Navigating Current IT Hiring Trends

If someone invented a working crystal ball that let us glimpse the future, he’d make a fortune overnight. But, there is no crystal ball. We must look at hiring trends and job predictions to find what skills will be in demand in the coming years and what degree of education we’ll need. This is no truer than in the information technology field.

What’s Trending in IT?

The field of information technology is far from static. There are new IT jobs and responsibilities emerging constantly, and IT roles are being redefined as we speak.

Some of the IT areas predicted to grow in the remainder of 2017 and beyond include:

• Artificial intelligence. Estimates are that 59 percent of businesses and organizations are putting together an AI strategy, while the remainder are already piloting or in the process of adopting AI programs.
• Internet of things. This thing is growing and swallowing up an increasing number of things. AI capabilities will couple with IoT to produce devices that can operate semi-autonomously or completely independently.
• Digital twin. A digital twin is a digital version of a real-world system that offers real-time information on the status of its counterpart. These digital twins can improve operations and respond to changes or predictions, possibly saving companies billions in operations down time and costly repairs.
• Conversational platforms. The way people interact with the digital world is changing. Rather than needing to “speak computer” by learning the interface, users will be able to communicate through conversational platforms using natural language.
• Mixed reality. Virtual reality (VR) and AI are breaking down and blurring the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds. Mixed reality can now merge AI and VR, extending the potential of both.

These amazing, emerging technologies will need someone who knows how to maintain them.

IT Jobs in the Coming Years

If you’re currently working in the IT field and looking to advance, or you’re planning to enter the IT job market in the next few years, you would do well to check out the trending job possibilities in the field. With the ever-changing face of IT, it pays to keep a finger on the pulse of the industry.

• AI engineers and deep learning skills. Areas using automation, such as autonomous driving, are starving for engineers who have deep learning experience and who can work with and develop AI. There’s expected to be an intense focus on predictive analytics, machine learning, deep learning and AI in the coming years, so expect these skills to remain in high demand.
• Security analytics. Cybersecurity is on everyone’s mind, putting security analysts high on the priority list for businesses. Security analysts keep a business’s IT networks and systems up to date on the latest ways to beat hackers’ methodologies. In this position, you’ll need to think strategically and see the “big picture” regarding information security.
• VR. Developers for VR and artificial reality (AR) are already in high demand. In the coming years, there will be a need for massive coordination and security across applications, data centers and systems.
• Cloud integrator. New technologies developed with the use of the cloud in mind are gaining traction, such as machine learning and blockchain. Those with specific certifications are in high demand and will remain so.
• Full-stack engineers. Progressive web apps on mobile platforms – that’s what consumers are demanding. Those who can combine front- and back-end web development are being fervently sought.

Some of the high-demand roles that may be in demand soon could also carry some nice perks, such as signing bonuses and stock options. If your skills are in particularly high demand, you may even see offers for college loan payoffs and flexible remote working arrangements.

Go for a Degree or Not?

The idea that you must have an advanced degree to make a living is a myth: there are jobs open and skills in demand that don’t require a traditional college degree. Even a degree in a STEM field is not a guarantee of marketability when job hunting.

STEM-related jobs are critical to the continued economic growth of the nation but jobs requiring this type of degree make up only five percent of all the jobs predicted in the U.S. economy in 2018.

If you’re looking to get into an IT career, certain IT certifications are the way to get your foot in the door without the time or expense of a college degree.

• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
• Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT)
• VCP6 – DCV
• MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure

In addition, there are skills in the networking field that are in demand for the remainder of 2017 and look set for salary increases in 2018.

• Linux/UNIX administration
• Cisco network administration
• Voice over internet protocol ( VoIP) administration
• Windows server and workstation management

It looks like the job market is shaping up for some serious demand at the highest levels of the IT field. But it isn’t just the top that’s set to expand; IT is growing from the bottom up. Your prospects in the field are directly dependent on your skill set.

If you have the right set of skills, the jobs are waiting on you.