Ready to swipe right on your career path? A Gen Z guide to finding the perfect fit.

When it comes to choosing a career path, there are so many options available to those of us in Gen Z. However, finding a job that interests you, pays the bills, offers growth opportunities, and checks off all the other boxes can be a slightly more challenging, especially in today’s job market.

I found myself struggling with these decisions a few years ago – wanting a rewarding career I could enjoy that would also co-exist with my life outside of work. Here’s the advice I offer my friends whenever they share the same challenge: Consider a career in IT.

Before you write off the idea, I’m going to begin with some context, and although it is cliche, hear me out…

As young adults in Gen Z, we grew up with technology at our fingertips, effortlessly adapting to the internet and social media. Many of us are entrepreneurial, starting our own businesses early on, and we prioritize our mental health, pushing for better understanding and support. Growing up in times of economic uncertainty – talking about you, housing market and inflation - we tend to focus on financial stability, and we take pride in our resilience and versatility in the face of rapid global changes (cough, cough, Covid).

What type of career is going to appeal to – and be a perfect fit for – our unique generational experience? We want careers that’ll be resilient over time and allow us to balance our personal and professional lives in ways the traditional 9 to 5 office culture never could.

As a Communications major in college and having spent the first few years of my career in marketing here at ACI Learning, I’ve realized that careers in tech offer everything my friends and I want in a career. So, I’m here to share with you everything I’ve learned, so that you can skip ahead to the good part.

Let’s dive in by starting with the selling points that will appeal to you the most.

Here are what I see as the top benefits of a tech career:

1. High Demand: Unlike other industries that have more candidates applying than jobs available, IT professionals are in high demand. Most businesses need employees with these skills, but there aren’t enough qualified candidates to fill the positions. A recent survey done by Robert Half reported that “95% of technology managers face challenges finding skilled talent.” Meaning that if you have tech skills, it will be easier to find a job than those in other fields.

2. Competitive Salary: Since tech skills are so lucrativeniche, hiring managers tend to offer extra incentives including competitive pay to attract qualified candidates. As technology continues to advance, the need for IT professionals is expected to grow, which will lead to even more job openings and potentially more incentives.

3. Lifelong Learning: As many of you know, the attention spans of our generation are extremely short, making it challenging to stay engaged in a job that never changes. In the IT field, with the constant advancements in technology, you’ll continuously be learning to stay updated on tech and trends, keeping the job engaging and challenging.

4. Work-Life Balance: Many IT jobs offer the flexibility of remote work and flexible hours. This provides a healthy work-life balance and allows you to tailor your schedule to fit your lifestyle.

5. Creativity and Innovation: You’ll get the chance to work on innovative projects that let you use your creativity and showcase your abilities.

6. Multiple Career Paths: The IT field offers a wide range of specialties, including IT support, cybersecurity, networking, and more. With so many options to choose from, it’s not difficult to find a specialty that aligns with your strengths and interests.

Sounds compelling, right? Let’s move on and look at how you can get started.

Step 1: Research the Industry

When first getting started, it’s important to do your research. At this point, you don’t have to worry about choosing your specialty right now, but you should become familiar with the different career paths that you can choose from within the field. This will give you an idea of what your future career could look like as well as what certifications you might want to pursue. Not sure where to start? Take our career quiz to get an idea of what IT career might be a good fit for you.

Step 2: Education and Training

Once you’ve done your research and have an idea of what might interest you, figure out what kind of education and training you need. You might decide that an associate or bachelor's degree in information technology or computer science would be best for the job you want. Alternatively, you could find that earning IT certifications is enough to get you to where you want to be. If you decide on certifications, you’ll need to investigate some IT training schools (like our ACI Learning Tech Academy!) to see which program would work best for you and your specific learning style.

Step 3: Gain Experience

Look for internships, part-time jobs, apprenticeships, or volunteer opportunities in the industry to gain hands-on experience and build your skills. Another way to gain experience is by doing hands-on labs.

Step 4: Build Your Resume

Highlight your skills, accomplishments, and any relevant certifications to show your expertise to potential employers. Also, don’t forget to add soft skills that you already have from previous experiences because those will be just as important as your technical skills.

Step 5: Networking

Attend industry events to network with professionals in the industry. You can also join groups on LinkedIn to connect with peers and mentors. Use these opportunities to learn from experienced professionals, seek advice, and discover potential job openings.

Ready to take the next step?

If you think that an IT career could be the right path for you and you’re ready to get started, ACI Learning is here to help. We offer training options for various learning styles and preferences. If you want a more traditional training experience with more guidance and support, Tech Academy would be the best choice for you. If you’re ready to hit the ground running on your own, check our ITPro, on-demand catalog and plans.

Learn about our ACI Learning Tech Academy

• Live, instructor-led training – Whether you choose to take our courses online or at one of our in-person locations, you’ll be taught by a live instructor with years of industry experience, so you’ll be able to ask questions and get trained in real time.

• Instructor mentor assistance - If you have a difficult time with any of the concepts you’re learning, you’ll be able to book a 1-on-1 study session with your Instructor Mentor. They’ll create a personalized study plan to help you master any topic.

• Exam costs included – Since we know the goal of our students is to earn certifications and we understand how costly these exams can be, the cost of one exam attempt is included with enrollment for each course.

• Flexible schedules – No matter what your schedule looks like day to day, our courses run for 4 hours a day in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings so that you can make your training fit in with the rest of your life.

• College credit – ACE CREDIT® officially recommends 12 of our courses for college credit. That means by taking our courses, you could earn college credit towards a traditional degree if you decide to go back to school.

• Career services support – Leverage one-on-one support from our career services team. They’re here to help you perfect your resume, optimize your LinkedIn, practice mock interviews, connect you with employers, and more.

Author Melissa Kratt is a University of Florida graduate who has worked for ACI Learning since she graduated.