With high starting salaries available for qualified candidates across all disciplines and sectors, coupled with the continued demand in the industry for skilled professionals, there has never been a more exciting time to advance your career in Computing and Information Technology (CIT).
Along with a solid salary, a career in the CIT industry offers long-term job prospects and a chance to be at the forefront of ground-breaking technological advances. Here, we take a top-level look at the most in demand jobs within this diverse industry.
According to a comScore report, global app revenue was $58 billion in 2016 and is predicted to reach $77 billion in 2017. 80% of internet users own a smartphone (Smart Insights) and for many, the home desktop is becoming a thing of the past. As more services move to application access only, such as banking, the development of user friendly apps remains a highly important tool to remain competitive, as well as a key tool for communicating with consumers. As a result companies of all sizes are looking to invest in people with the skills to further enhance their mobile app platform.
What qualifications and skills are needed?
A Masters in Web and Mobile Development Technologies is obviously useful, but otherwise a good level of technical knowledge is expected and most employers, especially software houses, will require you to have a degree or Masters in a relevant subject, such as computer science, software engineering or information systems.
Skills you need
Salary expectations
Standard graduate salaries for mobile app developers start from around £20,000, but this varies greatly depending on the size of the employer and the sector. Established developers can command salaries ranging from £34,000 to £40,000; with the average salary for a senior app developer approximately £45,000 to £50,000+.
A web developer is a skilled programmer who is tasked with the planning, coding and functionality of a website and web applications. A large part of a web developer’s role is focused on the ‘back end’ coding of a web project, often on a large scale and across varying platforms. The interface and design of the site itself being the ‘front end’. While many developers specialise in either front or back development, increasingly employers are looking for ‘full-stack’ developers, able to manage both databases and visual aspects of a project.
The most in-demand programming languages are surprisingly under-supported, with the UK experiencing a significant lack of professionals fluent in top coding languages such as SQL, Java and Python. Along with creating and coding of websites, developers test functionality by using a methodology of test-driven development (TDD). These can help with the overall performance and usability of a website and help prevent system failures.
Skills you need
A Masters in Computer Science is of course advantageous, otherwise other useful subjects include computer programming, web development and web design.
Salary expectations
Salaries for graduates start around £20,000. More experienced web developers can earn between £25,000 to £35,000, whilst highly experienced, lead web developers can command in the area of £50,000 or more.
The role of a Solutions Architect is more essential to today’s businesses and service infrastructures than ever before. Responsible for the delivery of all integrated solutions, the role requires the translation of proposal requirements into a technical architecture design, forming a blueprint for the solution itself. This is a highly technical role that can include complex solutions within networking, server installation, database, switching and change control.
Professionals in this area play an essential role within a business by ensuring the proposed IT solution aligns and fits with the business’s configurations, both long and short-term transformations.
Skills you need
A degree in Computing and Information Technology, IT architecture (or similar) is generally required for a role as Solutions Architect. A development background and proven experience in both project and stakeholder management is also highly desirable.
Salary expectations
Starting salary for a solutions architect is around £40,000. The average salary is around £55,000 a year whilst top earners often surpass £79,000 a year.
If you’re looking to enhance your career in Computer and Information Technology and broaden your skills and knowledge within the area, studying a part-time MSc Computer Science at Northumbria University London could be the perfect way to get ahead in the field. Our Masters programme will provide you with industry relevant skills and includes modules in Java, web development, computer networks and database modelling.
Designed for working professionals, this programme allows you to study while you continue working. All taught sessions are delivered in 16 weekend blocks spread over a two-year period in our Central London campus with easy access to Liverpool Street Station transport links.
Contact our team today to find out more.
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