The tech world is certainly full of contradictions at the moment. One minute we are hearing that tech jobs are among the most in-demand and expected to continue to grow for the next decade, and the next the big tech companies are conducting mass layoffs. If you are considering pursuing a career in tech, it will help to understand the industry a little better before you make any serious decisions.
Opportunities outside of FAANG
The huge levels of layoffs in FAANG companies (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Alphabet/Google) have undoubtedly shaken the tech world. But rather than see this as a limitation, up and coming organizations can see this as a unique opportunity to entice – and keep- skilled individuals who have experience of working in some of the largest tech companies in the world. This natural redistribution of talent can only lead to exciting new opportunities for people, some of whom may have felt trapped in their previous positions, whilst giving other organizations across industries access to world-class talent. Among the most in-demand are software developer, IoT, and cloud security jobs.
Software developers
The role of the software developer has been cited as one of the fastest growing jobs, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a 20% rise in the decade from 2021. So, while the mass layoffs in the tech industry may see skilled software developers looking for opportunities, those opportunities are out there, they just may not be in big tech. Regardless of what the major tech companies are doing, other industries; finance, commerce, healthcare, and transportation, are all continuing to invest in tech and are crying out for skilled software developers.
There are fantastic software developer opportunities to be found in:
- Healthcare. Not only are healthcare apps on the rise and most practices turning to electronic medical health records and practice management systems such as online prescriptions, appointment scheduling, and billing, but telehealth and e-appointments are fast becoming the norm. Naturally, this has led to a huge rise in the need for skilled software developers.
- Manufacturing. Today, technology plays a major part in manufacturing as it allows streamlined production processes and unrivaled product maintenance, inventory, and supply-chain management. Only the finest manufacturers will be able to compete without adequate tech capabilities; and even then, they are putting themselves at risk of falling behind the market.
- Insurance. The automation of claims processing offers significant savings for insurance providers, but chatbots, fraud detection software, and data analytics allow insurers to reach the next level in terms of customer experience and security. It is therefore not surprising that there is always a need for skilled software developers in insurance.
- Financial Services. Like insurance, financial services require high end software for a range of functions, which include online banking, e-commerce management, organizational planning, record keeping and budgeting, tax management, and fraud prevention.
Cybersecurity
Where there are websites, there is a need for cyber security, and in a world where everyone needs an online presence, everyone also needs some level of a cybersecurity specialist. Whether that is in-house or externally sourced cyber security support, the jobs are out there for those willing to look for them and who have a demonstrable background in cyber security and a strong skillset.
The Internet of Things/ AI
The IoT is rapidly growing across industries. Encompassing a range of services from product tracking and consumer analytics to smart home management and domestic and commercial security systems, the concept of allowing commonplace objects to communicate via the internet is creeping into almost every part of our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. From smart homes to entire smart cities, factories, and even power grids, the healthcare, retail, and manufacturing industries especially have embraced the possibilities offered by the IoT, meaning that a career working within the IoT is likely to be secure for the foreseeable future.
Making yourself stand out
Those in the tech industry may be forgiven for being confused; one minute there is a gap in tech talent, and the next there are massive layoffs. However, it is important to remember that although the big tech companies form a large part of the tech world, they don’t dominate all industries and there are still plenty of opportunities out there. If you are looking to secure a new post in software development, it can help if you are skilled in the more popular languages, such as Python, SQL, Java, and JavaScript. This will make it easier for you to jump straight into departments that have built their tech capabilities in these programming languages. Skills in the less popular, but up and coming, languages could be an advantage, particularly if they offer a feature that your new organization is looking for, but which they don’t currently have access to.
It’s not just about the tech skills
The days where the techies sit quietly at the back doing their thing are far behind us. Whilst technical capabilities are, of course, essential, it is the soft skills that will help one candidate stand out from the rest. These include communication, leadership, creativity, and agility; skills which all allow the software developers, cyber security specialists, and IoT teams to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing, ever-growing environment. And, of course, in a time of economic uncertainty, the ability to adapt and demonstrated resilience is more important than ever.
Finding your niche
Organizations are realizing that, in order to attract the right people, they need to offer the right conditions. From hybrid and remote working to competitive benefit packages, it can be challenging to determine which packages are more advantageous. As well as being able to apply their previous experience working with different businesses, a tech recruiter will be able to look at the full employment packages on offer and advise you on which ones will offer the greatest benefits in the longer term. Tech recruiters also tend to be ahead of the curve when it comes to seeing the next big trends and helping clients to capitalize on them, so it if you are looking for a career move in tech, it is worth getting insight from those in the know.