If transitioning into a career that is guaranteed to grow and produce a generous salary is among your goals for 2023, then look no further than IT. With the post-pandemic prevalence of remote work and the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, it is no surprise that careers in information technology and cybersecurity are in demand.
According to the Robert Half Salary Guide for 2023, technology employers are offering salary increases, professional development and more to attract and keep top performers. The need for people with technology skills across industries is only heightening competition for the best candidates.
If you’re thinking of starting a career in IT or looking to move up within the sector, an important first step is understanding the value of your skills to employers. And that value begins with huge demand…
Opportunities abound
Tech is one industry where opportunities outpace growth, meaning hiring managers are motivated to incentivize roles in order to attract, retain and promote. According to a study by Robert Half, 62 percent of tech managers plan to expand their teams in 2023, and 88 percent said it’s challenging to find skilled workers to fill available roles. Even as companies make offers quickly, top candidates often turn them down because other employers acted faster or offered a higher salary.
Gartner's latest global technology forecast predicts that IT services will expand 7.9 percent in 2023 to $1.3 trillion. In addition, worldwide IT spending is projected to total $4.6 trillion in 2023, an increase of 5.1 percent from 2022. With this growth rate and every organization in the world trying to go digital, most IT departments are facing talent shortages.
These challenges led a recent LinkedIn study to predict IT jobs will be the most in demand roles in 2023. Similarly, The Job Network pointed to a CareerBuilder study that examined growth among a variety of sectors from 2018 through 2023, concluding that the industries that will continue to see the highest demand are healthcare, IT and data analytics.
So why exactly are these roles so difficult to fill? As companies embrace automation and e-commerce, they need more tech talent. In addition, areas such as cloud services, data analytics and cybersecurity are now needed in almost every industry.
“Hottest” Jobs for 2023
According to Robert Half’s annual employment guide, the hottest tech jobs for the coming year are:
Cloud engineer
Database developer
DevOps engineer
Front-end developer
Help desk, tiers 2 and 3
Network administrator
Network security engineer
Software developer
Software engineer
Systems security manager
If you’re convinced that the IT sector is the path for you, let’s look now at how to get started. Certifications are an important signal to employers that you have what it takes to fill their teams.
Importance of Tech Certifications
Certifications are always in high demand as a way for employers to verify the skills of a new hire. The skills and knowledge required to pass these exams give employers confidence that they've made the right hire.
However, in IT, ongoing training is not only critical, but highly valued as an incentive by employees. That means employers looking to retain talent are increasingly looking to provide quality ongoing training. According to Robert Half, a strong professional development program is one of the top factors IT candidates look at when considering a role at a new company — or staying with their current one.
The Robert Half employment guide for 2023 lists the most in-demand tech skills and certifications as:
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
DevOps
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft certified professional (MCP)
Microsoft certified solutions associate (MCSA)
Microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE)
Ultimately, the difference in salary comes down to specialization. For IT pros, that means skills and certifications. Both increase the marketability of a professional. Employers may increase salaries between five to ten percent for professionals with sought-after skills and abilities.
Some of the most popular certifications, as identified by the Robert Half guide, include CISSP, CCNA, and CompTIA A+. However, certifications show more than proving a skillset. They also signal to employers that a professional is committed to always keeping their skills up to date.
How ACI Learning Can Help You
Certifications can mean a difference of thousands of dollars in salary. That is why, at ACI Learning, we balance by-the-book training that helps people pass their exams with real-world, hands-on experience. This ensures our students can take their learning beyond the classroom and be fully prepared for a brand-new career.
We understand the pressures of working full-time while still wanting to advance education and earning potential. That’s why we offer classes during the morning, afternoon, or evening, on campus, or online to meet any schedule and learning style.
Ultimately, a certification is a great, cost-effective way to get into the lucrative IT field for a fraction of the cost of a university. With the continuing upward trend in salaries, the IT industry is not going anywhere anytime soon.
One of the most widely recognized beginner certifications is the CompTIA A+ certification. Just earning the certification can open doors into most entry-level IT positions and supply potential promotions for those already in the field. If you’re looking to kickstart your IT career, this is the path for you. And at ACI Learning, we are proud of our status as an official training partner of CompTIA.
We combine state-of-the-art training with strong Career Services support to create the employment outcomes our students are seeking. Each student has an Employment Development Manager to offer 1-on-1 support as they work to create a powerful resume, optimize their LinkedIn and begin interviewing for tech roles.
If you are interested in building a successful career in IT, contact us and we will get you set up with one of our expert career advisers.
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