburg started out as coders. There’s immense scope in this field.

Project Manager

This comes as an advanced career path once you’ve moved up the ladder in the IT industry. As a project manager, you get to manage people and entire projects.

Conclusion

IT industry continues to offer significant scope for those who are willing to work hard and smart. Learn IT courses and programming languages online to move one step ahead towards building an exciting career in the IT industry.  If you’re looking to begin a new career, browse our course catalog and see how easy it is to get started in an IT career.

Average annual compensation for software developers and system engineers in the USA is around $104,500. A career in the IT sector not only offers a handsome salary and tremendous learning opportunities but it also provides a global exposure. The demand for digital tools and services is growing across all industries in the USA which is driving the growth in employment in Information Technology sector.  There is no better time than today to build a sound career in the IT industry!

Here are your 5 Steps to Landing a Job in the IT Industry

1.) Learn a Programming Language

To develop a career in the IT sector, you need to learn a programming language or a particular IT skill. Join an online course and gain mastery over any programming language or related skill set. Check out the applications and specialized software programs that are powered by the language you are learning. Try to work on as many real word projects as possible.  Practice rigorously, and build a robust portfolio. The portfolio will be extremely useful in showing your skills to potential employers.

2.) Get Certified

Not all programming languages have official certification exams. However, for some languages such as Java SE 8 programming, etc. you have the option to get certified by an authorized body. Taking advantage of certifications to advance your career in the IT sector is a smart move. Get certified by the appropriate widely recognized body. While the certification may not be entirely necessary, it will help you gain more credibility in your area of expertise and set you apart from other similarly qualified applicants.

3.) Write a Focused Resume

You need to invest significant time in developing a resume that represents your skills and accomplishments. Don’t copy the buzzwords from the internet. Prepare a short resume (1-2 pages) with all relevant details. It must be tailor-made for the job you are applying. This means it should have only the pertinent information related to the position you are applying for. By creating job customized resumes, you will increase your chances of getting that all important first interview.

4.) Expand your Network

Make an impressive LinkedIn profile and add relevant connections on a regular basis. Use a professional profile photo and complete the employment section with updated information. Use the right keywords that reflect your personality traits and professional skill sets. Engage with industry professionals and develop genuine relationships on the platform. Ask your classmates, current and former colleagues for a recommendation on LinkedIn. Remember that a majority of recruiters go through candidates’ LinkedIn profiles before calling them for the interview. Thus, an excellent LinkedIn profile can contribute significantly to your career’s success.

5.) Prepare for the Interview

An interview may last for 30 minutes or more. However, almost a third of interviewers know within the first 90 seconds whether they are going to hire you or not. That means, your first impression not only counts but impacts the selection process significantly. Thus, work on your personality and do everything that boosts your confidence. Pay close attention to your  outfit and personal hygiene. If the interview is on the phone, be aware of background noise and any speaking habits that hurt your credibility (“uhhh…”, “like…like…like”, speaking too fast, etc.)

Before appearing for the interview, brush-up your knowledge about the company and make sure to have a list of relevant questions pertaining to the job in question. During the interview, maintain a direct eye contact with the interviewer. Crack a smile when you are feeling less confident and speak assertively. Recruiters don’t hire people who are not sure about their expertise. Thus, stay positive and be confident during the entire interview process.

The Bottom Line…

Being prepared for the role you want and the company you’re interviewing for is crucial.   Be ready to work hard and become an expert in your field. Enroll for advanced online IT courses to keep your knowledge updated. Remember that to be successful in the technology industry, you need to learn new things continuously so that you can add value to the business from the start and all the way through your career.

Android has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments in the IT industry with a huge demand for Android developers. It is a field that thrives on the creativity and innovation of the developers rather than their degree and certifications. Perhaps this is the reason Google has teams in which 14% of the people never went to college. It’s entirely possible to have a successful long-term career as an Android developer even if you don’t hold any degree. However, there are certain traits you need to possess to grow in this field. Let’s take a look how you can learn Android programming step by step and thrive in the long run:

Passion for problem-solving and programming

Programming is all about solving problems through technology. You must be passionate about the programming. Android programming requires intense focus and dedication. Unless you’re aptly able to concentrate on the task at hand, you will find programming a highly complex and challenging field. Hence, zeal, perseverance, determination, and dedication play critical roles in learning Android programming and for becoming a successful developer. It’s your attitude which is the most important prerequisite towards learning Android programming and also making a successful career in this field. Recruiters in this domain will give more preference to your attitude and passion than your degree and certifications.

Focus on identifying and learning relevant practices

The field of technology is vast, and the pace at which changes take place is brisk. Thus, it is necessary that you identify and learn the most relevant and in-vogue practices to succeed in this field. It also means that learning is an unending process and to avoid obsolescence, you need to keep updating your knowledge and skills. Relevant is the most crucial word here as it makes absolutely no sense in wasting your time and efforts to learn skills and practices that are no longer needed or are low-paying. Instead, channelize your efforts in the right directions. There are numerous online resources you can use to identify the current trends and practices. One of the top online sources to learn is GogoTraining that offers extremely well-curated tutorials that cover the most recent developments in Android development. Whether you are a seasoned Android programmer or just starting out, such courses can add great value to your skill repertoire. So, learning Android programming from the right source is the second crucial step in this process.

Learn from peers

Once you have inculcated the right attitude to learn Android programming and subsequently learn it from the online sources, the next thing is to practice and learn from peers. Participate in Android communities and forums, and offer to help other community members with your skills. It will give you the confidence of working on real projects as well as will help you learn new skills and about the latest practices. Not only can you hone your programming skills but also learn other aspects related to it such as documentation, testing, installations, etc. which will improve your employability.

Search jobs or freelancing opportunities that help you learn

Forums and communities can help you learn immensely, and you should keep participating them. But, you also need to earn, which is the main reason behind learning Android programming. However, do not settle even for a high paying job if it requires you to work on mundane and repetitive functions. Instead, search for a job, even if it’s low paying but allows a great scope to learn. There is, however, a caveat here. It is entirely possible that without a degree you might not get the right job you’re looking for at the beginning of your career as the employers might be wary of hiring someone with no degrees or professional experience. In such a case, freelancing is an excellent alternative, something which can be more fruitful than a full-time job. Several programmers and professionals in other fields prefer freelancing over regular jobs since it allows them more flexibility and control. You may also consider full-time freelance Android development as it will let you use your creativity and innovation, which might not be possible in a job.

These are the four key steps to becoming an efficient and successful Android developer without a degree. But remember – a degree or no degree, to sustain you need to keep learning. There’s no alternative!