The Benefits of Working in IT and Technology

A career in this sector offers much more than just a high salary.

Singapore’s IT and technology sector, which includes the infocommunications and software and hardware industry, is crucial in her transformation to a Smart Nation, and has led to a rise in the demand for talent in the area.

However, pitted against “polished” and “prestigious” sectors like banking, accounting and finance, what are some of the benefits that the IT and tech can offer? Read on to find out.

Everybody needs IT and tech

As businesses – both big and small – continue to integrate IT functions into their operations and automate services with technology, service providers are no longer the sole graduate recruiters. Many companies are now hiring IT and technology personnel to meet their needs as it can be more prudent to have in-house experts instead of constantly having to outsource for even the smallest services.

Depending on the size and requirements of the firm, its in-house team can range from having only one or two employees, to more than 100 professionals.

For instance, finance and banking organisations are some of the largest graduate employers today as they need to maintain and secure their IT and technological infrastructure at all times. Employers from sectors such as defence, security and aerospace may need even more.

Start-ups and e-commerce have also opened up a lot of new opportunities and roles, particularly in the mobile commerce space.

Constant innovation and exciting work

Technology constantly evolves at an impressive pace, prompting new innovations nearly every other week or month.

For instance, the retail sector has been redefined through technology within a short decade, branching out from brickand-mortar stores to include online commerce – and now mobile e-commerce.

The financial sector has also benefitted from cloud computing, digital currencies such as bitcoin, and a variety of other technological inventions. Logistics, telecommunications and manufacturing are all seeing improvements as well.

Many experts cite the ongoing advancements and changes as factors that contribute to the exciting nature of their jobs as it gives them a varied career and plenty of learning opportunities.

Good monetary benefits

The pay scale for IT and tech recruits can be rewarding, with surveys in 2019 showing fresh IT graduates taking home approximately S$43,000 per annum. This figure can increase depending on roles and responsibilities.

Remuneration can increase quite significantly as you climb the corporate ladder, such as a promotion to the role of a consultant or manager.

Past working experience and range of technical expertise can also greatly influence how much your pay scale rises, so be sure to start stacking up on skills in university.

Great growth opportunities

Employers in this industry are known to be extremely generous in providing training, opening up a wealth of growth opportunities and a range of interesting career paths for graduates.

Even newcomers can make use of the training provided to specialise in a particular area before moving up to another role, or to switch specialisations to gain wider exposure.

For instance, an IT analyst can take up training and professional certifications to become an IT manager or consultant, or even consult with his or her superior to switch over to cyber security.

Recession-proof

Certain roles within the IT industry are considered recession-proof, such as those in cyber security. With cybercrime on an upward trend, IT graduates specialising in cyber security are constantly in demand.

Software design and development, as well as networking and systems administration are another two areas that graduates may want to consider. All organisations need specialists to help in the design and maintenance of their communication systems, including information-sharing infrastructure and websites.

Consulting is another area that is expected to weather economic hardships well, thanks to functions that combine technical knowledge and commercial awareness. Consultants can utilise their business acumen to study fiscal drawbacks that afflict a firm, and apply technical knowledge to advise companies on the software that best suits their needs.

Further duties include software installation and follow-up services such as staff training.