Taking on a career in IT is a great idea. There are endless opportunities and you can thrive in your job. However, there are some myths associated with searching for a new tech job.
Myth 1. You need a degree
To achieve a career in tech, some people believe that you need an IT specific degree. Some employers do ask for degrees, but this is not always the case.
Skills and experience are becoming more valuable to employers rather than having a degree. Applicants that are self-educated and use their initiative to learn new skills through books and online classes can be viewed just as highly in the IT industry.
Myth 2. Tech jobs are for males
Women are underrepresented in the tech industry compared to males. Statista reports that since 2016, female graduates in STEM subjects remain the lowest, sitting at around 15% of overall graduates.
However, this demonstrates a gap in the market full of opportunities for females to get involved. Girls in particular are being encouraged in schools to pursue STEM subjects, so that they can develop these skills into a full-time career.
Myth 3. You must live in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is home to industry leading powerhouses such as Apple and Google. However, you do not need to live in Silicon Valley to have a successful career in IT. New tech hotspots are emerging throughout the world, including the Research Triangle in North Carolina and Silicon Docks in Dublin. Also, with the working from home/hybrid trend continuing to rise, IT professionals are able to work from any location.
Myth 4. You need to code
Although there is a significant number of tech jobs that require coding, there are some tech positions that do not require coding on a daily basis. For example Technical Writers and Project Managers do not require the need for coding but they are still classified as a tech career.
Myth 5. There is a lack of opportunities
This is quite the opposite in the tech industry. For example, according to Statista, technology is expected to gradually replace a large number of retail jobs as soon as 2030, causing an increase in the number of tech jobs in this industry alone.
Although there are many myths to consider when taking on an IT career, they are not always true. If you are searching for a new tech role, take a look at the jobs we are hiring for and get in touch with our Recruitment Consultants today.
Written by Emma Mitchell