Why Learn IT?

Information Technology (IT) describes job roles in which computers intersect with business. An IT professional uses technology to solve business problems. IT is a huge field with many job roles, including Network Administrator, Software Developer, Cybersecurity Specialist, Systems Analyst, Social Media Manager, Web Developer Project Manager, and Data Analyst. 

Have you ever explored all of the things IT can do?Here, you’ll learn more about the careers that benefit from IT and how it can enhance your professional life. Regardless of your goals, learning IT is a valuable and impressive skill to add to your resume. 

What is IT?

IT stands for Information Technology. IT is an umbrella term for many job roles that combine business with technology. People who work in IT use computers and technology to solve business problems, make business decisions, and keep businesses running smoothly. 

Many companies have IT departments that manage computers, networks, software applications, and other technical aspects of running a successful business. The IT department could include providing technical support to employees, server maintenance, network security, software development, data analytics, or maintaining hardware and network infrastructure. 

People often think of IT as a support role. While support is a role within IT, IT has many subcategories beyond support, including data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, DevOps, and blockchain. IT professionals might ensure the network is secure, analyze data to help make business decisions, or develop a new software product. 

Jobs requiring IT skills are in high demand, with growth expected to continue at around 15% until 2029. IT can also be a lucrative career path: the average salary for IT professionals is around $100,000. Some IT subfields, such as cybersecurity, have a 0% unemployment rate. Training in IT could lead to an exciting career with an excellent salary.

Read more about what IT is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with IT?

IT describes jobs that combine technology with business, which makes it a huge field with no single job role or learning path. You’ll need verifiable technical training to become an IT professional. However, the size of IT adds a lot of flexibility to its career options and increases the number of opportunities. 

Being knowledgeable about technology is critical for working in IT. You’ll need a combination of intuitive and learned tech skills to excel, especially if you choose a role that requires troubleshooting, such as a support role or cybersecurity. People often underestimate the soft skills necessary in IT jobs, such as logical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, or critical-thinking skills.

IT skills are also highly prized because they improve your work process. Some of the most in-demand IT skills include cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics and data science, networking, software development, machine learning, and project management. Skills in these areas can get you hired in almost any industry.

Common Professional Uses for IT

IT skills are universal since they are needed in every industry that uses technology for business. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that IT jobs will grow by around 15% by the decade's end. 

Some of the fastest-growing IT professions are growing faster than that and include Data Analyst, Full Stack Developer, Cloud Engineer, Cybersecurity Analyst, and Blockchain Engineer. For example, demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to grow by around 30% for the next seven years. Cybersecurity has also had an unemployment rate of 0% for the past several years. These fast-growing IT roles are seeing high demand across industries. 

Jobs for Full Stack Developers are expected to grow around 22% by 2029. While you might think of these skills being used in the tech industry, digital transformation has made Full Stack Developer skills necessary in every industry. For example, streaming services, such as Spotify and Netflix, drive demand for software developers in the Entertainment Industry. Likewise, software developers are in high demand in the Finance Sector because financial institutions create digital account management tools and platforms, such as online banking and smartphone banking apps.

IT Continues to Grow

As technology develops, so does IT. People looking for a career field with high growth should consider IT. Gartner, a prestigious tech research firm in Connecticut, reports that over 3.6 trillion dollars were spent on IT in 2020. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that IT will continue to grow by 11% until 2029: that’s a rate much faster than all occupations. 

The size of IT as a field contributes to its growth possibilities. Opportunities for people with IT skills are nearly limitless. Some of the most in-demand IT skills include coding, cybersecurity, government compliance, database administration, web development, networking, data analytics and management, virtualization, project management, help desk, and AI and machine learning. 

The popularity of IT subfields such as software development, cloud computing, data science, and cybersecurity drives the current IT growth. Many of these IT subfields are seeing even higher growth than IT. For example, cloud computing increased by over 18% in 2021. Cybersecurity is expected to grow by around 30% in the next seven years. 

The demand for Software Developers is expected to grow by around 22% by 2029. According to BLS, the average annual salary for Software Developers is around $107,000. Many aspiring developers use bootcamps to gain hands-on training in coding, such as Noble Desktop’s Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate after learning how to build and maintain both the front and back end of websites and applications. 

IT Jobs Pay Well

IT jobs pay very well: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in IT was around $100,000 in 2021. The average worker in IT makes twice much as the average worker across all occupations. Learning IT skills could lead to a lucrative six-figure salary and a secure career path. 

IT is a very large job field with many career possibilities. Salaries for IT workers will vary by industry, job role, and experience level. Some IT jobs have higher salaries than others, meaning that specializing in particular IT skills can increase your salary prospects.

Specializing in particular IT skills can increase your salary. Some examples of IT jobs typically pay above-average salaries, even for IT. An IT worker who specializes in cybersecurity earns around $100,000 annually. A Data Scientist or Data Analyst earns an average salary of around $113,000 annually. Software Developers earn around $110,000 a year. 

