How to choose a profession in IT and not miss: 6 important steps

Step #1 Explore the market

To begin with, it is worth understanding what IT companies are in general. Today, there are a dozen varieties on the market, from tiny start-ups to large-scale R&D centers. They are generally divided into three broad categories.

• Grocery. They create their own projects: mobile applications, games, web services. Working in such a company is good because it allows you to immerse yourself in the context of one product - technologies here usually do not change for years.
• Outsourcing. They develop software for organizations that need some kind of software, but do not have a staff of programmers. A good option for a beginner, because in a few years you can participate in different projects.
• IT departments in large corporations. These are found in banks, insurance companies, industrial enterprises. Most often they are engaged in the automation of production, workflow and other business processes.

Next, it makes sense to find out what is happening with the demand for specialists. For example, a couple of years ago, manual testing was considered the ideal choice for a quick start. It was possible not to learn the code, but to get on a par with programmers. Today in Russia manualists earn an average of 20%

lessthan their automator counterparts. This does not mean that the profession is no longer popular. It is rather that the requirements for applicants have grown. By the way, to get into IT, it is not necessary to choose development. Companies are looking for managers, designers, recruiters, PR specialists, Scrum masters and other specialists.

Step #2 Check salary level

In the industry, they are generally higher than in the country, and the median is still growing. If in the first half of 2022 the average salary of a Russian IT specialist was 140 thousand rubles, today this figure has already exceeded 160 thousand. But not every professional receives just that much, especially at the beginning of his career. Specialty, qualifications, experience - all this affects income. For example, a software architect in Moscow can to pay 300 thousand rubles, and for a web developer in the region - 70 thousand.

Often, for open vacancies, the employer determines only the salary range, and agrees on the exact figures with the candidate already at the interview. You can estimate how much different specialists are paid in advance by looking at the statistics Habr Careers or by studying popular job aggregators: hh.ru, geekjob.ru, rabota.ru.

Step #3 Connect with people from the industry

This will help you understand what you have to do every day. Take, for example, UX design – designing the user experience of working with an application or website. It sounds as if a specialist is waiting for continuous creativity here. In fact, most tasks involve rigorous analysis and forecasting. If a beginner decides not to go into the details of a profession they like, the expectation may not coincide with reality.

You can meet people from the industry at IT conferences and meetups. Companies and schools hold webinars where different professionals talk about their routine. Feel free to ask questions. Find out what is included in the responsibilities, how the work with the team and customers is built, what skills are required in the first place. You can also search for information in social networks and blogs. Designers, marketers and programmers often share interesting cases.

Step #4 Choose your niche

So, you have studied the market and salary ranges, talked with your future colleagues. It's time to think about what industry you would like to work in. After all, you can even write programs for different companies: banks, educational startups, marketplaces. Everywhere will have its own specifics and nuances.

If you want to start in a new profession faster, rely on previous experience. For example, fintech companies welcome specialists who understand economics, management, and accounting. And if you have a medical education, you can take a closer look at those who develop software for the healthcare industry. However, it is also possible to radically change the profession and learn everything from scratch. It just takes more time to do so.

Step #5 Find time for classes

When the list of professions that suit you is almost ready, you can start planning. Look for information on how long retraining takes for each specialty and decide how to fit lessons into your calendar.

Human resource management courses are unlikely to last a year, but data analyst training is quite. At the same time, retraining will have to be given an average of 8-10 hours a week. If you plan to combine studies and work, then most likely you will have to give up something. For example, from one of the hobbies, evening workouts or meetings with friends on the weekends. Therefore, even before the start of studies, it is important to warn loved ones and enlist their support.

Step #6 Take trial lessons

There are many free materials and videos on the Internet that will give you the first real idea about the profession. With a strong desire, they can fully master a new specialty, but this approach has drawbacks. You will have to spend a lot of time looking for really useful lessons, and if you make a mistake, then no one will point it out. In addition, self-study requires strong motivation, and it can be difficult to force yourself to study every day.

Paid courses give more guarantees. They have already collected the necessary information, and mentors will check homework, support and answer questions. But it is not necessary to start the path in IT with large investments. Some schools offer to evaluate their products and take free trial classes before buying.