What do you want to do for work? What do you want to be? What kind of company do you hope to work for? What job titles are your looking at? Just a small sampling of the types of questions that get fired off at you sometimes before you have even begun your education. While your support system means while by inquiring about your goals and plans what they might not be doing is helping you narrow down your options so that you can start your education with intention. The technology industry is a great example of one that will always be relevant and is broad enough that you can start your education with this field in mind and decide on your specialty later.
Requirements
Depending on what you ultimately decide you want to specialize in the requirements will vary. Some positions insist on a bachelor’s degree, or even a masters, while others will place a higher value on certifications and experience. If college is your plan either way that can be good news because having your degree will never be a disqualifier. Salaries in this industry can be significant, which is an attractive advantage. Research median pay scales as you investigate your options for funding your education so you can be sure that you are not borrowing more for college than you will be able to pay back from working in your field of choice.
If you need to finance tuition costs, consider taking out a student loan from a private lender to pay for college. Private lenders often provide a level of flexibility with their terms that can be of great appeal to the applicant. If you have pre-determined an education plan for yourself regarding your hopes for a career in the tech industry, discussing so with the lender might help to create an air of responsibility that will show the lender that you are a low-risk candidate for a loan.
On the Job Perks
With the broadness of this industry comes a ton of opportunity for you to customize the career of your dreams. Many IT companies are not traditional 9-5 style businesses which can lend itself to a successful work-life balance for those who work in the field. The tech industry also provides you with an opportunity to work as a part of team or fill a more autonomous role. Being able to play to your own professional strengths is a huge advantage.
Since technology itself is constantly evolving and growing, so will your career opportunities. Adaptability is a trait that is essential in this industry since the whole point of tech in general is to always be the next best thing. As a result, you will have endless opportunities to advance your learning, perfect your skills, and apply what you know to the development of what is to come.
Possibly the biggest advantage of a career in the tech industry is relevancy. In some way shape or form there will always be a technological need and space to fill in any company. This fact also means that there will always be opportunity to freelance or perform contract work if you find that a salaried position within one company is not your ideal career path.
