3 Potential Career Paths for IT Graduates

The labour market is a constantly evolving entity, and one that continues to create new opportunities across a host of diverse markets. While the recent decline in unemployment in the UK, which culminated in an 11-year low for the rate of job-seeker applications, may have been largely attributed to a plethora of entry-level positions, however, there are also a select-few industries that are always in need of highly skilled applicants and candidates for work.

Take the vast and diverse field of IT, for example, which has an incredible array of applications and remains one of the most sought after skills in the contemporary labour market. Along with software development and information security, information technology has emerged as the fastest growing career field in the technology market.

3 Potential Career Paths for New IT Graduates

While it may be one thing to determine IT as the most lucrative career path within the contemporary technology market, however, it is quite another to identify your chosen niche. With this in mind, here are three of the most viable career choices for recent IT graduates: -

1. Database Administrator

Big data is a huge consideration in the modern age, as this concept drives core business functions such as CRM, marketing and sales. Given this, the breadth of information available to business and the importance of accuracy, companies are therefore increasingly keen to employ skilled database administrators with advanced management and problem solving skills.

This is not only a job that comes with a high salary, but data administrators also perform a pivotal role within any business and oversee everything from payroll processes to the data leveraged for the purposes of email marketing. In terms of basic requirement, applicants will usually have an undergraduate degree in computer science or an accreditation in computer information systems (CIS), while knowledge of database management systems like Oracle and Microsoft SQL is also helpful.

2. Online Trading Platform Developer

The demand for database administrators has increased due to a fundamental change in the way that businesses collate and manage information, and this trend is similar to the one that has evolved in the world of financial trading. Rather than deal with third-party brokers, traders can now access online platforms that are capable of analysing data, reporting trends and empowering real-time orders.

Trading platforms such as that of ETX Capital are now commonplace, while they operate within an increasingly competitive market and technological space. This means that there is a growing demand for IT graduates who can build these platforms and the core analytical tools that afford them functionality. This requires a combination of IT skills such as database administration and design, while an appreciation of software development may also afford you a competitive edge.

3. Network Administrator

This is a relatively new concept in the field of IT, and one that is expected to experience exponential demand in the Western world over time. Between 2010 and 2020, for example, the U.S Department of Labour forecasts that network administrator employment will increase by 28%, creating a vibrant marketplace that is growing at a far faster rate than other niches.

The demand for network administrators has exploded as businesses have become increasingly reliant on computerisation, as skilled technicians are required to install, support and ultimately manage the networks that send and receive data. They have often work in tandem with database administrators, although network operatives tend to have a greater focus on hardware and security.

Interestingly, the demand for network administrators also tends to increase during times of economic uncertainty, as businesses look to optimise their existing systems as a way of reducing costs an increasing efficiency. Now is therefore the ideal time to qualify in such a discipline, particularly with issues such as Brexit and geopolitical conflict creating genuine economic volatility.

Students can also benefit from focused network administrator training programs in the current climate, from undergraduate courses to full degree programs. This can deliver the range of skills that you need to thrive in this sector and retain a competitive edge over rival candidates for work.