Do you love working with computers? Are you a real whizz kid with all aspects of technology? If so, you may be considering turning your skills and passion into a career. A career in computing can be fun, rewarding, and highly profitable.
However, computing is a hugely broad field, and there are many different specialties within this area that you can choose from. Choosing the right specialty in computing can be tricky, so this guide is here to help you to understand some of the different options available to you.
Programming
Software, websites, apps, platforms, and tech products all run on code. This code is developed and maintained by programmers. If you are interested in truly getting into what makes computers and other devices work, programming could be the right field for you. Programmers need to have great attention to detail and be able to respond to potential issues quickly and effectively.
Software Engineering
Programming has a significant crossover with software engineering. Some programmers may also be software engineers, while other programmers may work under the direction of a software engineer. If programming is about the precise details of code, software engineering is about the bigger picture. Software engineers need to plan and design software so that it can be used most easily and effectively by end-users, and they will usually work closely alongside programmers.
Data Science
Data is not just useful—it is in fact one of the most valuable resources in the modern world. Data can provide insights that are vital for business strategies, as well as scientific applications. However, analyzing data in order to find the right insights and use them the most effectively is not easy, and data science is a much-needed (and well-paid) field. If you are fascinated by data, statistics, and analytics, and how they can be used to produce certain outcomes, then data science may be the idea field of computing for you.
Cybersecurity and Data Protection
Because data is so valuable, unfortunately there are many people out there looking to acquire it through dishonest means. Hacking, phishing, and other forms of data theft are on the rise, making cybersecurity an increasingly significant concern for many different businesses. Data protection officers and other cybersecurity experts are in high demand (and can earn a lot of money due to this) across all sectors. If you want to learn more about cybersecurity, online courses like the AWS security certification path can help you.
Graphic Design
Being technologically minded and being creative are not mutually exclusive, as evidenced by the number of hugely talented graphic designers out there producing visually appealing or even artistic work! If you have a knack for Photoshop, Canva, or other graphic design tools, this field may be ideal to get into. If you want to learn more about this and develop your skills, there are plenty of online graphic design courses that can teach you everything that you need to know.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (often abbreviated to AI) is very much in the global spotlight lately, with technological advancements such as self-driving cars and smart drones making headlines frequently. The list of applications for AI is enormous, and includes automated machines for factories, smart devices, and infrastructure, and many, many different pieces of software. If you are fascinated by AI, there are an increasing number of career opportunities in this field.
Cloud Computing
The advent of cloud technology and the shift towards cloud computing in recent years has changed the way a huge number of businesses and organizations carry out their working procedures. While the cloud has made it easier and more convenient to share documents, work collaboratively across multiple machines, and access more storage space, experts are needed to maintain cloud systems and to educate people in how to use them properly and securely.
Business Intelligence
Business intelligence is closely linked to data science and makes extensive use of it. However, business intelligence is its own field, and refers to how data is used to aid business. Examples of business intelligence include turning data and analytics into visual reports; tracking the performance of employees, stores, or marketing campaigns; and comparing data to that of a business’s competitors. Working in business intelligence can be one of the most lucrative careers in computing.
What Does the Future Hold?
Because there are so many different sectors within the field of computing, it seems reasonable to assume that the future will see even more pop up. This makes computing one of the most stable and promising fields to start a career in!
If you want to start a career in computing, you don’t have to pick one specialty and stick to it forever—working in any sector of computing is likely to provide you with many transferable skills!
