Technology has transformed virtually every aspect of our lives. The way we eat, think, and feel has, in some form or another, been influenced by technology.
So, it shouldn't be a surprise that the demand for tech talent is at an all-time high. As the world slowly advances towards a digital age, new tech-related challenges will arise.
Job seekers who want to take advantage of the paradigm shift should also consider the continued uptick in the number of tech jobs created daily.
Now more than ever, they must understand which tech jobs are on the upswing and focus on how they can develop the skills to meet such demands.
There's no shortage of opportunities for aspiring tech professionals — be it working with artificial intelligence, cloud computing, automotive engineering, and other cutting-edge technology.
If you're looking to be part of the tech industry, here's a guide on what you can do to get hired in your dream role.
We also offer tips on choosing your tech specialization and how building an arsenal of soft and hard skills can make you more employable in the eyes of job recruiters.
Let's dive in.
"Tech job" can seem like a very all-encompassing role. However, it refers to any position where you'll be exposed to software, tools, and programs required to complete various tech projects.
Different tech job openings exist in the industry, no matter where you look for them. For instance, you could become a software engineer, data scientist, or software developer. The world is your oyster when it comes to tech-related job postings.
But it's an altogether different ballgame if you want to specialize. Though some technical skills are easily transferable across tech companies, narrowing down your options allows you to choose which skills to hone and what kind of projects to take on.
Below are some helpful tips you can use to become a tech professional:
With the plethora of careers available in tech, choosing a field to specialize in could get overwhelming.
But a good place to start is to consider your passions and interests. Does the idea of solving problems appeal to you? If it does, then working in web development might suit your interests.
Do you get a feeling of accomplishment when designing things from scratch? If the answer is yes, you may want to take up software engineering.
Or if you like managing people, organizing schedules and meeting tight deadlines, perhaps becoming a successful project manager involved in the entire lifecycle of a tech project sounds appealing.
The point is, choosing a specialization depends on where your interests and skills are aligned.
Explore your strengths and weaknesses. Read job postings from different tech companies and envision yourself as a tech talent. If the answer is yes, you're already halfway there.
When recruiters hire tech talent, they're not just looking at the candidate's experience and qualifications. They're also looking into whether the candidate can comfortably adjust to the existing company culture.
Therefore, hard and soft skills go hand in hand with any company. Remember, you won't be advancing your tech career in a vacuum.
Instead, you'll work with like-minded professionals and managers who understand the value of a collaborative working environment.
Here are just some of the technical skills you'll need for an Information Technology (IT) job or any tech-related role:
As mentioned, having soft skills is another crucial factor. During the recruitment process, HR professionals will assess whether you possess the behavior and mindset that a tech talent should have.
Consider honing soft skills such as:
A tech professional will often work with other individuals in their team. Soft skills like communication, critical thinking, etc., are required to keep everyone on the same page and ensure projects are completed within the proposed timelines.
The portfolio is one of the most crucial parts of any job application for tech talents in software engineering, software development, etc. This is their opportunity to showcase their expertise and skills to recruiters.
Your tech portfolio must highlight your strengths as a tech talent by showing recruiters all the relevant projects you've worked on in the past.
For example, a portfolio for a website developer might be a website they've built from scratch or creating an altogether new website builder. This is an excellent way of telling recruiters they have the technical skills required for the role.
A tech talent's portfolio may also include apps or software which they've developed throughout their professional experience. It also helps if they've participated in open-source projects, as it shows their proficiency in different use cases.
There's a lot you can learn from other, more seasoned, and experienced tech talent. Networking goes beyond just meeting new people and adding their contact details to your phonebook. It's also a great way of establishing long-term mutual professional relationships.
The tech world greatly benefits from networking, as so many already-established individuals are in the industry. This gives you great publicity for yourself as a tech professional and your freelancing career (if you choose this track).
Creating professional relationships and engaging in meaningful conversations with those in your field opens you up to endless possibilities.
Luxoft Australia’s LinkedIn page offer exactly just that. We allow our tech talents to connect with and talk to current employees and other Luxoft specialists.
Use this chance to engage with seasoned tech talents willing to leave you with a piece of their wisdom. And who knows? They might just offer you future career opportunities in tech.
Learning is an unending process. Just because your dream employer has finally hired you, doesn't mean you'll stop investing in growth and learning.
Working professionally may just be the perfect way to learn outside of your work-related duties.
If you're already working full-time in tech, invest in continuous learning. Continue building your technical skills by attending IT-focused events, taking online classes to keep up with the latest tech trends, or applying your expertise to a personal project.
Software developers are highly valued in the technology field due to the increasing challenges faced by the tech industry. Technology is fast-growing - autonomous vehicles, AI, virtual reality, IoT devices - practically everything is powered by software.
Companies are definitely looking for software developers who can meet such demands and write stable, agile, and scalable code.
Expert analysts are needed, especially in the advent of Big Data. Data analysts can draw out helpful information from chunks and chunks of data which companies can use to make informed market decisions.
A data analyst will need to use various applications in Business Intelligence (BI), reporting, OLAP (Online Analytical Processing), and many others. A data analyst can impact a company's revenue, operational efficiency, customer service, etc., so the business remains competitive.
According to the State of the Developer Nation report in 2021, there were more than 24.3 million web developers globally, with 13 million software professionals.
This is another lucrative career option if you're vying to become a tech professional. Web developers design, maintain, and create websites and ensure they're user-friendly and functional.
As the eCommerce industry grows, so will the need for experienced web developers that can create platforms vital to their operations.
Businesses are increasingly relying on databases for data storage and operations management. This is why there are so many opportunities for database administrators worldwide.
As a database administrator, you can work with industries such as finance, retail, healthcare, technology, etc. You'll need to design or organize systems for storing and securing data, such as financial information, customer records, and payroll data, and ensure only authorized users access them.
A systems analyst is an IT professional that primarily focuses on the analysis, design, and implementation of information systems. They coordinate with end-users, programmers, and software vendors to make these possible.
Systems analysts may be familiar with operating systems, computer hardware platforms, and programming languages. However, they're not mainly involved with hardware or software development.
Instead, they determine how software and hardware can impact design, costs, and implementation schedules.
Tech talents are highly sought after in any industry you go into. This means there is no shortage of career opportunities in the tech industry.
If you're looking to work professionally in tech, why not start with Luxoft?
We are one of the world's top digital solutions providers, working with Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries in the world. Our digital specialists take on a range of projects aiming to solve the digital challenges of today.
Be part of the dream towards a digital revolution. Explore job opportunities with Luxoft Australia or contact us via email (Recruiters_AU@dxc.com) for more information.
Here are the top-paying IT jobs:
Working in technology, as technical-heavy as it is, does have several benefits. For one, you don't need to be an expert at the start. Anyone can learn how to write code if they put in the work.
Another reason is that there is a massive skills shortage in tech. This means there are more digital challenges than qualified individuals who can solve them. Use this as an opportunity to upskill yourself for the job position that you want.
Due to the nature of their work, tech job seekers want a job that offers ample compensation. They also want stability, flexibility, and an excellent work-life balance.
Yes. There is a tech talent shortage worldwide. Business executives say this is the most significant barrier to the development and adoption of new technologies.