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

Step # 1. Explore the market

To begin with, it's worth figuring out what kind of IT companies are in general. Today, there are a dozen varieties on the market, from tiny startups to large-scale R&D centers. They are usually divided into three large categories.

• Grocery stores. 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 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. They happen in banks, insurance companies, and industrial enterprises. Most often they are engaged in automation of production, document management and other business processes.

Then 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 an ideal choice for a quick start. It was possible not to learn the code, but to receive on a par with programmers. Today in Russia, chiropractors earn an average of 20% less Analytics for hunting and recommendations for hiring IT specialists / vc.ru than their automation colleagues. This does not mean that the profession is no longer popular. It's more about the fact that the requirements for applicants have increased. By the way, to get into IT, you don't have to choose development. The companies are waiting for managers, designers, recruiters, PR specialists, Scrum masters and other specialists.

Step #2. Check the salary level

In the industry as a whole, they are 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 Salaries of IT specialists in the first half of 2022: for the first time in five years, the average salary has not changed / Habr , then today this figure has already exceeded 160 thousand Salaries in IT /Habr Career . But not every professional gets that much, especially at the beginning of his career. Specialty, qualification, experience — all this affects income. For example, a software architect in Moscow may be paid Salaries of IT specialists in the second half of 2022: +7% at the expense of the regions / Habr 300 thousand rubles, and for a web developer in the region - 70 thousand.

Often, for open vacancies, the employer determines only the salary fork, 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 Career Hub or by studying popular job aggregators: hh.ru , geekjob.ru , rabota.ru .

Step #3. Chat 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's impressions of working with an application or website. It sounds like a specialist is waiting for a solid creativity here. In fact, most tasks involve scrupulous analysis and forecasting. If a beginner decides not to go into the details of the profession he likes, the expectation may not coincide with reality.

It will be possible to meet people from the industry at IT conferences and meetups. Companies and schools hold webinars where different specialists 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 first of all. And 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 forks, talked with future colleagues. It's time to think about which industry I would like to work in. After all, you can even write programs for different companies: banks, educational startups, marketplaces. There will be its own specifics and nuances everywhere.

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

Step # 5. Find time for classes

When the list of professions that suit you is almost ready, you can start planning. Look for information about how long it takes to retrain in each specialty, and decide how to embed lessons in your calendar.

HR management courses are unlikely to last a year, but training for a data analyst is quite. At the same time, retraining will be given an average of 8-10 hours a week. If you plan to combine classes 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 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 a lot of free materials and videos on the Internet that will give the first real idea of the profession. With a strong desire, you can fully master a new specialty using them, but this approach has drawbacks. You will have to spend a lot of time searching for really useful lessons, and if you make a mistake, 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.