You may have heard of The Great Resignation, an economic trend that saw millions of professionals quitting their jobs and looking for better alternatives. It was during this period that many realized the resilience of the tech industry. While tech workers were able to quickly transition online, those who worked in traditional companies lost their jobs and suffered pay cuts.
And as more businesses moved their operations to the virtual space, the demand for tech professionals also grew. To give you an idea, tech job postings more than doubled from just below 250,000 jobs in 2020 to over 500,000 jobs in 2022, according to CompTIA. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also projects a 13 percent growth in Computer and IT occupations by 2030.
The demand for tech skills is also reflected by how much a tech professional earns. According to the BLS, computer and IT professionals earn a median annual salary of $97,430 as of May 2021. This is more than twice the median salary of all other occupations, around $45,760.
Suffice to say, there is no shortage of opportunities in tech. Want to know how to be on the receiving end of these opportunities? Read on as we reveal five must-learn digital skills to help you break into tech.
The University at Buffalo offers digital skills bootcamps that can help you jumpstart your career in emerging tech fields like cybersecurity, UI/UX design, software development, digital marketing, and data science and analytics.
Find the right bootcamp for you.Top 5 Digital Skills You Should Learn
It is worth noting that if you possess any of the skills highlighted below, you can work in almost any industry.
- Cybersecurity. The rise in cyber threats has resulted in an exponential demand for cybersecurity professionals. According to Purplesec, cyber threats have risen 600 percent since the global pandemic, with cybercrimes costing over 10 trillion dollars worldwide by 2025.
Given these numbers, companies have been on a dash to fill their ranks with cybersecurity experts, who can anticipate an estimated total pay of $96,577 per year, according to Glassdoor. - Digital Marketing. The growth in social media and Internet users continues to present opportunities for businesses to promote their products and services at scale. This need is driving the demand for digital marketing professionals.
Based on BLS data, digital marketer jobs are forecast to grow 10 percent by 2030. At the time of writing, there were 39,393 digital marketing jobs on Indeed. The average annual salary for digital marketing professionals in the US is $83,462. - UI/UX Design. Businesses are investing more in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) designs to motivate higher engagement and conversation rates among consumers.
According to the BLS, digital designer jobs are expected to grow by 13 percent alongside web developers by 2030. In addition, job portal Glassdoor noted that UI/UX design professionals could earn an average of $98,480 per year.
- Software Development. Software developers help businesses design and deploy online infrastructures such as web and mobile applications, Internet servers, APIs, web design, and more.
The demand for software developers has gone through the roof as more businesses expand their presence online. Case in point, Indeed features 243,353 software developer jobs at the time of writing. This demand is reflective of how much they earn. Glassdoor reports that software developers earn an average of $108,146 yearly. - Data Science and Data Analytics. Did you know that users create roughly 2.5 quintillion bytes every single day? Used properly, this massive amount of data can help inform business decisions. That’s precisely why more companies are looking for data professionals.
The BLS has indicated a growth of 22 percent for data-related roles by 2030—two times more than other occupations. Data scientists earn $119,264 while data analysts earn $94,326 on average per year, according to Glassdoor.
Now that you know the five top tech skills you should learn to gain a competitive advantage in tech, this brings us to the next question: where exactly can you learn these skills? The University at Buffalo can be your one-stop school for mastering these skills. With its digital skills bootcamps, you can prepare for a tech career in less than a year.
Tech Bootcamps to Choose From at the University at Buffalo
The University at Buffalo offers digital skills bootcamps in cybersecurity, digital marketing, UI/UX design, software development, and data science and analytics. All classes are held live online and are conducted in the evenings and weekends.
Each bootcamp begins with an Introductory Course to prime you with the fundamentals and prepare you for the main training program. At the end of the Introductory Course, you can continue with the Extended Course where you will learn advanced skills. Note that the Introductory Course spans 30 hours, while the Extended Course takes 370 hours to complete.
Cybersecurity Bootcamp
What will you learn from this program? This program will equip you with modern skills to identify and defend business infrastructure against cyber threats and attacks. The program encompasses all areas of cyber training, from network security to ethical hacking. You will also gain solid knowledge in game theory to anticipate moves made by cybercriminals.
Digital Marketing Bootcamp
What will you learn from this program? This program will take you from learning the foundations of digital marketing to developing your knowledge in advanced marketing strategies. You will learn the core skills in content marketing, web design for digital marketers, UX design, data visualization and analytics, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), and more.
UI/UX Design Bootcamp
What will you learn from this program? Learn how to use digital designs to drive business sales. By the end, you would have learned the ins and outs of the design process: conducting research, ideating and prototyping, usability testing, and creating high-fidelity designs. Led by experts in the field, the curriculum focuses on technical, theoretical, and practical design teachings to help build a well-rounded set of skills.
Software Development Bootcamp
What will you learn from this program? The course will render you with skills in web design, web development, and software engineering. To sharpen your skills, you must complete three projects — (1) create an in-browser game, (2) build a MERN stack application, and (3) complete an application of your choice. As a result, you will gain knowledge of a wide range of concepts and become versatile enough to contribute at any stage of a development project.
Data Science and Analytics Bootcamp
What will you learn from this program? The program will equip you with the skills to help businesses make sense of daily generated data. You will gain advanced data storytelling skills and learn how to implement data modeling, integration, and visualization techniques. The last module of the course also spotlights two fast-growing areas within data science: artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Benefits of Enrolling in a Digital Skills Bootcamp at the University at Buffalo
- Flexible schedule. Classes are 100% virtual and held live during the evening and weekend so that learners can gain tech skills and pursue a new career without putting their lives and commitments on hold.
- The bootcamps are backed by a university. Enjoy the benefits and prestige of earning a certificate from the University at Buffalo.
- Hands-on projects to grow your portfolio. Learn from experts with vast experience in the field and grow your portfolio with hands-on projects.
- Cyber Labs. Work with Cyber Labs, a proprietary platform designed to simulate real-world scenarios so you can put your skills to practice.
- Networking Opportunities. Access opportunities to connect and network with industry professionals and colleagues.
- Dedicated Support. Receive one-on-one support from instructors during office hours and from student success managers who engage learners and hold them accountable as they complete the program.
- Career Coaching. Benefit from a job search support that seeks to prepare you as you navigate the workforce during and after completing the program.
- Job Placement Assistance. Receive job placement assistance to land job opportunities and receive interview coaching ahead of time.
Gain Tech Skills to Master the Future of Work
Proficiency in any of the abovementioned skills opens doors to countless opportunities in various industries. The good news is that there are much quicker and more affordable ways to learn these skills. If you are ready to kickstart a career in tech in less than a year, browse the University at Buffalo’s digital skills bootcamps and find the right fit for you.
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.
