5 Reasons to Pursue a Career in Technology

Most people spend about one-third of their lives at work, so it’s important that they find a job they’re happy with. In terms of industry growth, work-life balance, accessibility and salary, you can’t do much better than a career in technology. People working in the computer and information technology (IT) space are consistently ranked among the happiest employees.

In honor of National Techies Day today (Oct. 3), here are five reasons you should join the tech club:

1.  The industry is growing rapidly

The number of computer and IT jobs will increase 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)—faster than the average rate of 5 to 9 percent for all other industries. That translates to about 557,100 new jobs over the next decade. Though Silicon Valley may be the mecca of the tech world, you won’t have to move to northern California to take advantage of this surplus of jobs. The technology industry is quickly expanding in cities in North Carolina, Indiana and Michigan, to name a few.

2. You don’t need an academic degree

It may be surprising that such a focused career doesn’t require a four-year bachelor's degree.  More emphasis is being placed on alternative, concentrated educational programs, such as those offered by General Assembly and the Flatiron School, that offer training in front- and back-end web development and user-experience design. Some companies started investing in talent cultivation by partnering with workforce development experts who can custom-design a recruitment, training and onboarding process that targets people from underrepresented groups. Why, you ask? These companies recognize the benefit of employing people who represent their local communities, as they bring fresh perspectives and insights, while also enabling companies to meet their diversity needs. But most of all, a custom workforce-development program ensures that their talent are trained for the job on day one, as well as given the tools to adapt to an ever-changing industry.

3. Tech jobs are lucrative

No matter what tech job you land—even the ones that don’t require higher education—chances are you’ll be well compensated. In 2017, the median annual salary for the computer and IT occupations was $84,580. Computer support specialists, generally the lowest-paid employees within computer and information technology, were still paid an average of $52,810 in 2017. Computer and information systems managers actually made the BLS list for the top 20 highest-paying jobs, with an average annual salary of $139,220.

4. Work-life balance and workplace flexibility

Money isn’t everything. Sure, the generous salaries associated with tech jobs are a major draw, but most positions also provide an excellent work-life balance. When job-search site Glassdoor listed the 29 best jobs for work-life balance, more than 10 were in the realm of computer and IT. In some cases, the structure of tech roles will allow you the ability to work remotely.

5. IT professionals are not boxed into a single industry

Choosing a career as a tech professional means you can work across a variety of industries and sectors. This means computer and IT professionals have the freedom to pursue opportunities in finance, government, entertainment, health care and more for organizations ranging from start-ups and nonprofits to long-standing corporations. The possibilities are endless.


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