What to Do If You’re Struggling to Pick a Career in IT

The IT industry has a huge number of career opportunities. With so many distinct fields within IT, each representing millions of people worldwide, starting your IT career can feel incredibly daunting.

So many roles can also mean the industry is highly competitive, and with so many different avenues to go down, you might be struggling to pick a career. Jobs in IT are diverse and spread across multiple industries, so it’s hardly surprising if you can’t decide on the right IT career path.

In this article, we’ll be providing a detailed guide on how you can understand the various careers in IT better and choose the right one for yourself.

1. Explore Career Paths in IT

If you’re struggling to pick a career in IT, you’ll make your decision much easier by taking the time to gather more knowledge about all the career options available to you in this industry first.

To make a more informed choice, it’s helpful to first understand the various roles within the IT industry and how they contribute to the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Some common IT career paths include:

• Software development – Involves designing, coding, and maintaining software applications using programming languages and frameworks.
• Data Analysis – Focuses on collecting, organising, and interpreting data to help businesses make informed decisions using tools like SQL, Python, and Excel.
• Cybersecurity – One of the most common careers in IT, centred around protecting businesses from hackers and cyber attackers.
• Cloud Computing – Cloud engineers use cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure and AWS to assist companies in transferring their operations from physical hardware to online tools.

All these jobs come with their own benefits, challenges, and skill requirements, which brings us to our next point of consideration. However, if you are struggling to make a decision, there are many generic entry points into IT that will allow you to try various aspects of the career.

2. Assess Your Skills and Interests

Once you’ve got a decent understanding of the different jobs in IT, you should then evaluate your strengths and weaknesses before committing to any specific role.

Of course, you also need to have a passion for the field that you’re going to be applying for, so rule out anything that doesn’t interest you.

When you’re assessing your skills and interests, ask yourself questions like: “Do I want to interact with customers and help them with their day-to-day IT issues?”, “Am I good at problem-solving and logical thinking?”, “Would I enjoy working with data, and analysing it?”

There’s no objective answer to these questions, as everyone has different skill sets and preferences. Answering them now will help you narrow down your chosen career path to something more fulfilling.

3. Research Industry Trends and Opportunities

After you’ve decided what career path you want to choose, it’s time to find the right role within the field to apply for. However, your dream job might not always be in high demand or secure in the long term.

For instance, with demand far out-stripping supply in AI, jobs around machine learning (ML) have been in incredibly high demand by companies. This is because these technologies are becoming increasingly important for automation and decision-making.

You’ll only find information like this by researching the current industry trends. Taking the time to research the market is key when searching for job opportunities in the IT industry.

Choosing a career path that interests you and is predicted to grow will give you the security of a stable career along with long-term opportunities.

4. Gain Hands-On Experience Through Internships or Certifications

You might think of internships as just low-paying or unpaid positions, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The benefits of an internship go beyond the remuneration.

Internships are typically easier to secure than full-time positions and give you the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the field you’re interested in. You’ll get exposure to industry experts and have a chance to build valuable connections with people who have established careers.

Alongside internships, you should also consider gaining certifications, which are a great way to show your credibility to an employer. The good thing about certifications is that many don’t require heavy time commitments and can be gained within a few weeks or months.

Depending on your goals, there are multiple certifications that you can get if you’re pursuing a job in the IT industry. These include:

• CompTIA A+ for general IT support.
• AWS Cloud Practitioner for knowledge of how AWS’ cloud platform works.
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) for cybersecurity skills.

Don’t underestimate the value of certifications and internships in the IT industry, they can help you learn more about your skills and interests if you’re struggling to pick a career.

5. Seek Guidance from Mentors or IT Professionals

If you’re uncertain about your career choices, getting a fresh perspective from a mentor could provide you with the clarity you need. Whatever your struggles might be, there’s a good chance that a mentor in your industry has either experienced it themselves or helped someone in a similar situation before.

Find mentors who specialise in the IT industry to ask them for career advice and industry insights. A good mentor should be aware of the best certifications to work towards, and might also introduce or refer you to other IT professionals and give your career a head start.

Mentors have a unique ability to quickly learn about your skills and weaknesses. Their analyses can provide valuable information and put you on the right career trajectory.

Sign Up With Career Navig8r Today to Pick the Right Career for Yourself

Struggling to pick a career in the IT industry isn’t uncommon, but there are effective ways to face career uncertainties with confidence.

When you’re ready to take the next step towards a fulfilling IT career, you may want a mentor to guide you through the process of finding and settling into a job.

At Career Navig8r, we understand that starting a new career or trying to advance in your existing role isn’t easy. You may not know the best route to success, and you may need more support than your supervisor or team leader can provide.

You may also have numerous questions about what to expect, what skills you’ll need, and what employers are looking for when they’re hiring. That’s where you could benefit from working with a qualified and experienced career mentor who can answer these questions and help you grow in your chosen career.

Need a career mentor for your specific job role or industry? Sign up with Career Navig8r and find your ideal mentor now.