As time goes by, technology becomes ever more present in our lives, and even the most mundane things like kettles and toasters join the smart ranks. Thus, it becomes apparent that the need for well-trained IT professionals is only going to rise. This fact makes a lot of people look at this industry as a “get out of jail free” card that allows for a safe and carefree future. Of course, that can’t be further from the truth, and the career of an IT professional is just as burdened with problems as any other.
Let us then try to take an honest look at the IT industry to see whether this field of work is actually for you.
Good: Good salaries
Let us start with one of the most important considerations and the one that has put the IT industry at the top of the wish list of every job seeker on the planet. There is no denying that IT professionals are making earnings that go above the local national average. If we take a look at Australia as an example of a developed country, we can see that an IT system architect has an average salary of A$139,690 per annum. That number almost doubles the national average of A$87,209.
Bad: Constant complaints
As much as it is well-known for its solid earnings, the IT industry also features certain notoriety for being exposed to constant complaints. One of the main reasons behind this onslaught of criticisms is the technical incompetence of the end-users. Sometimes it is a misunderstanding between the client and the system architect. And then there is the fact that no software product is ever truly finished. Be that as it may, the fact remains that IT professionals are constantly under fire.
Good: Unparalleled job security
As we already mentioned, the demand for well-trained and experienced IT professionals is very high and will only continue to rise as our dependence on cutting-edge technology grows. That puts programmers in a very favourable position. In an economic climate where people struggle to keep their job positions, IT professionals can choose where they want to work and have the privilege to change employment under their terms when they feel there is no more room for progress.
Bad: Endless hours behind the desk
One of the inherent weaknesses of the entire IT industry is that its employees are forced to spend endless hours behind the desk. This situation is only made worse by the fact that deadlines sometimes force the workers to extend their shifts up to 10 and even 12 hours. If we once again look for an example in Australia, we can see that spine surgeons such as Dr Timothy Steel perform a huge number of interventions on workers who spend long shifts sitting in a chair.
Good: A feeling of self-worth
Because they are earning more than respectable salaries and have a great deal of ownership over their careers, the workers in the IT industry often have a strong sense of self-worth and empowerment, which is not something you can say for a lot of industries out there. Also, IT professionals are often respectable and valuable parts of the local community capable of supporting local businesses. Finally, due to their technical prowess, IT experts are in a position to lead and solve others’ problems.
Bad: A great deal of pressure
The work of IT experts can be seen everywhere, from DVRs to the robust systems airline companies use to navigate planes. We could easily go as far as to say that the world as we know it depends on the technical competency of the people making these products. Of course, software packages always undergo detailed testing before being commercially released, but still. The awareness that you are working on large-scale projects that may have serious real-life repercussions is very stressful.
Good: The opportunity for growth
The IT industry is in a state of constant flux. The new updates, software packages, and even new programming languages are being released on a seemingly daily basis. Although some people would see this fact as stressful, the truth is that, in this day and age, every industry requires constant self-improvement. The distinct benefit of the IT industry is that this state of motion at least creates an abundance of options that programmers can use to steer their careers in different directions.
As we can see, the number of pros we’ve covered here outnumbers the cons. This decision was intentional because the IT industry still represents one excellent career choice worth your attention. However, that doesn’t change the fact that this field of work isn’t as carefree as it seems. Take both sides of the medal into serious consideration before making the final decision.
