Per a recent market analysis by CompTIA’s research team, employers across all sectors of the U.S. economy continue to hire workers for information technology positions, adding more than a quarter-million technology jobs this year despite the pandemic.
But does this positive trend amidst trying times mean you – or someone you know – should consider training for a tech job?
“Yes,” say Adam Turner and Ben Rohling of CompTIA Tech Career Academy.
“Tech's a great place to be,” Turner, who is CompTIA Tech’s chief academic officer, tells host R.C. “Bob” Dirkes in a recent episode of the award-winning Technologist Talk podcast.
“To see unemployment numbers coming down in [the technology] sector compared to many of the other sectors [such as] hospitality and transportation,” Turner continues. “Now more than ever that makes tech a great opportunity for someone who is considering a [career] transition.”
“In this current environment, stability almost seems unheard of,” he adds. “But in the IT sector, I think there are career options that could bring much-needed stability. And having a stable career path and outlook, frankly… I don't think you can put a value on that.”
Rohling, who leads CompTIA Tech’s curriculum development, says during the podcast conversation that the IT-Ready Technical Support program helps job seekers at any moment in their careers with the foundational training and certifications needed for a rapid successful transition to tech work.
Students completing the 16-week IT-Ready online course emerge with a “working knowledge of a little bit of everything in the tech space” says Rohling.
“A little bit of networking knowledge, a little bit of security knowledge, a little bit of hardware and software troubleshooting,” he elaborates. “It really runs the gamut to help you get your foot in the door to start off in IT and then… move on from there.”
Professional instructors lead online IT-Ready courses in an interactive virtual environment
Rohling also emphasizes that CompTIA Tech’s online curriculum is led by professional instructors with experience teaching in virtual environments.
“We can put these professionals in front of you in an interactive classroom environment,” he says. “You've got guided labs. You've got group discussions with your peers. You're not just moving through e-learning material at night by yourself. It's more of a community [of peers] as opposed to just flipping through web pages.”
Turner believes help desk specialists have an advantage when switching careers because they have a broad view of everything happening in an organization.
“Help desk is a great place for anyone to start in an organization for a number of reasons,” Turner explains. “But the first reason is you get to learn about that business, how they operate, what different platforms and systems they might be using, what different software packages they are using.
“You also get to learn a lot about the culture of the organization, because… you're exposed to any number of different departments or divisions of that company. And the more you learn about a company and the culture of that company and what they do, the better you can help them do it.”
IT-Ready curriculum provides graduates with a balance of hard technical skills and soft skills
Rohling says CompTIA Tech’s training curriculum helps IT workers develop a technologist's mindset, a balance of technical fundamentals and business skills such as communication and collaboration.
“Part of your job is going to be talking with users, probing and trying to figure out what is the crux of the issue,” Rohling says. “You need the technical knowledge to be able to have that conversation. And you need to have the soft skills to carry that conversation through to a useful conclusion… ‘This is me and you against the problem, let's get this done!’”
To hear the rest of the conversation with Turner and Rohling, click here: Episode 37 – Talking Tech Training: Why Now is the Time to Consider Launching a Tech Career.
