Embracing Change: My Optimistic Pursuit of a Master’s in IT Amidst Job Market Uncertainty

Earlier this year, I read an article suggesting that the job market might not recover until 2026. As a result, I’ve decided to pursue a Master of Science in Information Technology (M.S.I.T.) at the University of the People. While I would love to pursue a Master’s in Business Analytics, finances are tight. I plan to take one or two courses per term. If I stick with one course at a time, I should finish the degree in about 18 months. I might complete it in around 12 months if I can handle more. Hopefully, the economy will improve sooner, in 2025, if not this year, which would be great.

The University of the People charges a $400 assessment fee per course, which is $300 less than the $700 fee per course for a Business Analytics degree at other online schools. I realize it’s only a $300 difference, and I’ve considered whether I could manage that. I probably could, but I’ll stick with Information Technology to avoid financial strain. Plus, I enjoy learning about tech, and the M.S.I.T. program covers business intelligence and data analytics topics, including Databases, Programming Languages, Algorithms, and Machine Learning.

I completed my MBA at the University of the People in April of this year, when the assessment fee was $240 per course. I understand that even a tuition-free online university needs to adjust fees due to the economic climate and job market.

My background is in Sales, Marketing, and Operations. Last year, I shifted my focus to Business Intelligence Analytics and Data Analytics. Since 2019, I’ve been taking online courses, reading articles, and watching videos to enhance my skills in these areas, though I took breaks to focus on unrelated work. Over the past year, I have committed to improving my analytics capabilities. Recently, I completed an externship with Extern where I applied data analysis techniques to identify and profile vulnerabilities in smart contracts, gaining valuable experience in risk assessment, statistical tools, and machine learning. I'm about to start an end-to-end data science project with talented and experienced women from whom I look forward to learning and collaborating.

The Master’s in Information Technology aligns well with my background. I completed a tech fundamentals program in 2020, and despite recent layoffs, IT is still in high demand. By 2026, I should have my degree and more opportunities.

I believe nothing worth having comes easily, and the effort put into this journey will ultimately be rewarding. I realize this article is more self-promotional than content that serves to help others, and I apologize for that. I think it’s safe to assume that minimal self-promotion is acceptable. I’ve created a personal brand as a Data Professional on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, and I continue to update my online portfolio. Perhaps this article might serve as a push for those considering a career change and practicing adaptability in uncertain times. I hope so.

When I researched the wealthiest people in the world, I noted that real estate and technology are the two fields that have produced the most affluent individuals. So, if not real estate, which I'm also interested in, I’m pursuing a career in tech in the data science field.

?I’m excited about this new journey and the skills I’ll gain. Here’s to new learning!

I've seen recently promoted ads for IT careers in Stuttgart, Germany. Perhaps it's a sign to consider a change of location? Possibly? It just so happens that I'm learning German.

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