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What Different Types of Tech Jobs Are There?

By DeVry University

February 2, 2023

6 min read

 

As our reliance on technology increases in areas like manufacturing, engineering, shopping, banking, traveling and home security, there is an increasing need for professionals to build and maintain these systems. So, what are tech jobs, and how do they keep our technology systems thriving?

 

Technology can be defined as the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical tools, and how societies apply that knowledge for practical results.

 

The transition from analog to digital technologies has enabled the development of countless new or highly improved consumer and industrial applications as well as the creation of tech industry jobs in information technology, software development, cyber security and other areas.

Benefits of Working in Tech

What are tech jobs? Before answering this question, let’s consider the benefits of working in tech and some of the qualifications needed to pursue tech industry jobs. The employment website Indeed specifies several potential benefits of working in the tech industry. Among them are work-life balance and flexibility, due to the fact that some tech industry jobs don’t follow a standard work schedule and may also be performed remotely.

Another benefit lies in the way employers value technology and the colleagues who manage it. Tech employees often work in areas that help the business succeed, solve problems and build networks and software that are beneficial or profitable to the organization.

Yet another benefit is constant evolution. As new technologies emerge and existing ones are expanded to be used in new ways, you may be able to take on new challenges, obtain new certifications and immerse yourself in new work that may increase your job satisfaction.

Qualifications for Tech Industry Jobs

The specific requirements to obtain tech industry jobs vary by employer and the particular position they are looking to fill. However, a foundation of technical skills in areas like operating systems, programming, connectivity and security is crucial.

According to Indeed, several soft skills may also be helpful in this area:

  • Strong communication skills

  • Organization

  • Passion

  • Resourcefulness

  • Time-management

  • Adaptability

  • Problem-solving

  • Collaboration

At DeVry, we offer several technology programs to help you build many of the skills required for today’s Internet of Things (IoT) economy, including undergraduate tech certificates as well as associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

What Qualifies as a Tech Job?

Many jobs in information technology, engineering technology, computer science and software development can certainly be described as tech jobs, but the description may also be applied to other jobs based on the role, company or nature of its products.

According to the online community HackerNoon, if one of these statements applies to you, you can say that you have a tech job:

  • Role-based: You work in a technical role at a company that may or may not be described as a tech company.

  • Product-based: You work with other technicians to build tech products even though your role isn’t necessarily a technical one.

  • Company-based: You work for a company that has a major presence in the tech industry, in a role that may or may not be technical in nature.

Common Tech Industry Jobs

Cyber Security Specialist

Cyber security specialists monitor computer networks for security breaches, protect sensitive information, examine computer networks and systems for security vulnerabilities and develop standards and best practices for their organizations. They sometimes take on the role of an ethical hacker to uncover system vulnerabilities that could be exploited in a security breach.

Is this tech industry job in demand? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of cyber security specialists, also referred to as information security analysts, is projected to grow 35% on a national level during the decade ending in 20311, which is much faster than average for other occupations.

At DeVry, our Cyber Security Programming Degree Specialization, which can be earned as part of our Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems, can help you develop many of the skills needed to protect against cyberattacks. 

Software Developer

Software developers play a major role in the development and upgrading of software applications. Working with teams of programmers and sometimes doing the programming themselves, they create new computer applications that allow users to perform specific tasks and recommend software upgrades to existing programs and systems. 

According to Indeed, a software developer’s typical responsibilities include:

  • Producing efficient, elegant code that’s based on project requirements

  • Testing programs and deploying applications

  • Designing algorithms and flowcharts to create software programs and systems

  • Collaborating with different departments, management and customers to identify end-user requirements and meet their specifications

  • Analyzing user feedback to make improvements to software products

The continued expansion of software development for things like artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, robotics and other automation applications will likely result in continued demand for tech professionals who work closely with them. The BLS states that software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers are expected to see employment growth of 25% on a national level between 2021 and 2031.2

 

Our online Bachelor’s Degree with a Specialization in Web and Mobile Application Development at DeVry can help prepare you to pursue career opportunities in the creation of online and mobile user experiences. 

 

Engineering Technologist

Engineering technologists perform hands-on tasks in a variety of different industries like aerospace, chemical processing, manufacturing and more to transform engineering visions into reality. Hard skills required to pursue this career path include industrial IoT, signal analysis, circuit analysis, automation, control, digital literacy and a good understanding of mechanics.

Our Bachelor’s in Engineering Technology is designed to help you develop the hard and soft skills required to respond to real-world situations and prepare to pursue careers like electrical engineering technologist, computer network support technician and manufacturing engineering technologist.

IT Project Manager

Combining technical knowledge with project management skills, IT project managers plan, coordinate and direct an organization’s computer-related activities. They are responsible for implementing the computer systems needed to help an organization meet its information technology goals. Indeed states that the typical responsibilities of the IT project manager may include:

  • Setting project goals and developing plans to meet them

  • Keeping tabs on project timeframes, completion status and budgets

  • Managing resources, for equipment or employees

  • Utilizing project management tools to track performance and stay on schedule

  • Organizing meetings to decide project goals and update stakeholders on progress

Will there be a demand for IT project managers? The BLS cites that employment of computer and information systems managers is projected to grow 16% on a national level during the decade ending in 2031, a rate that is much faster than the average for all occupations.3

 

Covering topics like cloud computing, big data storage, mobile applications and computer networks, our Bachelor’s Degree Specialization in Information Technology – Networking Fundamentals can help you learn about many technical solutions that are used to address organization problems and help you prepare to pursue career roles like IT project manager.

