Career Paths for IT Graduates
If you have a talent for computer sciences, coding or systems analysis , you were probably guided into a degree in information technology. This generalist degree offers so many career path opportunities. Let’s look at some of the less commonly explored careers for IT graduates.
Information Technology degrees
IT degrees focus on coding, data and people. You learn how to apply complex technological fixes to people’s problems. While it’s not the sexiest degree, IT is a growing field with so many other applications and you learn some valuable skills that can help you excel in other careers. Let’s take a look at some of the transferrable skills you can gain from an information technology degree.
Creative problem solving
In an information technology degree, you’re taught how to think outside the box. You need to be able to use complex and creative problem solving in this degree whether you’re rewriting code or fixing coding issues, thinking outside the box can help you work it out.
Creative problem solving is a highly transferable skill that helps you succeed in many other career paths.
Advanced technical skills
In information technology you gain a lot of what people call advanced technical skills. This covers things like coding, data analysis, technical writing and programming languages. These skills can have applications in tech writing, website development and application design. There are many different career alternatives where you need advanced technical skills.
Coding
Coding and programming are essential to information technology. This specialist skill means that you can write computer programs, create the functions of websites and change those functions. Coding has applications in other fields, especially website design, UX design and application creation.
Careers you can move to
With these transferable skills, there are lots of great career paths you can move into. Let’s take a more detailed look at some of those lesser-known career paths below.
Cyber Security
Cyber security is a fantastic career path for IT graduates. It suits those with a natural flair for hacking and coding. As more and more of our personal and financial information goes online, these professionals are in such high demand it’s driving up the price. The average annual salary for a cyber security specialist is now $123,206 in Australia.
A background in IT helps you to master this specialist area but to gain some specialised knowledge in the cyber field, you could study the Certificate IV in Cyber Security. In this course you’ll how to:
- Implement and monitor WHS policies, procedures and programs to meet legislative requirements
- Analyse and present research information
- Communicate information
- Contribute to copyright, ethics and privacy in an ICT environment
- Write script for software applications
- Utilise basic network concepts and protocols required in cyber security
- Test concepts and procedures for cyber security
- Recognise the need for cyber security in an organisation
- Implement network security infrastructure for an organisation
- Develop a cyber security industry project
- Secure a networked personal computer
- Perform basic cyber security data analysis
- Evaluate and test an incident response plan for an enterprise
- Expose website security vulnerabilities
- Manage risks involving ICT systems and technology
- Review and update disaster recovery and contingency plans
You can learn more about this course here.
Project management
Within the technology field there are so many specialist projects that require management from people who truly understand the field. That’s why project management is a great sidestep for IT graduates looking to level up their career and move to a leadership position.
The great thing about project management is that you get to work on a specific project, troubleshoot it until it comes to fruition and see the finalised product. You also get to move onto different projects so the subject matter you’re dealing with is changing with each new contract, which keeps things fresh and interesting.
If you wanted to move into project management from IT, you can upskill by completing a Diploma of Project Management. This course can be completely entirely online, through self-paced, trainer-supported study. In this course you learn how to:
- Manage project scope
- Manage project time
- Manage project quality
- Manage project cost
- Manage project human resources
- Manage project information and communication
- Manage project risk
- Manage project integration
- Interpret compliance requirements
- Manage business resources
- Manage personal and professional development
- Manage team effectiveness
You can learn more about this course here.
Web development
As an information technology graduate, you’ll already have a lot of the key skills you’ll need to excel as a website developer. Coding, programming and data analysis will all be necessary to the role. Website developers get to build websites, add functions and create plug-ins that help businesses do what they need to do online.
Depending on the topics you covered in your specific degree and your experience, you may already have all the skills you need to break into website design. If not, then a short course in UX design would certainly help you to bridge the gaps in your knowledge.
Final Thoughts
There are so many opportunities out there for talented IT graduates. If you’re thinking about a career shift to specialise in cyber security or project management, get in touch with us. We’d love to help you find the right course to match your career goals.