Everyone is talking about digital jobs and working in the tech industry, especially now that the world has become more digital than ever. According to a McKinsey & Co research, the pandemic “has accelerated digital transformation by 7 years.” Yes, technology and remote work is here to stay and, as opposed to what people may think, tech is not destroying jobs but creating them.
Making a career change is an option for people who are stuck at their jobs, feel like their field of study is not truly relevant anymore or have suffered the employment consequences of the pandemic. So, after looking at yourself in the mirror and saying: “now is the time to make a change”, what comes next? When thinking about a move into the world of technology, people usually ask themselves what are the most demanding jobs in tech right now and which path is good for them.
Well, let us give you an overview of what profiles are out there and let’s see if any of them fit with your profile and interests. Keep in mind that each company may have a different approach in their job descriptions, but this will give you an idea of what to expect when looking for jobs in tech.
Roles in UX/UI Design and what to expect
UX UI Designer: a UX designer works with everything related to the user interaction with digital products. From user research, persona creation, journey mapping, building wireframes and a design thinking approach, to ensuring that everything is intuitive and looking visually solid. They usually collaborate closely with engineers, product managers, QA and more.
UX Researcher: research is a crucial part when it comes to designing. The user experience researcher conducts surveys, gathers information in focus groups and makes sure that decisions are based on qualitative and quantitative data.
Product Owner: is responsible for the final product, from the business objectives to team management. The more technical knowledge the POs have, the more effective they will be.
UX Writer & Content Strategist: While the roles of UX writer and content strategist can be different, they are also very aligned. The ultimate goal is to produce customer-centric content that is useful, clear and concise.
Roles in Web Development and what to expect
Full-stack developer: a full stack developer needs to be proficient in both front end and back end, their ultimate goal is to design user interactions on websites, developing servers, and databases for website functionality.
Front-end developer: the front end developer is mostly in charge of ensuring that the visitor interaction with an application or website is flawless. They work closely with designers, but also with backend developers.
Back-end developer: the back end developer is responsible for the components of the website and makes sure that all the databases work correctly. They have a strong logic and work mostly with the server.
Technical Product Manager: after gaining experience working as a junior developer, it is possible to move into more mid and senior level roles, such as: Technical Product Manager or Lead Developer, in which technical and managerial skills will be involved.
Roles in Data Analysis and what to expect
Business Intelligence analyst: The main goal of a business intelligence analyst is to transform data into useful insights for the company and help making data-driven decisions.
Data Analyst: The Data Analyst collects, cleans and interprets data to solve a problem. Technical skills such as coding are involved; also, data visualization tools are needed to present conclusions and complex information.
Data Consultant: This role is focused on helping companies to understand their weaknesses and opportunities through data. The Data Consultant is able to gather, interpret data and processes to foster, for example, digital transformation in a company.
Python Developer: This is the most technical role, responsible for coding, deploying and debugging development projects.
Roles in Cybersecurity and what to expect
Cybersecurity Analyst: The objective of a Cybersecurity Analyst is to protect the networks and data in a company from cyber attacks.
Cybersecurity Consultant: This role is similar to the cybersecurity analyst, but sometimes works for different companies and their goal is to evaluate risks and identify threats to provide solutions.
Cybersecurity Researcher: The goal of a cybersecurity researcher is to analyze data and identify patterns that can be potentially riskful for the company.
Cybersecurity Project Manager: The main difference between this and the other roles is that the Cybersecurity Project Manager oversees the vulnerability management projects and works closely with clients.
The increased threats to governments and institutions has increased the need of professionals trained in cybersecurity, and created many new roles in the industry.
Now you may wonder: should I study something else or can I get these skills on my own? Remember you don’t need a specific background to get started in any of these fields, but it is important to ensure that you make the right choice. We suggest you do research (if you are here, it means you already took the first step!), ask your network for advice and get information from the school to know which program is best for you.
If you are interested in learning with Ironhack, take a look at our bootcamps in UX UI Design, Web Development, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity. Get in touch with our Admissions Team to get personalized orientation!
