(Photo Credit @jasongoodman_youxventures)
You might be wondering - should I take this leap? Am I really interested in pivoting to a career in tech? How can I feel more confident in making this move?
It’s ok to wonder - in fact, it’s a smart move to think about the reasons you are making a change.
(This is actually a great skill to develop to work in tech - challenging your assumptions...more on that later.)
Here are 3 insights to help you understand why it’s a great time to be looking for a job in tech (Updated for the 2022 Job Market Outlook):
1. There is considerable growth in all kinds of jobs in tech companies.
As you can see from the first chart, the number of net tech jobs is increasing year over year (despite the pandemic, or in response to it).
Chart #2 dispels the myth that all of the available jobs in tech are related to coding — in fact, 43% of jobs at tech companies fall into the ‘non-tech’ category!
And chart #3 shows that there is long-term growth in the tech industry so if you pivot now, there will still be many jobs for you to occupy for decades to come.
CompTIA Cyberstates 2022 Report
CompTIA Cyberstates 2022 Report
2. Tech values many of the same things you do
Me using my Google Glass to think extremely hard about the students I worked with every day
If you are someone who values creativity, innovation, dynamism, flexibility, navigating ambiguity, and data-driven decision-making, the tech industry is for you!
Core values are a driving force behind a company’s day-to-day activities and are an essential building block for creating culture. As you look to transition into tech, start looking at the core values expressed on the website of your potential employers, and see if they resonate with you.
When I started working at Google, I loved the core value “Focus on the user, and all else will follow.” I appreciated that by listening and focusing on the needs of the person in front of you, big strategic decisions would naturally become clearer.
3. Tech companies have really great compensation and benefits packages.
For many people, the first thing that comes to mind with ‘tech company perks’ is the image of the ping pong table. It’s an iconic representation of the benefits that come from working in tech…but it’s not nearly the most important one.
Instead, here are 3 key points on the money side of things to consider when looking at working in tech:
1) Depth & Breadth of benefits options: Take a look at all of the benefits that are standard for some of the largest tech firms, like Google, Facebook, Adobe and Salesforce. Some of these benefits packages can be valued upwards of $20,000 each year!
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/12-tech-companies-with-impressive-benefits/
https://tech.co/hr-software/best-companies-employee-benefits-perks
You can use this tool to compare the benefits offered: https://www.levels.fyi/benefits/
2) Flexibility with Remote/Hybrid Options: Tech companies are also more able to support remote or hybrid working options. The number of technology and IT jobs offering remote work has boomed by 77% in two years, with more than a million tech roles offering hybrid or WFH options in 2021.
3) Higher than average salaries: Tech also has a significantly higher median wage than the national median wage.
CompTIA Cyberstates 2022 Report
These are just some of the great reasons that you should consider a job in the tech industry. Reach out to me if you’d like to discuss how we can work together to help you pivot into a great new career in tech!
