Thinking of a Career Change?
Considering a Career Change? Tech Might be the Answer
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the greatest disasters humanity has faced in centuries. More than half a million people have died worldwide, with millions others infected. The toll on the economy has been massive: the International Labour Organization has forecast that the pandemic could reduce global working hours by nearly seven percent in the second quarter of 2020—this is equivalent to 195 million full-time jobs.
If anything good has come out of this it’s that it has accelerated new trends that will forever change how we work. In the last few months, hundreds of companies have moved their processes online, allowing their employees to work from home. In a world where deadly diseases can spread in the matter of a week, the remote work trend is a sound alternative and one that can only become more popular in the future.
When it comes to remote work, the tech industry undoubtedly has the most options. Many tech roles—such as cybersecurity expert, software engineer or quality assurance engineer—can be done remotely. But, if you lack a technical education, how can you get your foot in the door?
Coding Bootcamps
The answer is simple: coding bootcamps. These are very short, intensive courses where you learn the skills needed to start a career in your chosen tech profession. There is a bootcamp for just about any tech field or skill out there.
Compared to traditional two- or four-year computer science degrees, coding bootcamps represent a small investment of both time and financial resources. Most bootcamps can be completed within a year and at a fraction of the cost of an academic degree. The average cost of a bootcamp is just $12,000!
Data Science
Data science should be high on your list if you are good with numbers and you are looking for a profitable career. Data scientists collect and analyze the torrents of data produced by companies, creating insight to help these corporations improve their performance. Data scientists earn high salaries. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a data scientist is over $108,971. Entry-level data scientists usually earn over $95,195 and more experienced data scientists can earn salaries of up to $185,500.
Quality Assurance
Another type of professional that enjoys an enviable salary and high employability are Quality Assurance Engineers. These professionals test the work of software engineers to ensure that the code is up to standard and does not contain bugs. Companies are willing to pay big money for the services of these professionals. According to Glassdoor, quality assurance engineers earn between $57,000 and $108,000. The national average salary for QA engineers is almost $82,000 per year.
Web Development
Web Development is another field with a bright future. The need for functional, sleek websites grows by the day, which means web developers will continue to be in high demand for the foreseeable future. Senior web developers with education and several years of experience can expect to earn over $90,000 on average. Lambda School offers outstanding bootcamps on web development.
Database Administration
The need for professionals that can properly store, manage and protect data is on the rise. Qualified Database Administrators are in high demand, with companies eager to store and use their data efficiently. Database administrators earn impressive salaries. Most expected salaries for database administrators, according to ZipRecruiter, range between $65,000 to $104,000. The national average salary is over $86,100 per year.
Digital Marketing
Marketing continues to evolve in line with technological progress. Marketers must constantly learn the skills on the cutting edge that will allow them to prevail over the competition, including video, social media platforms and search engine optimization. The industry is booming and digital marketers can bring home sizable salaries. The average salary for project managers on ZipRecruiter is over $93,500 each year and some positions offer salaries of up to $146,000. If you are wondering how to learn digital marketing, check out this guide by Career Karma.
Cybersecurity
Technological progress also has its drawbacks. As our society relies more on digital processes and data, the risks to the security of our information and privacy grow larger. This is where cybersecurity experts come in. These are the people charged with the responsibility of protecting data by testing systems for potential weaknesses. With the prominence of data in the corporate world rising to new heights, demand for these professionals is skyrocketing. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a cybersecurity engineer is almost $120,000 per year. Entry-level cybersecurity engineers usually earn over $50,000 and more senior engineers can earn up to $188,000 per year.
These are just a few of the tech careers you should consider if you are looking to boost your employability and safeguard your future. One of the easiest ways to break into one of these fields is to complete a coding bootcamp. With thousands of schools offering quality courses at very affordable rates, the time has never been better to begin walking down this path.
