About IT Jobs
The advancement in technology in the last few decades is paving the way for IT to have a widespread presence in all businesses. Whether in sales, marketing, or human resources departments, almost all enterprises employ IT in their daily operations.
It’s not surprising why people believe that IT is at the heart of every economy as it provides support to effectively all industries, such as financial, health, manufacturing, and mobility sectors. For this reason, IT jobs in London are one of the most promising careers to pursue because of their broad range and potential for expansion and development.
The importance of the IT job market in the UK is now more evident because of the recent global events. The pandemic has thrust the significance of digital technology into our daily activities and operations.
If it weren’t for the constant developments and innovations in technology, the impacts of nationwide stay at home orders and social distancing practices would have been much more detrimental, not just on an individual, but economic and national level as well.
Job Description of IT Jobs in London
The job of an IT professional revolves around computers, computer systems, and software use. Because the industry is broad, IT occupations have several types and categories and serve several diverse functions like testing, building, repairing, installing, or maintaining complex systems. Consequently, careers in IT often imply a professional’s willingness to improve one’s skills regularly, due to the fast pace and innovative nature of this sector.
Duties
The duties and responsibilities of IT jobs in the UK and everywhere globally depend on the specific discipline. Some of the most common responsibilities of IT professionals are to:
- Write codes and programs using computer languages like C++ and Java
- Test and debug programs and network systems for errors
- Correct errors in computer codes
- Update existing programs
- Communicate with clients to understand goals or problems
- Conduct maintenance regularly to ensure networks operate properly
- Train clients how to run programs and systems
- Collaborate with other members of the team
- Document every issue and situation as a reference for future maintenance
- Report to managers all issues and resolutions
Types of IT Jobs in London
IT is a broad sector with many different specialities to choose from. They are often categorised based on function.
Technical Support
One of the most common and well-known types of IT jobs is technical support. Professionals with jobs under this category focus on providing troubleshooting advice to non-technical clients.
This type of position handles almost all kinds of issues at the user level, both hardware and software. Professionals who want to land IT support jobs in London should have communication and problem-solving skills and in-depth knowledge of technology.
Programmers
Computer programming is a rapidly expanding sector. Most people might say it’s one of the best IT careers today because of the high demand and competitive salary.
Professionals who pursue this type of career focus on software functions, which entails writing, testing, and debugging code. The end product can range from word processors to computer games to operating systems to database management systems.
Pursuing this career requires heavy logical thinking skills and the ability to pay attention to detail while developing software programs.
Web Developers
Web developers are also among the fastest-growing IT careers in the UK. Because people are quick to refer to search engines for everything they need, businesses need to have a formidable online presence.
This is accomplished by employing web developers who are responsible for designing and running their websites. Professionals who want to pursue this career will need a healthy balance of creativity and technical skills and be ready to regularly learn new things in the expanding and ever-changing job market in London.
Computer Systems Analyst
Out of all the tech jobs in the UK, a computer systems analyst’s role is the most versatile. These professionals need to have superior knowledge in computer hardware, software, network systems and how the three work together simultaneously.
These analysts have the task of giving recommendations to the decision-making body of a company. The proposals include which hardware, software, and network systems are ideal for the company. Often, the analyst will have to tailor the plans to best suit the company’s needs. Because of the scope of this type of IT job, in London professionals must possess a multitude of skills, including analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
IT Security
As the world continues to transition into the digital era, the need for protection against digital attacks is unavoidable. IT security professionals are in charge of implementing and running software that protects the network from viruses, hacking, malware and other types of digital attacks. These types of IT jobs in the UK deal with plenty of problem-solving and crisis management.
Network Engineer
Network engineers are IT professionals who are in charge of network setup, upgrades, and maintenance. Most network engineers are also the ones responsible for security, storage, and recovery. Those who want to pursue this career will need to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Work Environment in the IT Industry
Since most UK IT jobs require updating and maintaining the computer systems of an office, the majority of IT workers work in an office. There is room for remote work, however, like computer programmer roles, as writing and debugging codes can be done from almost anywhere.
Other IT professionals who are under contracts may move from one project to another. In this case, the role may require the professional to travel to different areas from time to time.
It’s typical for computer scientists, analysts, and engineers holding IT jobs in the UK to work alone. Some roles, however, necessitate collaboration within teams that may include electrical engineers and other hardware specialists.
Injuries and Illnesses
Almost all IT jobs involve working on computers most of the day, and as such, several hours of typing on keyboards and staring at computer screens is commonplace. For IT jobs in London, or anywhere for that matter, experiencing backaches, numbness, eye strain, or carpal tunnel syndrome are all possible work hazards.
This is pretty common for office jobs, such as receptionist and digital marketing jobs in London. The best way to avoid these injuries is to take multiple breaks spread out during working hours.
Work Schedules
Most IT professionals and specialists work a total of 40 hours during regular business or office hours. Still, there can be instances of overtime when deadlines have to be met, when certain network activities are taking place, or when system errors have to be fixed.
How to Become an IT Professional
Some types of IT jobs in London, including entry-level positions, don’t always require a bachelor’s degree in IT. Some firms are willing to hire analysts with business degrees as long as they have the necessary skills and experience.
