The accelerating job growth in tech makes it an appealing industry for people looking for rewarding careers. Whether you’re looking to start your first job or you want to upskill and reskill to switch careers, tech is full of exciting opportunities.
According to a recent Computerworld article, the tech job environment in the US has remained largely unchanged since the pandemic. This means there is still a glaring lack of qualified candidates for various tech positions. Due to a scarcity of skilled candidates, web developers and cybersecurity and compliance professionals are among the most difficult positions to fill.
Job search site Indeed also lists several other IT positions that are in demand, including computer programmers, software engineers, network engineers, and data scientists. With the wide range of positions and roles available, how do you know which tech career is right for you?
Whichever you choose, Flatiron School teaches you the skills that can bring you toward the tech career that fits you best.
Flatiron School holds virtual info sessions to help prepare you for a career in code, data science, cybersecurity, or product design.
Launch your tech career with Flatiron School.In-Demand Tech Careers after Flatiron School
There are several in-demand tech careers that Flatiron School graduates can choose to pursue after completing their courses.
Graduates of the software engineering course are qualified to become full stack web developers. The role of a full stack web developer typically involves writing code, building scalable features for web and mobile services, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to create engaging and user-friendly web applications.
Data Science students will graduate with the skills needed to become successful data scientists. After the course, they will have a deep understanding of data analysis and engineering, including Python, various quantitative methods, and machine learning. A data scientist is typically responsible for collecting, storing, and interpreting data to help an organization or company make data-driven decisions.
Those who graduate from Flatiron School’s cybersecurity engineering course can find success at entry-level roles and become security engineers, analysts, and consultants. Typically, a security engineer designs and implements secure networks while ensuring that networks are safe from cyber attacks. A cybersecurity analyst’s duties mainly include monitoring computer infrastructure, databases, and computer networks, and they are also responsible for developing policies and best practices.
Product Design (UX/UI) graduates are equipped with the skills suitable for a product designer, UX, visual, and UI designer. Students of the course will learn about information architecture, interaction design, user empathy, and research skills needed to begin a career in product design. A product designer focuses on the design and development of consumer products. They collaborate with different departments inside a company to create a product that is appealing to its target market.
The roles above are just a few examples of fulfilling tech careers you can pursue after finishing a Flatiron School course.
Which Tech Career Is Right for Me?
Every person has their own unique set of personality traits, strengths, weaknesses, and interests. The combination of all these factors determines which tech career a person can thrive in. We spoke to several members of Flatiron School to help potential students determine which course, and eventually which tech career, is best for them.
Software Engineering
Rhea Harless, discipline lead of admissions for Flatiron School’s Software Engineering program, shares the typical profile of an ideal student for this course.
- Naturally curious, a problem solver, and a critical thinker
- Demonstrates perseverance and the desire to learn
- Interested in building computers and fixing things
Why choose this career path? Tech jobs are projected to rise at a rate of four to five times the national average, with software engineer/developer jobs accounting for the majority of that expansion. Flatiron School’s Software Engineering program prepares students to become in-demand full stack web developers who can teach themselves new skills as they continue to grow in their careers.
“Learning to code is not a one-and-done thing. It’s a commitment to a lifetime of learning,” says Rhea. “If that excites you, there’s a good chance that this [software engineering] career is for you, regardless of what you’re currently doing.”
Still unsure? Rhea suggests that you get involved in the Flatiron School community as soon as possible by checking out Flatiron School’s free Intro to Coding workshop, participating in Flatiron School’s coding events, or reaching out to Flatiron School’s Software Engineering graduates on LinkedIn.
Data Science
If you’re interested in a data science tech career, Flatiron School’s Data Science course can help get you started. Ideal students of this course often have the following in common:
- Curious and excited about problem-solving
- Detail-oriented, analytical, creative, and a team player
- Have intermediate to advanced Excel skills
- Like working with numbers and have a background in engineering, education, healthcare, and science
- Interested in exploring artificial intelligence and machine learning
Why choose this career path? “We are realizing now how much data we are producing and how to use that data to drive decision-making,” says Maryssa Medley, the senior admissions lead for the Data Science program. “More than ever, making informed conclusions that are powered by data help decrease bias and improve efficiency.”
