The IT industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, constantly offering new opportunities for both experienced professionals and newcomers alike. Consequently, more and more people are eager to find their vocation in this field. However, as outsiders, it can often be challenging to assess what career opportunities await us in the world of IT.
Let’s clear the waters! In our two-part article, we will extensively present the most popular IT roles, from software testing to programming and data mining, to help you find the career path that suits you best.
Manual Tester
We begin our introduction of career paths with a lesser-known area. During manual testing, software testers go through specified sections of the source code very meticulously and systematically, searching for bugs or functionalities that do not operate correctly. The goal is to achieve as high a software quality as possible, making the system as user-friendly as can be. Manual testers are also able to spot errors that may not necessarily be detected by an automated test run by algorithms.
This job might be an excellent choice for you if you have good situational awareness and outstanding problem-solving skills. Contrary to stereotypes, the daily life of manual software testers is anything but monotonous or boring: this role offers plenty of excitement, with varied tasks such as hunting for bugs, analyzing data, studying user behavior, running test cases, or even handling product and project management tasks.
Test Automation Engineer
Test automation engineers run automatic tests that enable tests to automatically run in the background whenever a new function or code snippet is added. Test automation not only saves time but also contributes to the improvement of the quality and efficiency of development work. This role demands much more than traditional testing skills, requiring a specialized mindset closer to that of development work than manual testing.
There is a very high demand in the job market for professionals with automated testing knowledge, a pace few trainings can keep up with. The growing demand for automated testers means this role offers a well-paying job opportunity for those who are precise, creative, and dislike monotonous tasks.
Frontend Developer
Moving on to the development area in the rest of the article, in programming we often hear about "frontend" and "backend". These concepts should be understood from the user's point of view: the frontend refers to the part of the development that the user directly interacts with, while the backend is what runs in the background and is responsible for operations.
Frontend developers mainly focus on the appearance of the program and visually present information and functionalities produced by backend programmers. For example, when we register on a website, the frontend team is responsible for us seeing the site's colors, texts, or form elements.
This area offers colorful and complex tasks, full of interesting and varied challenges. If you love seeing the visible results of your work, this role could be ideal for you. Although larger companies often have a separate designer, in smaller companies, the frontend developer might also be responsible for creating the design. If you are interested in visual solutions, frontend programming offers great opportunities.
Backend Developer
Backend developers are tasked with coding the more complex functional parts within the software. For example, they are the ones who enable a form to save data correctly and in the right place, whether in a database or a CRM system. They also ensure that this data is visible and easily manageable on the admin interface.
If you love to understand exactly how various systems work and abstract thinking is not a challenge for you, then this is the right area for you. As a backend developer, you can expect continuous learning opportunities and new challenges. Moreover, it is a highly sought-after and marketable profession, so backend developer salaries are generally in the higher category within the IT sector.
Full-stack Developer
A full-stack developer is a professional who is proficient in the backend of user interfaces and the systems of business logic and database layers. This role requires you to understand the operation of the application both externally and internally. It’s important to be aware of the application development process and be able to intervene in development processes if necessary.
If you are interested in both frontend and backend development, then this direction could be perfect for you, as full-stack developers are capable of taking a project from the basics to a turnkey state. In this position, you can also expect varied and complex tasks that enable continuous learning and development. Additionally, full-stack developers are usually valued members of the team.
The diversity of the IT sector is well illustrated by the five career opportunities presented. The different roles require varying competencies and skills from IT professionals, so if you find this field attractive, you are sure to find a career path that best fits you.
If you would like to learn more about the additional opportunities awaiting you in the world of IT, don't miss the second part of our article!