7 Hottest and Most In-Demand Jobs in IT Industry AD 2022

Job Market In IT Is Dynamically Changing

So, we’ve survived the rocky year of 2021 and are prepared for what lies ahead. The digital revolution had a massive impact on the job market throughout the preceding year. The workflow got more decentralized, and most teams in IT moved fully online and opened their doors to international talent. All businesses had to accept this shift in sentiment and adjust their operations — or die.

Furthermore, new branches of IT industry, from blockchain, through cyber security, to cloud computing, are booming. Now more than ever, top-notch talent with highly specialized skills is sought after in IT industry. But which talent?

What Are The Features of a Hot Job in IT Industry?

In this article, we list 7 IT specializations that have been on the rise in the past two years and are not going anywhere any time soon. All these options combine three fundamental features of an attractive career track:

1. Multiple options for professional growth.

Joining a fast-growing, competitive sector always gives a first-mover advantage. If you jump in early as a professional, you will be witnessing the emergence of new trends and new professions in your field, and you will stay on top of the technological development in your sector.

2. An opportunity to work with and learn from inspiring people.

New sectors of IT industry tackle new societal challenges, which attracts thousands ad thousands of interesting people: visionaries, futurists, top-notch experts, and real builders. Yes, working in a developing industry can be hectic — but in most circumstances, this cost is worth paying, in an exchange for the adventure and joy of working with inspiring people.

3. High pay.

At the end of the day, regardless of any other factors, this is the only objective and quantifiable fact about the job that you cannot get wrong during the recruitment process. You can hear at the interview that the company has a convergent vision on what a healthy and stimulating working environment means as you do — only to find out later that the recruiter had a different vision than you. But, salary is a number, and if you get that one sorted out right, you can fully focus on developing as a professional without worrying about what comes tomorrow.

The 7 Hottest and Most In-Demand Jobs In IT Industry 2022

Now, let’s briefly go through the seven most in-demand types of specialists in today’s IT industry. Of course, each one of them requires prior training — gaining skills in programming being the most important part of this professional preparation. We listed the 5 most versatile programming languages in the article “ Top 5 Most In-Demand Programming Languages in the Today’s Job Market .”

1. AI Game Programmer

How to construct a functional video game that is engaging, immersive, and keeps you excited? Today, this is done with the use of AI. AI game programmers work out logic behind video games and the behavior of game characters and objects- all from pafhfinding, through steering and planning, to state machines, behavior trees and more — so you’ll be able to have a more realistic and immersive gaming experience at the right level of difficulty.

For instance, to make Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) hyper-realistic, Intel used tons of machine learning algorithms. Another textbook example of how AI is woven into a game’s storyline is Red Dead Redemption produced by the same studio, Rockstar Games . There is an ongoing debate on which of these two games is better than the other and why as both of them have developed a cult following.

AI game programming is also often used in combination with classic story-telling and building the narration in a form of a number if quests and a multi-layer screenplay/decision tree created by a human team, as was successfully done e.g. in the Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt by CD Projekt Red (a screenplay managed by a German senior quest designer, Philipp Weber ).

AI Game Programmer is an interesting profession as it would allow you to match your interest in video games with building skills in AI and machine learning. If you are a dedicated gamer and with background knowledge in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or machine learning, it is certainly a profession worth considering.

Responsibilities

• Throughout the project, brainstorming AI solutions with designers, animators, and developers,
• Creating procedures for game design and documentation,
• Creating testable prototypes of the game,
• Designing game dynamics that may improve the gaming experience,
• Adding and testing new features to the game by writing customized code and AI tools,
• Testing user experience of new features by communicating with users, usually using the scrum workflow (please read more about scrum in our article “The Basics of Project Management 1.0.1. Key Concepts: Agile, Kanban, Scrum, Waterfall “).

Average Salary

AI programmers used to be compensated in the same way as game programmers. According to and , an AI programmer’s average annual income is in the range $49,000-$85,000.

2. Cloud Engineer

Many businesses and organizations migrate their data to the cloud, enabling remote access to their apps, data, and systems. This process is managed by cloud engineers . A cloud engineer is responsible for the organization’s cloud infrastructure design, maintenance, and management. A cloud engineer must have deep knowledge of software development and scripting languages, and broad experience with cloud-based web design services such as, e.g., Amazon Web Services . No wonder cloud engineering is one of the top best-paying jobs in IT!

