Back in 1986, when I was spending a lot of time on my Commodore 64 playing video games, my parents would tell me to stop messing around on “that silly computer” and focus on my school work so I could get somewhere in life. If only I had ignored them. Having the right technology skills could lead to an amazing job—and career—in technology. And it’s never too late—or too early—to start your tech education journey.

The Tech Job Market Is Strong…

  …And it’s predicted to keep growing,* as companies try to keep pace with new technologies and innovations. Employers of nearly all shapes and sizes—everything from small businesses to large multinational corporations—rely on highly secure, user-friendly computer networks and software to achieve their goals. And that’s where you come in. With the right online technology degree, you could start or update your career and gain the skills you need to crack the code to your future. And just in case you’re wondering, here are four skillsets businesses and organizations are desperate to hire.  

Networking

What it is

In its most basic sense, a computer network functions as the highway over which data can travel from location to location. This data moves through physical lines of fiber and cable, wireless channels, or the cloud—or a combination of any or all of those. Someone has to design, build, install, and maintain networks. When the network is down, the business or organization can come to a screeching halt—losing time, money, and consumers.

What types of skill you need

Information management, computer servicing, operating systems, network communications

What types of careers you could pursue

Network administrator, systems analyst, network engineer  

Cybersecurity

What it is

Cyberattacks and data breaches seem to be in the news every day, with hackers finding ways to break into organizations’ mainframes and steal valuable info. Even governments aren’t safe. Smart, trained, capable computer specialists with the skills to stop cybercriminals in their tracks and prevent the loss of sensitive information are urgently needed.

What types of skill you need

Ethical hacking, information security management, computer forensics, cryptography

What types of careers you could pursue

Information security specialist, network administrator, computer programmer, systems analyst  

App Development

What it is

You know all those cool apps on your phone and computer? Well, businesses need apps, too, to help their teams be more productive. That means they need people to produce web applications, interactive presentations, mobile applications, and user interfaces. The demand for such skilled individuals is extremely high.

What types of skill you need

App development programming languages and technologies, digital imaging and illustration, front-end and back-end development, user experience (UX) theory and practice

What types of careers you could pursue

Software engineer, mobile app developer, computer programmer  

Web Design

What it is

Web design is more critical than ever for businesses, because every web page they create should be able to seamlessly work on any kind of device—from phone to tablet to desktop to laptop. And if a business’s web page glitches out on one type of device, the consumers who encounter it are likely to surf to a competitor’s web page. Beyond that, today’s web design also includes critical data tagging to measure performance metrics for content.

What types of skill you need

Website design, web programming, graphic design, marketing

What types of careers you could pursue

Web developer, mobile application designer, e-learning developer, information designer  

Getting started is easy

It’s not too late for any of us to start that journey into a technology career. In fact, now may be the best time ever to start learning the skills that could put you in the job-hunting driver’s seat for the foreseeable future. The number of many high-tech careers is predicted to grow faster than average (12% by 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics)^* and offer good salaries, so technology positions make very attractive careers. Whether you want to develop software, build computer systems, or prevent cyberattacks, there could be an exciting job in tech for you. Independence University offers online technology degrees that fit flexibly into your schedule. And as for my parents who told me to get off of my “silly computer” back in the ‘80s? Now they call me to come fix their devices. Touché, Mom and Dad.