Some IT fields also have lower unemployment rates than others. For example, cybersecurity has had a 0% employment rate for the past several years. Bootcamps are a great way to train in cybersecurity. For example, Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp provides comprehensive training to launch a six-figure career in this hot IT career path. Expert instructors guide students through real-world, hands-on projects to develop skills in protecting systems from cyber attacks. 

IT Skills are Marketable

IT happens at the intersection of technology and business. Successful IT workers will need to be able to combine technical skills, business knowledge, and soft skills. These skill sets are highly in demand and can make you more marketable in the job market. 

The most popular IT technical skills are IP setup, coding, cybersecurity, data analysis and science, mobile development, and cloud systems management. Specializing in one of these “hot career paths” can increase your chance of getting hired in unlimited roles. For example, Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics CertificateCertificate provides graduates with a New York State Licensed Certificate, which can help them launch a new career in data or add critical IT skills to their current role. 

Understanding business is critical to a successful career in IT since IT uses technology to solve business problems. Aspiring IT workers will want to pursue business and management training. For example, taking courses in project management could help you get hired as an IT Project Manager who earns an average salary of around $125,000 annually.

IT workers also need many soft skills, such as leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication. For example, an IT worker at a help desk must know how to solve problems and communicate technical information to people without technical training. 

How to Start Learning IT

If you’re sure you want to learn IT skills, your next decision will be how you want to learn IT skills: live or on-demand. 

Live classes, whether online or in-person, are the most recommended option for people serious about becoming full-time IT professionals. The level of engagement and retainment from live interaction with your instructor is critical when planning to launch a new career. Live instruction also provides opportunities for mentorship and networking that you won’t receive in the on-demand learning format. 

Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool is designed to help people find IT classes in their area, including live online IT classes. 

On-demand courses are self-paced courses that students can take online in their own time and at their own pace. On-demand courses are typically taught using pre-recorded video lessons. There are many online resources for learning IT, including free ones. On-demand courses are great for beginners who want a better understanding of IT basics. However, there is no guarantee that the material is up-to-date or relevant to your career goals. 

Noble Desktop offers free online IT seminars on its YouTube channel. For example, their free seminar, Intro to Full-Stack JavaScript, is a great way to explore an interest in full-stack development.

Read the full guide on how to learn IT.

Learn IT with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

IT is a large job field with many career paths and nearly limitless opportunities. There are many paths to working in IT. However, there are recommended training paths based on your goals. 

To become an IT professional, you’ll need verifiable job skills. Many tech and coding schools offer IT training, but you’ll want to choose one that focuses on technology and business since IT demands skills in both. Bootcamps are highly recommended for launching a new career in IT or pivoting to a different job role because they offer comprehensive technical training in the least amount of time. 

Many bootcamps offer a live online training format which is an excellent option if there are no in-person IT courses in your area. Because the class is live, it works like an in-person class. You can ask questions and interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You can collaborate with classmates or receive direct feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. One advantage of live online classes is that they give you the interaction of an in-person classroom without any commute time. You can train in IT skills from your home or from anywhere.

Noble Desktop is a coding, business, and design school that offers live online bootcamps and certificate programs in some of IT’s hottest career paths, including data analytics, full stack development, and cybersecurity. All their classes have guaranteed small class sizes, so you get extra guidance from an expert instructor. Noble Desktop uses a unique approach in all its classes: instructors teach a “micro-lecture” and immediately guide students through applying the concept they’ve just learned. They also have a “learn the skills guarantee,” which includes a “free retake” option in which graduates can retake a course for free to continue developing their skills. 

Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate provides comprehensive training in data analysis, data visualization, business intelligence, and databases. Data Analysts use data to help businesses make good decisions. Students are guided through real-world, hands-on projects to develop skills in using Excel for data analysis, working with Python, SQL and database operations, data interpretation, business forecasting, machine learning, and using Tableau for data visualization. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Data Analytics which is shareable on Linkedin. 

You can earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Cybersecurity by taking Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. Students work with an expert instructor to develop skills in network security tools, evaluating network security using penetration testing, Security Operations Center (SOC) principles and practices, understanding attackers, security monitoring and logging techniques, information gathering techniques, and understanding application vulnerabilities. 

Full Stack Developer is listed as a Top 3 Job in the US by Glassdoor. Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate provides comprehensive training for becoming a Full Stack Developer who creates both the front end (what you see) and the back end (how it runs) of websites and applications. Students learn to create layouts using HTML and CSS, program in JavaScript, create web applications using Node.js, use MongoDB to work with databases, API development using Express.js, work with Git to track changes, and use JavaScript libraries. 

Key Insights

• IT is a large job category with very high growth and high demand.
• Some of the most in-demand IT roles include software development, coding, cybersecurity, cloud services, data analytics, machine learning, and project management.
• IT jobs pay well, and specializing in particular IT subfields can increase your salary expectations.
• You can receive comprehensive IT training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.