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining cloud systems under specific requirements,
• Managing and upgrading existing systems on a daily basis, usually in an agile way (please read more about agile in our article “The Basics of Project Management 1.0.1. Key Concepts: Agile, Kanban, Scrum, Waterfall “),
• Creating, developing, and deploying cloud-based modular systems,
• Training teams within the company on the ways to use new cloud technologies and initiatives.

Average Salary

According to the Economic Research Institute , the average income for a cloud engineer in the Netherlands is €72,241, with an average hourly rate of €35/hr and an average bonus of €3,128.

3. Data Scientist / Big Data Specialist

Big data specialists and data scientists acquire and analyze enormous organized and unstructured data sets. A data analyst’s job is a combination between computer science, mathematics, and statistics. In short, data scientists evaluate the outcomes of processing, data analysis, and modeling to get actionable plans for businesses and other organizations.

There is more than just one type of a Data Scientist in fact: we can talk about at least two types.

A Data Scientist of type 1 is the designer of new analytic methods.

Of course, Data Science is an open-ended problem, and new methods for data analysis are created every day. If you have a strong analytical mind, a strong background in mathematics and/or programming, and a sweet tooth for designing new analytical solutions, you might choose to become a creator of new algorithms. The work of a “Data Scientist of Type 1” often goes beyond algorithms and ends up with proving new theorems or designing new estimates. It might even lead to a peer-reviewed research publication.

Especially large IT firms seek such people, as new protocols and algorithms are the fundaments of large-scale innovation. Of course, this is a challenging path and only the best Data Scientists can follow this one. Yet, it is also extremely rewarding to discover new methods and watch others apply your methods and cite your work.

A Data Scientist of type 2 is the designer of new products and services.

The second type of a Data Scientist relates to those who apply established methods but in new applications, or in new combinations. For these applied Data Scientists, the novelty lies in using the set of available methods to solve a new problem or to find a new solution to an existing problem. The work of a “Data Scientist of Type 2” often goes beyond algorithms and has much to do with Business Intelligence. No need to say that these Data Scientists are also highly desired in the job market today. Please find out more about the job of a Data Scientist and tips for how to become one in the article “ 5 Steps To Build a Career in Data Science and Land Top Data Science Jobs in 2021–2022 .”

Responsibilities

• Responding to challenging data-related questions using machine learning and statistics,
• Creating algorithms and experiments to merge, manage, analyze, and extract data to produce customized reports to colleagues, customers, or the whole business,
• Conducting research to develop new prototypes and proofs-of-concept,
• Looking for new strategies to use the existing insights/datasets/code/models in other parts of the enterprise (for example, transferring methods from R&D department to the HR and marketing departments),
• Close collaboration with the company to find problems and suggest solutions supported by data for better business decision-making.

Average Salary

In Data Science, salaries are determined by various criteria, including your education, experience, location, and industry sector. According to European Leadership University , senior data scientists can expect to earn between €67,428 in France, €80,300 in Germany, €90,500 in the Netherlands, and €87,575 in the UK.

4. Blockchain Developer

Blockchain development is trendy — no question about that! The blockchain industry is one of the fastest-growing branches of IT industry. Blockchain technology is no longer limited to cryptocurrencies and digital payments. Today, blockchain can be used in a variety of industries, e.g., to build decentralized internet (also known as ), to secure records of patient data, collect records of land and property ownership in real estate, publish public certificates in education, tokenize all kinds of assets from art to real estate, eliminate money laundering in finance, prevention ballot duplication to ensure accuracy in voting or track assets on their journey from vendors to customers.

Similarly as in data science, in the blockchain industry, we can talk about two groups of developers. The first group is designers of new blockchain protocols and architectures — a sort of fundamental blockchain development that requires a deep understanding of cryptography, computer science, game theory, and sometimes even economy. Today, not only Proof of Work or Proof of Stake but also hundreds of other blockchain consensus mechanisms are in development, some of them reviewed .

The second group of blockchain developers is the designers of blockchain applications — a sort of applied blockchain development that mostly requires programming skills and business intelligence, without the necessity to get deep into the structure and philosophy behind the blockchain.

Responsibilities

• Integrating new tools and technology to optimize and secure blockchain applications,
• Documenting blockchain development methods and adjusting them to data security best practices,
• Implementing the latest standards in blockchain and cryptography,
• Creating the documentation for team members and users,
• Designing new blockchain-based applications (if you are an applied blockchain developer),
• Designing new blockchain architectures (if you are a fundamental blockchain developer).