There are many IT specialists today who have no formal training in computers and software. Most of these professionals are graduates of business courses or liberal arts degrees and gained their technical expertise elsewhere. Having a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT or information systems, however, gives a competitive advantage.
Education
The educational background required for technology jobs in London depends on the field of specialisation. Some companies may demand candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, while others will accept a combination of experience and education.
Apart from typical IT roles, some IT jobs are heavily involved in a company’s business side. For positions like these, it’s beneficial for candidates to take up business or management courses. As the market becomes more competitive, achieving a master’s degree in business administration is a definite asset, with many choosing to concentrate on information systems to keep a competitive edge.
The IT industry is a constantly evolving and improving enterprise. Consequently, one can expect top IT jobs in the UK to call for continuous learning by enrolling in classes and participating in professional development.
Being up to date with the latest technological advancements isn’t the only key to landing the best IT jobs in the UK. Understanding the scope of which sector they are applying for will be greatly beneficial. For example, in-depth knowledge of health information systems will be of great use to those seeking to work in healthcare IT.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
The licenses and certification required in some computer jobs in London depend on the area of focus. Some companies won’t require certifications from their applicants, but some prefer candidates who have earned many certificates. This is especially true for programmers. Companies offering jobs for programmers often need candidates to have certifications for the products and software that the companies use.
Advancement
Due to the volatility of the IT industry, there is much room for advancement. While the beginnings may be humble, through the accumulation of knowledge and experience, many IT professionals can see a great elevation in their careers. Specialists who begin with junior IT jobs in London can aim for promotions to managerial positions as they establish themselves in their positions and gain expertise.
Important Qualities
Aspiring IT professionals need to have a vital skill set in their arsenal. While the necessary abilities depend on the area of focus, some qualities are common to all IT professionals:
Problem-solving skills
Like those who hold front-end developer roles in London, IT professionals need to have problem-solving skills to resolve complex problems.
Analytical skills
All IT specialists need to employ analytical skills to understand complex situations.
Communication skills
Some IT professionals have roles that require communication skills, primarily when they act as a go-between with management and the IT department.
Detail-oriented
Professionals holding positions like IT technician jobs in London need to be detail-oriented when they’re examining codes and programs.
Creativity
The field of IT is known for constant development and innovation. For this reason, IT specialists need to be creative to stay competitive.
Average Salary of IT Jobs in London
In London and the UK, most IT jobs have a higher average annual salary than the rest of the country. Based on current data, the average salary of IT professionals is around £47,500 annually. This is several thousand pounds higher than the country’s average annual income.
Job Outlook
Based on 2020 records, IT jobs in the UK experienced a sudden dip in numbers at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As millions of businesses closed their doors and shut down their operations, they also had to cancel millions of jobs, including both full-time and part-time IT jobs in London.
With more than a year passed since countries went on lockdown, it’s unsurprising that recent reports show a spike in the number of available jobs in the industry. Notably, London is experiencing a double-digit increase in the percentage of available IT jobs since the first lockdown.
This anticipated surge in the number of IT jobs in London is prominent for all workers, even for those with no experience. For instance, the number of computer engineering roles have increased by 45%.
This growth in the UK’s demand for IT professionals might surpass the country’s current supply of established workers, creating space for new inexperienced workers, and perhaps even IT jobs in London will be available for foreigners as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
IT jobs are some of the most in-demand jobs in the world, and this includes the UK. For instance, recent statistics show that software engineering roles account for 10% of all advertised jobs in the UK. Many researchers believe that the IT industry’s supply of talents can no longer fill in the demand. Further, this gap in supply and demand for IT specialists continues to grow by the year.
Most jobs in the IT industry in the UK pay relatively high salaries. However, based on the latest survey, some IoT engineers earn almost twice the income of some IT professionals. Although this technology is relatively new compared to other areas of focus, many appreciate IoT for its ease. In a nutshell, IoT engineers focus on embedding sensors and software to physical objects to connect them to devices over the internet.
The most in-demand jobs in the IT industry presently are developers. Based on the current survey, there are over 10,000 active jobs for developers. Though there’s a drop in percentage in the number of available jobs, developers still lead the IT industry’s number of active employment. Further information and statistics show us that London has the most need for developers. The city accounts for 29.8% of all available jobs for developers in the UK.
Most believe that studying and earning a bachelor’s degree in IT or other related fields is worth it. Even advancing knowledge on the area of focus through additional online courses may prove beneficial in the long run. For one thing, earning a degree in IT takes about the same time as other degrees.
Also, the additional courses and programs IT specialists take to keep themselves up-to-date on the latest developments are inexpensive. Further, once an IT graduate lands a job and starts a career in the industry, the salary is likely high.
The title of best IT job depends primarily on the benchmark set by an aspiring IT professional. If income and compensation are the only gauges, IoT engineers will be the best option. It’s an up-and-coming area of speciality, and this type of job provides one of the highest salaries among IT jobs in London.
If you’re looking for the best IT profession that doesn’t require an IT degree, however, a software architect role is your best option. This type of job allows the IT specialist to work with both the management and the IT department. This is good for gaining in-depth experience, especially for entry-level IT professionals.