A common misconception: If you work in IT, you sit at a computer and type code all day.
...Not to disappoint you, but that’s far from true.
The IT industry is just like every other industry—it needs programmers and customer support specialists who deal with technical issues, but it also needs marketers, product managers, human resource managers, and financial analysts. The world of IT is bigger than just the IT department within a big organization that fixes computer bugs and updates the product code.
In fact, it’s a $5 trillion (about $15,000 per person in the US) dollar industry globally and one of the largest driving forces of the United States’ GDP.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wrote:
“Overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. About 377,500 openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently.”
With a steady increase in job openings each year, and a median annual wage of $100,530 (as of May 2022) – a huge jump from the average medium annual wage for all occupations in the US, which was sitting at $46,310 as of May 2022—the field is a worthwhile and lucrative pursuit for anyone.
There's so much opportunity within the IT industry—anyone can make their mark.
Curious on how to get started and what you need to be successful in the industry? You’re in the right spot! We asked EasyVista employees from every department (e.g., product marketing, sales, business development, AI, engineering) 5 questions about their career in IT to help you make a more educated decision on if IT is the right field for you.
Why did you choose to work in IT?
Some people know what they want to do for their career at age twelve, some at 25, and others at age 46. Some people want to work in IT because their parents worked as a help desk manager for 20 years. Others want to work in IT because they see technology as the future or work and want to have job security by understanding how computers and software communicate. All that to say, you don’t need to have a specific rhyme or reason for pursuing IT if you’re curious, like to solve hard problems, and are interested in technology.
- “To thumb one's nose at the natural rule that says nothing is lost, everything is transformed. In computer science, one can create from nothing.”
- “Being in a dynamic environment with an ever-evolving technology that helps make the world better.”
- “In IT, and more precisely R&D, I liked the algorithmic part that can solve any issue.”
- “Technology is the future, and IT is relevant in every industry.”
What's your #1 piece of career advice for working in IT?
One day recruiters are looking for Python programming experts, the next Zig and Erlang—the IT industry is always changing (one constant of the industry). That said, what remains steady is there’s always work to be done. Companies are pushing for further adoption of digital technologies and need people to fill the positions. What you need to know about adapting successfully to work in this ever-changing industry:
- “Working in IT is not just writing code.”
- “Be curious!”
- “You can do more than you think you can.”
- “IT is massive—you can do anything from swapping tape drives to writing code that goes to the moon, don't assume that the area of IT you start in is going to be the one you stay in. Branch out, have fun, and find a position that makes you happy and keeps you interested.”
- “Try to understand all aspects of the business. Knowing what your internal customers' needs are, can help you prioritize and provide solutions that are valuable to the organization.”
What soft skills should someone in the IT field have?
Soft skills, interpersonal skills that show a person's ability to interact with others (e.g., communication, teamwork, leadership, creativity), are just as important as hard skills, the technical skills (e.g., coding in Python), in IT. Why? Because most jobs (even those that are remote) involve a mixture of problem solving and some aspect of working with others to accomplish a task.
- “Being able to articulate ideas clearly and build relationships is crucial. Understanding prospects’ needs requires a high level of empathy and emotional intelligence.”
- “Adaptability and flexibility.”
- “Good communication is key. You don't need to be the smartest guy in the room if you can communicate well and adapt to the audience in front of you.”
What is your favorite part of your job?
Every day of your working life will not be an amazing day. Sometimes you’ll have a tough conversation with a client or will be stuck on a problem for weeks without an end in sight as to how to save the company money in a specific department. But the secret to enjoying your job, even when it’s tough, is to find a place where you enjoy working (i.e., the company you work for or the clients you work with) and other parts of your job you enjoy doing (e.g., updating Excel files or hopping on discovery calls with customers). It’s about balancing it all to find a happy medium.
- “Get projects done, learn, repeat.”
- “Solving customer issues and helping them achieve their goals.”
- “Seeing the success of the customer. Deploying an IT system may not seem the most exciting of tasks, but when the customer starts to see the benefits of your work, it is incredibly fulfilling.”
- “When we achieve goals set out by collaborating and executing well together. Nothing goes perfectly as planned, and that's OK. It's in those moments when the team bands together to overcome the issue and continue moving forward that are the most rewarding.”
What advice do you have for someone new to the IT industry?
When you start your career in IT, remember everyone’s new to the IT industry (or whatever industry they work in) at some point in their life, so there’s no harm in being the new person on the block—absorb it. Ask questions. Learn from your peers. Find continuing education programs to complete.
- “Keep in mind that what you will do in 5 years does not exist yet.”
- “Embrace any challenge, stay curious and up to date with the new technologies.”
- “Be curious and do not hesitate to ask questions.”
- “Work hard, absorb knowledge, and find the people who have been in the industry for years to learn from them.”
- “Be a sponge. Work with as many different organizations as possible. A career can be an interesting journey and someone with many views to a business can provide a lot of value to an organization.”
FAQs About Working in IT
What degrees are relevant to working in IT?
Top college degrees for those looking to pursue a career in IT should look at majoring in computer science, web development, software engineering, and business information technology. Those looking to work in IT, but not necessarily on the technical side, should look into degrees such as communications, marketing, finance, and business.
What is the purpose of IT?
The field of information technology (IT) –both it’s processes and professionals–serves to help organizations to maintain their digital infrastructure through creating, collecting, managing, and analyzing data.
What are in-demand jobs in the IT industry?
The hottest jobs in IT right now include big data architect, dev ops engineer, IT director, AI product manager, and cybersecurity analyst.
What are IT professionals?
IT professionals (particularly those who are building the products or responding to cyber threats and support tickets), create networks and communications systems that ensure orgnaizations can work efficiently. Their role is to ensure the systems they oversee are secure and updated—protect against cyber attacks.
If you’re interested in starting (i.e., obtaining an entry-level job or internship) or continuing your career (i.e., entry-level job or advanced career position) in IT, EasyVista is a great place to add to your list of potential companies. View our hiring page to learn more about our global company policies, work-life balance, and open positions.
