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Tag: IT

Succeeding in IT: Landing a Hot Job vs. Building a Long Career

Recent attention-grabbing headlines about layoffs among tech giants, like Google and Microsoft, can paint a dismal picture of the tech jobs landscape, but it doesn’t look so bleak for nimble IT professionals with diverse skillsets. 

According to WGU Labs research, Colorado employers posted more than 14,000 openings for IT jobs between August 2022 and July 2023. Only six other states saw more postings over that time. A recent study by Venture Smarter, a consulting firm based in San Francisco, ranked Colorado fourth in the country as one of the best states for tech careers.

READ: Fake Flex —The Underlying Risks of Misleading Job Postings and Recruiting

Today, certain areas in IT have seen remarkable job growth, driven by global trends and the integration of tech into every facet of our daily lives. Three of the hottest jobs in IT are:

Quantum computing specialists

Quantum computing is no longer the future — it’s the present. As quantum computers inch closer to becoming a commercial reality, companies need specialists who understand quantum algorithms, hardware and software development.

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) developers

With advancements in AR and VR hardware, there’s a growing need for developers who can create immersive experiences for entertainment, education, healthcare and other sectors.

READ: How the Metaverse is Revolutionizing Industries — From Sci-Fi Fantasy to Digital Reality

Edge computing engineers

The move from centralized cloud computing to edge computing — where computations are performed closer to where the data is generated (like IoT devices) — requires specialists to handle this shift.

Workers with qualifications to fill those jobs are among the most in-demand in IT. But as tech evolves, so do the skills needed to get the job done — and for a worker to maintain job security over time can be tricky.

During this time of evolution, it’s important to ask: How can workers in tech fields fill the jobs of today and remain relevant over the entirety of their careers?

The answer to that riddle is “fungible skill development.”

Fungible skills are those that are interchangeable or easily transferrable from one job or role to another. They provide a foundation that enables professionals to adapt and evolve as they navigate the shifting terrains of their industry. For IT professionals, these skills could be both technical (such as programming fundamentals or understanding of algorithms) and soft skills (like problem-solving or effective communication).

Why are fungible skills crucial for IT professionals?

Adaptability in a changing landscape

With emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality redefining the future, IT professionals with fungible skills can effortlessly adapt. They can leverage their foundational knowledge and adjust it to different contexts or platforms.

Job security

The IT industry is notorious for its fluctuations. Companies might pivot, technologies may become obsolete or market demands can shift. Professionals with fungible skills are less likely to become redundant, as they can swiftly transition into new roles or areas.

Career progression

Having a broad base of transferable skills often opens doors to varied roles, from management positions to specialist areas, giving IT professionals a diverse career path.

There is more than one way a worker can develop the transferable skills to carve out a successful career in IT, including on-the-job experiences and self-learning. However, after working in IT for nearly two decades, I believe higher education is the most effective.

During my time as a software development leader at Amazon Web Services, I witnessed an employee advance from a software engineer to senior engineer to principal engineer over the span of six years. Despite tumultuous times of restructuring and downsizing, this employee’s fungible skills of leadership, ownership, technical writing, communication, project management and team collaboration consistently showcased his potential to take on higher responsibilities and, in turn, resulted in his promotions.

When advising aspiring tech professionals, I tell them certifications get you a job — and a degree gets you a career. 

After more than a decade managing and leading teams at Amazon and other top companies, I moved into higher ed because I believe in the value of postsecondary learning. I have seen many changes in tech-focused occupations, but the role colleges and universities play in maintaining a strong workforce and teaching fungible skills is essential. And it’s fungible skills that allow IT professionals to work — and thrive — in the industry for a long time. 

Colleges and universities offer holistic curricula, soft-skill development, and, in some cases, industry certifications in addition to an in-demand degree. Most postsecondary IT programs provide a blend of technical and general education courses. That structure ensures students gain a strong foundation in key areas while also getting the flexibility to explore and acquire skills in diverse domains. 

In addition, Western Governors University (WGU) is among the institutions that offer access to industry certifications on the way to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in IT. Certifications are recognized benchmarks mapped to certain skill sets based on standardized testing, and they demonstrate a worker’s dedication, motivation and knowledge on widely-used technical platforms. Those credentials, when paired with the array of skills and knowledge earned in a degree program, are the foundation for longevity in the IT industry.

 

Newsha Makooi received his master’s degree in computer information systems from the University of Denver and current vice president and dean of cloud computing, IT management, and cybersecurity for Western Governors University (WGU), a nonprofit, online only, accredited university. 

When is a good time for your technology to crash?

 

Information security is making national headlines, and we all feel a little more vulnerable. While most large corporations have their own IT departments, it’s not always easy for businesses with 15 to 500 employees to get proven, consistent IT support. Yet the need has never been stronger. From navigating Microsoft 365 to dodging security breaches and just keeping your systems operational, technology can be challenging when that’s not your primary business. 

The pandemic has brought even more IT challenges. An estimated 80 to 90 percent of businesses are struggling to support productivity among their remote employees. Most organizations are struggling to come back to a hybrid environment. For example, most conference rooms are not designed to manage this experience very well. 

Information security concerns are also top of mind. Companies don’t want to disrupt their production to fix issues, so they wait until the weekend. But in some cases, delaying a patch or solution for even a few hours means there’s a near certainty you’ll be breached.    

Demystifying your IT budget and need for outside support    

Many businesses are unsure of how much to budget for technology and support. If technology is important to your business, a good rule of thumb is to spend $2 to $3 on implementation and support for every $1 you spend on equipment and software. It’s important to mitigate as many surprise IT expenses as possible by talking with your support provider about your future needs. This removes the mystery and enables you to plan for where you’re going.  

Also consider what you need in an IT partner. Perhaps you want to invest proactively in proven technology that will improve your performance. Or, you want to take a more conservative approach to maintaining your system so it doesn’t go down. Wherever you are on this spectrum, be clear about your pain points and what you need to make the relationship a good fit. Make sure to choose a partner that will both help you with your immediate concerns and anticipate future needs. 

Another consideration is whether the company has local connections. If something breaks, you may need them to drive to your location to physically see what’s going on. Do they have a centralized system where you have to repeat the problem each time you get transferred or can you develop a relationship with the same person, increasing the probability that your problems are solved faster?  

For many small- to mid-sized businesses, relationships matter. Experience matters. It’s challenging enough to run a business. Ask a lot of questions before choosing an IT provider to ensure that their recommendations take into consideration your industry, and that they understand that IT is probably not your primary business concern.  

Patti Gustafson Headshot Patti Gustafson is the General Manager of Mytech Partners (Mytech.com), an IT consulting and managed services provider in Lakewood, CO specializing in Making IT Easy for small- to mid-sized businesses. Mytech helps clients implement a proven IT strategy aligned with their business goals, to achieve four times more value and productivity from their IT investments. She can be reached at (720) 806-4320 or [email protected].