IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS
The Benefits of Working in IT and Technology A career in this sector offers much more than just a high salary.
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ingapore’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 IT and tech can offer?
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 example, the retail sector has been redefined through technology within a short decade, branching out from brick-and-mortar stores to include online commerce – and now mobile e-commerce. The financial sector has also benefited 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 and tech graduates taking home approximately $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.
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STEM Career Guide 2022
