The new year is upon us and we just know that your potential future in tech has never looked better. From high salaries to unparalleled career growth, joining the tech industry in 2024 is a fantastic option for those who are eager to take advantage of the new year and all the sector offers. But the tech industry is vast–what jobs will be the most in-demand heading into 2024? What are the skills hiring managers are prioritizing during the candidate selection process?
We’ll answer these questions and much more in this article. But before we get to the good stuff, it’s important to fully understand the growing importance of tech and why so many people are making the switch to tech. So let’s dive right in.
Why Choose Tech?
You’re in your current role and doing just fine, like so many other people. But it does feel like there’s something missing, be it a salary that reflects your hard work and education, flexible work arrangements that allow you to enjoy work outside of the office, or a career that really feels like you’re making a difference. These are all very common things to feel when you’re in a job that doesn’t quite match your goals and inspirations; in fact, these are some of the most common reasons cited when talking to those who have made the move to tech.
So, if these are some of the reasons why people are choosing to pursue a career in the tech industry, does that mean that the tech sector offers these benefits? It does–and more:
Tech salaries are among the highest: tech roles are known for high salaries and there’s a reason why: they are! Thanks to the in-demand nature of these roles and constant need for development and growth on the job, companies are willing to pay well for a tech employee that meets their needs.
The tech sector is one of the most flexible: following the pandemic, lots of companies realized that they don’t need to require employees to be in the office five days a week and even more learned that employee satisfaction grew when remote or hybrid options were a reality. In addition, companies were able to reach new groups of potential candidates when geographic limitations were removed.
The tech sector welcomes outsiders: lots of tech newbies are intimidated by the idea of entering an entirely new field and we get it. How can you compare to someone with a tech university degree or years of experience in the field? Luckily for career changers, the tech sector is full of opportunities for everyone and welcomes skills from all backgrounds. As tech becomes widely accepted across the board, the skills needed from tech professionals is expanding to need completely new abilities that were before only associated with other professions.
Now that you know why so many people are choosing to move into tech, let’s start by covering exactly what the tech hiring forecast for 2024 is and what skills to add to your resume to present the best possible application.
In-Demand Tech Roles in 2024
Before we get into 2024’s up and coming roles, let’s remind you of one important thing: tech is constantly changing and evolving, meaning what’s needed right now could completely change in a matter of months and years. Tech professionals with a powerful career path are skilled in various areas and are ready to adjust to what the next trend is.
What does this mean for you? Well, take our advice, but be prepared to commit to continuous learning and development during your career so that you’re always ready for the next challenge.
In 2024, we can expect to see an increased interest in the following areas:
Cloud computing
In an era where companies are collecting more and more data, the importance of a place to securely store this data for processing and analysis has never been more pronounced. Physical storage centers are extremely expensive to operate and maintain, not to mention the danger of keeping all your data in one place. The cloud has emerged as an incredible alternative to on-site data centers, providing cost-effective, efficient, and customizable data storage solutions to all companies.
The cloud is a relatively new tool that is still taking off and gaining importance; however, professionals skilled in cloud applications are predicted to skyrocket as more and more companies take advantage of this solution.
Data analytics
We know that the best decisions are backed by data and now that companies are capable of collecting so much data regarding their products and services, clients, and competition, skilled professionals who can sort, analyze, and visualize this data are in high demand. And the best part of choosing a career in data analytics? You’ll be prepared for a wide range of roles in a job that will always be searching for skilled employees.
Data-backed decisions are the key to a strong business and this will never go out of fashion--trust us.
DevOps
As we mentioned a few times already, the tech sector is fusing with so many other areas and more and more professionals are coming together to provide their expertise in their specific field, which has led to the introduction and widespread adoption of the DevOps methodology. DevOps seeks to strategically combine and streamline the teamwork process across different roles, making the entire project run smoothly.
This is a new field, but one that is quickly gaining importance as an increasing number of companies work towards efficient project management.
Artificial intelligence
We’re sure you expected to see artificial intelligence on this list; after all, it’s one of the biggest talking points in tech right now. From ChatGPT to automation, it truly seems like there are no limitations with artificial intelligence and that’s why artificial intelligence professionals who are ready to learn and grow with the next tool are high on the list of recruiters.
If you’re ready to commit to continuous learning and development throughout your career, consider exploring artificial intelligence.
In-Demand Tech Skills in 2024
With some of 2024’s top roles defined, let’s shift towards the skills you should try to add to your resume in the next year.
Programming languages
As you begin looking at different web development roles, you’ll see that companies typically ask for experience with and knowledge of specific programming languages. The more you have under your belt, the more opportunities you’ll have available to you. But don’t get carried away; quality is more important than quantity here and you’ll need to focus on obtaining a true and complete adoption of the language before moving on to your next.
To decide which you should add to your resume next, check out job postings to see what recruiters are requesting.
Hacking (the good kind!)
Cyber threats are becoming increasingly dangerous as artificial intelligence tools can be used to create incredibly believable phishing scams; hackers are also becoming more skilled when it comes to penetrating protected systems. And this is where ethical hackers (or white hat hackers) come into play; these hackers work for companies to hack their systems and identify any vulnerabilities before malicious hackers do the same.
Sustainability-focused design
Sustainability is becoming incredibly important in almost every field, but especially design. Today, UX/UI designers need to take the environment into consideration, not just the user, to ensure that their designs are truly beneficial for all. The next generation of UX/UI designers will need to think about an entirely new group of concerns when creating a design, such as accessibility, societal impacts, and the environment.
Future designers will need to show prospective employers that they take this commitment seriously through well thought out designs and a full portfolio.
The future of 2024 is incredibly bright; after all, tech has advanced constantly over the past few years and will continue to do so. If you’re ready to take advantage of all tech has to offer and get started on your tech journey, there’s no better place to start than at Ironhack, where our bootcamps are expertly designed to help you land your first job in tech.
No matter your field of choice, we’re sure one of our bootcamps in web development, UX/UI design, data analytics, or cybersecurity has just what you need to reach success. And with career support beginning before your bootcamp even starts and lasting up to one year post-graduation, we’ll be there to help you polish your interviewing skills, create the perfect portfolio, and finetune that resume–all with the goal of landing you that first role in tech.
Ready to get started? We can’t wait to see you in class.