This course seeks to teach students how to gather, analyze, and leverage data to guide stakeholders in making meaningful and impactful decisions.
Still unsure? Book a 10-minute chat with Flatiron School’s data science admissions team or learn the basics of data science at no cost with Flatiron School’s Intro to Data Science workshop.
Cybersecurity Engineering
A career in cybersecurity is within reach with Flatiron School’s Cybersecurity Engineering course. If you see the following qualities in yourself, a cybersecurity engineering career may be right for you.
- You’re a natural problem-solver and always looking to learn new skills
- You have great communication skills and are good at conducting research
- Interested in gaming, security, networks, jailbreaking or hacking, and building things
“Our course really doesn’t require technical skills to start—that’s actually a huge misconception,” says Kevin Ortiz, discipline lead of admissions for Flatiron School’s Cybersecurity program. “But some good places to start to build your skillset are investigating your OS, starting to read into cybersecurity news, and starting to understand networks.”
Why choose this career path? Kevin shares that there is an unfulfilled need for cybersecurity professionals that today’s educational system fails to address. There are wide gaps between available roles and the talent that is needed to fill these roles.
“It’s an obvious proposition that giving great students the right skillset for success will lead them both to filling that gap and to effective career mobility,” he notes, adding that this is what Flatiron School’s Cybersecurity Engineering program seeks to do.
Still unsure? Learn the fundamentals of the field with Flatiron School’s free Intro to Cybersecurity workshop and see if this career path is for you. If you’re ready to commit to immersive training, book a 10-minute call with Flatiron School’s cybersecurity admissions team.
Product Design
Because product design encompasses a wide range of fields, from research to analysis, there are several prospects for career advancement. Product designers are frequently involved in all aspects of the design process, from research to production to marketing.
A product design program is a great way to start a career in this industry. Ash Navarro, discipline lead of admissions for Flatiron School’s Product Design program, shares the traits of the ideal student for this course.
- Creative, logical, naturally curious, interested, and spends time thinking about how to make processes more streamlined
- Efficient communicator, thoughtful collaborator, empathetic, and solution-oriented
- Interested in creating things, DIY crafts, volunteering, solving puzzles
- Enjoys arts in any medium and may have dabbled in art in a hands-on setting
- Someone who has a social science or medical background with experience in research
Ash also shares, “Our product design course doesn’t actually require students to have technical skills to start. What I do recommend to start building a solid design foundation are reading product design blogs, tinkering with Figma, and establishing a good workflow.”
Why choose this career path? Ash points out that we live in a world where an increasing number of things are transitioning to a virtual realm. With this rapid transition, nearly everything people use requires attention to the overall user experience that a product designer can bring. “As long as the virtual landscape continues to increase, so will the need for product designers,” she concludes.
Still unsure? Try out Flatiron School’s Intro to Product Design workshop for free and get a peek at what a product design career looks like. You can also speak to the product design admissions team to learn more about Flatiron School’s intensive training.
Are You Ready to Get Your Tech Career Started
Flatiron School can provide you with the tools and abilities you need to get started in the tech job of your choice. Whether you want to get into software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, or product design, all of them offer a path toward a fulfilling career.
If you’re uncertain about which career path to take, Kevin Ortiz advises: “Ask yourself: What do you like? If you had the ability to choose what you’d do every day, what would you do? Structuring around that question makes your path much clearer. Once you’ve narrowed down options, try things!”
He continues, “There are tons of free resources offered both inside and outside of Flatiron School’s offerings that should get you an idea of what you might or might not like, and the more you immerse yourself in any option, the more likely you are to get a feel for what you’d like to do.”
If you’re ready to change your life and enter the world of tech, sign up for Flatiron School’s virtual info session about which career path to take. If you’re ready to commit to rigorous tech skills training, choose from Flatiron School’s courses here. To learn more about this great school, check out our Flatiron School review.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.