 

Computer Systems Analyst

Studying an organization’s computer systems and procedures and designing improvements, computer systems analysts help the enterprise operate more efficiently. According to occupational outlook information from the BLS, their typical duties include:

  • Researching technologies to determine if they would increase efficiency

  • Analyzing the costs and benefits of IT systems and system upgrades

  • Overseeing the configuration and installation of new IT systems

  • Testing systems to ensure they operate as they should

  • Training system end users and writing instruction manuals

Employment of computer systems analysts is projected to grow 9% through 2031 on a national level, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.4

 

Our Bachelor’s Degree with a Specialization in Cloud-Based Networking and Virtualization can prepare you to pursue a career as a computer systems analyst. This program will expose you to the data center operations and network configurations needed by companies of all sizes to create their cloud. Coursework can also teach you high-level concepts like Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

Is Tech the Right Career for You?

How do you know if a tech career is right for you? As described earlier, there are many jobs in tech that cross over into non-technical areas and skill sets. According to The Muse, some tech industry opportunities may fit your personality and passions regardless of your education, interests or experience, and the following 5 signs indicate you may actually belong in tech:

  • You didn’t graduate with a computer science degree: College graduates with non-technical degrees may offer a fresh perspective and bring a more diverse skill set to the tech world as writers, editors or project managers. Technical skills can be acquired by earning a graduate certificate or even another full-time degree, depending on your long-term career goals.

  • You’re creative: Tech is all about coming up with original solutions and unique ways to implement them. You might think your creativity can only be channeled in traditional fields like marketing and public relations, but jobs like visual designer, creative team leader and story writer exist in the technology sector.

  • You have a flair for communicating: The ability to get your ideas across in presentations, emails and other communication formats is essential. If you excel in verbal and written communication and have a knack for persuasion or making complex technical topics understandable to non-technical audiences, you may have an advantage over others who have strong technical skills but are not skilled in communication.

  • You’re an extrovert: Yes, extroverts do have a place in tech. Tech jobs like customer service representative and marketing communications associate require excellent people skills and may allow you to step away from the computer.

  • You want to do good in the world: Many tech companies and their founders contribute to making the world a better place. Tech billionaires like Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have pledged to donate a percentage of their wealth to charity in effort to give back. Consider pursuing a career in this emerging branch of the tech world and you might be inspired to do good, too.

Next Steps

A good place to start when thinking about pursuing a tech industry job is to learn about the industry. Studying tech trends and practices to get insights on the industry will also serve you well when you begin to apply. Research the companies where you’re applying so that hiring managers will know you’ve familiarized yourself with their organization and you’re able to answer their questions more easily and confidently.

Aside from that, here are some simple steps you can take to prepare to pursue a tech career and apply for tech industry jobs, according to Indeed:

  • Earn a college degree: Earning a college degree may help you stand out from the competition. At DeVry, we offer 100% online or hybrid learning bachelor’s degree programs with a variety of specializations in tech areas like computer forensics, cyber security programming, database management and web game programming.

  • Complete an internship: Internships are great resume builders and can help give you a competitive edge when pursuing tech industry jobs. During an internship, you’re likely to have an area of responsibility or projects to complete and this hands-on experience can give you something to talk about with hiring managers. An internship is also a great way to build valuable contacts who may agree to write letters of recommendation for you.

  • Join industry-specific networking groups: By joining a networking group and attending its in-person or virtual events, you’ll have the opportunity to involve yourself with other people who have similar interests and potentially find a mentor who can guide you on the path to your first tech job or throughout your career.

  • Build a personal website: For entry-level tech career candidates, building an online portfolio is a great idea to show hiring managers your abilities. The site should certainly include projects you worked on while in school but may also include a few portfolio pieces that you’ve developed to demonstrate your capabilities in specific areas that are relevant to your job search.

  • Take supplemental courses: Taking supplemental courses to skill up in certain technical areas and earning industry-recognized certifications are both good ways to show hiring managers that you have current skills and a willingness to learn new things.

  • Customize your resume: Read job descriptions carefully and be sure to use keywords from those job descriptions in your resume. Why? Applicant tracking systems scan through applications and resumes to find those who fit the requirements of the open position. If you include strong keywords, such as names of programs and tools, you can help make this automation work in your favor.

Prepare To Pursue Tech Jobs in Today’s IoT-Driven Economy with a Degree or Certificate from DeVry

Develop your skills in information technology, engineering technology or software information systems by earning a technology degree or certificate. Our career-focused technology degree and certificate programs are built to meet the demands of today’s technology industry. Classes in our 100% online or hybrid learning options start every 8 weeks, allowing you to balance your commitment to education with your busy life.

1Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm

2Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm

3Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm

4Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-systems-analysts.htm

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