you couldn't have picked a better time to graduate: see the top 5 tech jobs for new grads.
New grad jitters are normal, but if any graduating class has a chance of beating them, it's the class of 2022.
Your first steps out into the real world are coinciding with a once-in-a-generation aligning of the staffing stars. The current rate of employees leaving their jobs is hovering around all-time highs , and, as it stands now, there are nearly two job opportunities for every unemployed person.
Employers are scrambling to find talent, and even upping salaries and benefits to attract new hires. So what does that mean for your first big job search? It means the ball is in your court — and that's something we don't often get to say.? In fact, with so many opportunities, it may actually be hard to choose. So once you've got that shiny new tech diploma in hand, consider the following entry-level options to put your new skills to use.
top 5 tech jobs for new grads
1. help desk technician
Getting your foot in the door as a help desk technician can be a particularly advantageous way to start your career. As the first point of contact for customers, help desk technicians assist users in troubleshooting and solving issues related to company products or systems. It's a great way to familiarize yourself with a company's offering, as you'll be exposed to common pain points and gain a deeper understanding of a product or service's strengths and weaknesses.
Given its entry-level nature, job opportunities for help desk technicians are expected to grow at a healthy rate, as employees move on to other roles.
2. computer support specialist
Depending on the degree of your overall technical proficiency, you may be able to skip the help desk entirely and land a job as a computer support specialist. Computer support specialists work in tandem with help desk support, but generally handle more complex, IT issues after they have been escalated.
Job opportunities for computer support specialists are projected to grow at a healthy rate of nine percent . As a computer support specialist, you can expect to help either fellow employees or customers troubleshoot issues related to operating systems, software bugs and even the occasional hardware fix. As such, you'll want to have a well-rounded technical skillset capable of addressing all those issues and more.
3. web developer
New specialties are developing every day it seems, but the tried-and-true career of web development remains well within reach for recent college grads. Responsible for the design and development of websites, opportunities for web developers are projected to grow 13 percent by 2030 — that's faster than the pace for all other occupations.
Web development is generally broken up into two distinct groups — front-end and back-end — so the skills you'll need to land a job will differ depending. Front-end developers are responsible for the user-facing, visual aspects of a website, so you'll need to understand artistic design principles and possess technical proficiency in HTML and JavaScript. Back-end developers, on the other hand, create the website's structure via code, which means you'll need to be fluent in programming languages like Ruby, Python, PHP and SQL. Many companies like to hire web developers who can handle both front- and back-end responsibilities, so if you can master both, you'll drastically increase your employability.
4. software developer
This is where the big ideas turn into reality, so if you got into the game to create the next killer app, look no further than a career in software development.
Software developers are involved in overseeing the development of new software programs, which includes mapping out the models and diagrams for coders to follow, testing programs, recommending upgrades and monitoring software performance post-launch. Given the important nature of this role within the tech sphere, opportunities are plentiful. The BLS predicts opportunities for software developers to grow 22 percent by 2030 — that's over two times faster than the average for all other occupations.
Computer science graduates with strong programming skills have the necessary requirements needed to break into the field, though accepting an internship first may be needed depending on the company.
5. information security analyst
Cyberattacks increased 50 percent year-over-year in 2021, so it's no surprise that job opportunities for information security analysts are expected to grow by an equally eye-popping 33 percent .
Charged with protecting a company's computer and information systems, information security analysts play an important role in safeguarding sensitive company and client data. This is a fast-paced role for lifelong learners, as staying one step ahead of hackers and responding to threats quickly are critical to success.
Aside from specializing in information security, computer science and programming graduates can also be considered for jobs in this area of specialization.
build your five-year plan
Those last four years flew by, but before you know it, the next three to five will have come and gone. That's typically the required experience you'll see on jobs you might view as your next career step, or the amount of time it'll take to get any new certifications or advanced degrees you might need.
Our list of best information technology jobs is a great place to look when mapping out your next career move. As a staffing firm with a global reach, we started to notice some jobs being requested much more than others, so we compiled a list of those jobs employers ask for the most to let job seekers like you know where the lion's share of opportunities are today.
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So where will you be in five years? Take a look at some of the best jobs in technology to see if anything strikes your fancy.
cloud engineer
Cloud service spending is projected to hit $600 billion by next year, continuing the trend of year-over-year growth in the space. Responsible for planning, designing and developing cloud-based operations, cloud engineers or computer systems engineers and computer systems architects, as they're sometimes called, are projected to be on our list of best jobs for years to come.
Key qualifications for cloud engineer roles include:
DevOps developer
DevOps developers seamlessly integrate business operations with development activities, using advanced tools, systems and platforms to increase workforce productivity. If you're interested in using your tech skills to strengthen operations and improve business performance, this is the role for you.
Key qualifications for DevOps developer roles include:
.NET developer
.NET developers write code using the .NET programming languages (C#, VB and .NET) and have only recently emerged as key contributors to the IT function. As businesses play catch up, expect roles for .NET developers to skyrocket. Indeed, the BLS predicts job opportunities for developers to increase 22 percent over the next several years.
Here are some of the key qualifications and requirements you'll need to become a .NET developer:
machine learning engineer
Machine learning engineers develop customized self-learning software and predictive models that, ideally, imbue software programs with the potential to improve themselves over time.
The BLS forecasts a 22 percent increase in opportunities for machine learning engineers under the umbrella grouping of computer and information research scientists.
So what requirements do you need to become a machine learning engineer?
next steps
Embarking on your first real job search can be intimidating, but remember — you're graduating at a historically great time to find work. Job opportunities abound, especially in tech, so weigh your options carefully with an eye to advancement, and start filling out applications for the roles that suit you best.
If you need help getting started, check out some of the great resources we have available for job seekers:
Follow the guidelines above, and visit our Career Advice page for any other questions that may arise on your search, and you'll be sure to land that first great gig in no time.