Average Salary

According to SalaryExplorer , a blockchain developer typically earns between €41,800 and €66,000 per year in France and other Northern and Western European countries.

5. Cybersecurity Specialist

According to official projections, cyber attacks will cost the global economy over $10 trillion annually by 2025. Hacking has reached new highs, and along with the development of quantum computing, is becoming increasingly powerful. No wonder today, businesses take massive investments in cybersecurity to protect their own IP and infrastructure as well as the data and assets of their clients.

A Cyber Security Specialist is responsible for maintaining security during the development of software systems, networks, and data centers. Cyber Security Specialists search for weaknesses and dangers in both hardware and software. They are responsible for monitoring and preventing any attacks or incursions into the network. They must notice potential threats, vulnerabilities, or attempted intrusions, and build firewalls against any potential hacker attacks.

Responsibilities

• Integrating firewalls into network architectures,
• Building security systems within data centers, and networks,
• Identifying malicious activity and, if required, consulting the police,
• Testing hardware and software for vulnerabilities and increasing its security,
• Updating the security systems to the newest standards.

Average Salary

According to the Economic Research Institute , in Belgium and Western Europe a cybersecurity specialist typically earns around €83,338 per annum and an average bonus of €3,559. The average hourly wage in Europe is €40 right now.

6. DevOps Engineer

DevOps engineers are also known as the backbone of any software company. DevOps Engineers build processes, procedures, tools, and methods to maintain the software development life cycle — from coding, through tool deployment and integrated testing, to maintenance and upgrades.

They need to be all-rounded professionals who can handle both the technical and management aspects of projects. They also need to be cognitively flexible and fluent in agile development. Please find more details on agile development in our article “ The Basics of Project Management 1.0.1. Key Concepts: Agile, Kanban, Scrum, Waterfall .”

Responsibilities

The DevOps engineer’s responsibilities are very broad, including the following:

• Implementing a range of development, testing, automation, and IT infrastructure tools,
• Developing the test, release, update, and support procedures,
• Organizing the team’s structure, activity, and participation in project management tasks,
• Continuous improvement; building the CI/CD pipeline (continuous integration, continuous development, and constant deployment),
• Collaboration and communication within and across teams, and with consumers.

Average Salary

DevOps Engineer is probably the best-paying profession in IT. According to and users, the average base pay of a DevOp engineer is between $105,017 and $126,301 per year.

7. Quantitative Analyst

The recognition of electronic trading supported numerical algorithms has exploded within the 21st century. Instead of actual traders walking the ground of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shouting buy and sell orders, today, computer software infiltrates multiple stock exchanges, buying and selling shares when prices reach predetermined profit levels. This is why quantitative analysts are in high demand within the trading sector.

A quantitative analyst applies mathematical models and statistics to finance-related problems. To put it short, quantitative analysts try to predict future events based on past events. Based on the available data, they develop models to make better financial and business decisions — from investments, through pricing, to risk management.

Responsibilities

Average Salary

A quantitative analyst is one of the best paying jobs in IT — According to , the mean salary of a quantitative analyst within the US is $99,929 per year.

Last Words: How To Predict The Next Hottest and Most In-Demand Jobs in IT Industry?

You might be thinking now: some of these professions sound very attractive. BUT, it can take me years to get trained enough before I am competitive enough to land my dream job. Before I gain enough knowledge, skills, and experience, the market for my dream profession might already get saturated.

What can you do then? Well, as a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to serve the market closely. Just follow the money. You can well predict which professions will be booming next, given how much Venture Capital money is currently being pumped into specific sectors. For instance, in 2022 a record amount of Venture Capital money went to blockchain and metaverse, therefore, we can project that in the next few years, the demand for blockchain developers and AI game programmers will be high.

Good luck with your career plans and don’t hesitate to contact us if you are planning to change your career track and start a new professional adventure!

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Are you thinking of changing your career path? Would like to get an intensive training oriented at discovering your identity as a professional, and learning effective career development strategies for landing great jobs? Please join us at our intensive online career transition workshops! We will help you choose the right career path, help you land your new job, and teach you self-navigation strategies that will guarantee your success in professional development, and stay with you for a lifetime! Please find all the information about the workshops and registration links HERE.

Originally published at https://ontologyofvalue.com on May 2, 2022.