Many of us tend to become aspire to careers that are commonly known about, from police officer to lawyer to teacher to doctor.. When actually, behind these jobs there's a whole world of opportunity teeming with 'lesser known' jobs in the sector you're interested in. If you are interested in IT, or put off that the only job available seems to be IT support, think again! There's a lot more to IT than meets the eye.
Data Scientist
It's all in the name. Data Scientists are needed by companies to collate large quantities of information to establish things like consumer trends and habits. This position plays a crucial role in determining the next steps of a company, as data scientists can also make predictions about the market which will affect their marketing decisions or decision to launch a new product range. With an ever-changing market, data scientists enable businesses to keep abreast of changes, to ensure the company doesn't go stagnant and lose customer interest. It also allows them to capitalise on their customers' preferences to assist them in making more profit. To launch a career as a Data Scientist, a degree in IT is usually expected alongside experience working within the field (healthcare, engineering, beauty, legal field) that you are hoping to work in.
Cyber Security
If you've thought about fighting crime, but the role of a police officer on the beat or a security guard doesn't tickle your fancy, a position you may not have considered is working in Cyber Security. Education and experience within this field are essential, such as studying a degree at the University of Alabama Birmingham to give you the ins and outs of how to complete the job and do it well. You'll work on the front line for a business, and create/use software to combat external threats that are trying to access essential business data: customer credentials, company bank details, financial reports, and private business intel. Cybercrime is a real thing. It only takes a glance at the cyberattack section on the Independent website to see the ever-increasing threat on companies data and how much more and more businesses need people with this skill set to protect their reputation and integrity.
Graphics Designer
For those who are innately creative with an eye for detail, you may be interested in a role in graphic design. In this job, you can expect to create the visual concepts that will engage, inspire, and captivate an audience. From website and logo design jobs to being a fantasy cover designer for books, graphic design is such a broad and varied area with hundreds of different job roles that you might never have realised existed. If you're interested in this field, there are a few things you can do to make a career as a designer a reality. Most graphic designers have a foundation degree in graphic design. The skills you will learn and hone on this course are drawing and IT skills. Alongside this, you should build a portfolio of your work, to demonstrate your progression and show off your skills.
Video Game Designer
Millions of people love to play video games. Whether designing new worlds, combating monsters, working as part of a team or solving mysteries. It's a form of escapism that quenches a person's boredom and enables them to escape even just for a moment from their everyday lives. You could be the person to create that kind of entertainment for someone. To become a video game designer, a few skill sets are required. Usually, graphic design and using coding platforms. To gain these skills you need to hit the books and gain a bachelor's degree. Following this, you should try and gain an entry-level role as a games tester. Along the way, you can develop a portfolio of indie games in your spare time to present your achievements to gaming businesses.
One of the jobs above may have piqued your interest as a potential IT career, or maybe it's opened your mind to dig deeper into the sector you are interested in to find jobs in niche sectors that are not often widely advertised. Either way, it's a step in the right direction for finding something that you are passionate about, away from the common jobs that are professed to use from a young age.
