Switching to a career in IT in 2024: Everything you need to know

If you’re beating the odds and still committed to a New Year’s Resolution in 2024, a switch to a career in Information Technology is a choice filled with potential and exciting opportunities. The IT field is thriving, and with the right approach, this transition can lead you to a fulfilling and prosperous career. In this blog, we’ll lay out everything you need to know to make a change into a career you’ll love so that by New Year’s Day 2025, your future is much brighter.

Job outlook – the future is bright

Tech is one industry where opportunities outpace growth, meaning hiring managers are motivated to incentivize roles to attract, retain and promote. Bottom line for 2024: Demand is strong, growth remains positive, and a skills gap persists. But what does this demand really look like?

Here are a few numbers to consider:

• According to a report by Robert Half, 61% of hiring managers plan to expand their teams in 2024, meaning competition for candidates promises to remain high. 35% are hiring for vacated positions. “Many companies are bringing in contract professionals to keep projects running smoothly,” the report states. “But high attrition rates among tech employees, with 64% looking or planning to look for a new job, can disrupt team dynamics and morale, requiring managers to place a renewed focus on retention.”

• In a report issued last month, Gartner predicted that IT services will continue to see an increase in growth in 2024, becoming the largest segment of IT spending for the first time. Spending on IT services is expected to grow 8.7% in 2024, reaching $1.5 trillion.

• Gartner said that while the overall IT spending growth rate for 2023 was 3.3% - only a 0.3% increase from 2022 - momentum will regain in 2024, with overall IT spending increasing 6.8%.

Charting your path to a career in IT

Now that it’s clear a career in IT is a smart choice, let’s cover the first things to consider:

• Identify your interests: What areas of IT pique your curiosity? Cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, or something else? Research different paths to see what aligns with your passion and skills. Take our career quiz

• Assess your current skills: What technical and soft skills do you already possess? Communication, problem-solving, and teamwork are highly valued in IT.

• Consider your learning style: Do you prefer structured courses, online learning, or hands-on projects? Choose learning methods that best suit your preferences and time constraints.

Certifications are considered the best way for employers to verify the skills and knowledge of a new hire. Certifications are ideal for those looking to change careers quickly, because they can be achieved in a much shorter timeline than a degree.

Some of the most popular certifications, as identified by the Robert Half guide, include CISSP, CCNA, and CompTIA A+. However, certifications go further than proving a skillset. They also signal to employers that a professional is committed to keeping their skills up to date. This is a valued characteristic in the IT field, where change is the only constant and keeping up to date requires persistent training.

IT professionals typically begin their career path in the same place: CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, is a nonprofit trade organization based in the U.S. that has developed and administered professional IT certifications for over 20 years. It is one of the biggest providers of vendor-neutral IT certifications and recognized globally as a distinguished issuer of certifications.

One of the most widely recognized beginner certifications is the CompTIA A+ certification, which is separated into two sections, the core 1 and core 2 certifications. Just earning the certification can open doors into most entry-level IT positions and supply potential promotions for those already in the field. If you’re looking to kickstart your IT career, this is the path for you.

Next steps: Beginner roles, getting hired

Once you complete your IT training, what kind of job can you expect to get? Beginner roles in IT typically center around the Help Desk. These jobs require triage work, where you’ll help identify, troubleshoot, and fix basic IT issues. If you like solving problems, working with technology, and helping people, starting in an IT support role could be ideal.

Other common entry-level IT job titles include technical support specialist and desktop support specialist. Our Computer User Support Specialist program is designed to help those with no experience qualify for entry IT support roles like these. As an IT career progresses, the difference in salary often comes down to specialization: Employers may increase salaries between five to ten percent for professionals with sought-after certifications, skills, and abilities.

Launch your career

Our IT job hunter package includes our customizable 30-60-90-day job search plan that will make it easy for you to lay out your job search strategy, break it into digestible tasks and follow through. It also includes a job search tracker.

Once you’ve completed training and certifications, here are your next steps:

• Craft a compelling resume: Highlight your relevant skills, certifications, and any projects demonstrating your technical abilities. Display your soft skills through examples and achievements.

• Network actively: Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and participate in online communities to build your network and increase your visibility.

• Target entry-level roles: Help Desk, Technical Support Specialist, and Desktop Support Specialist are common starting points. Look for roles that match your skills and interests.

• Salary expectations: According to the Robert Half Salary Guide, a Tier 1 Help Desk employee might start around $57,350, but salaries can vary based on location, experience, and specific skills.

Growing throughout your career

Your career path within IT will lead you away from the Help Desk at some point, and that is when you’ll need to consider how you might want to specialize your skills. IT career paths include networking, cyber, IT support, and project management. Let’s take a more detailed look at these job descriptions and what types of additional certifications you would want to pursue for each:

IT support - IT Support Specialists are responsible for analyzing, troubleshooting, and evaluating technology issues. This role may support internal clients, helping to keep employees productive, or external customers of a company, helping them via the telephone or webchat. CompTIA A+ is among the most common certifications within this field. The Robert Half Salary Guide 2024 estimated that an average salary for a beginner help desk support role would be around $47,500.

Networking - Networking is a role that focuses on computer communications between software and hardware devices. The network, servers, and systems are what allow businesses to function normally. Both CCNA and CompTIA Network+ are popular networking certifications. Network and cloud practitioners are in demand, with The Robert Half Salary Guide 2024 estimating a starting salary for network/cloud administrator to be $85,250.

Cybersecurity - Cybersecurity analysts protect computer networks from cyberattacks and unauthorized access by trying to anticipate and defend against cyber threats and responding to security breaches. Cyber experts play a significant role in protecting data. Common cybersecurity certifications include certified ethical hacker, certified information security manager, CompTIA Security + and CISSP. The Robert Half Salary Guide 2024 estimated a starting salary for an entry level cybersecurity role, such as network security administrator, to be around $126,250.

Project management - A project manager organizes, plans, and executes IT projects while working within budgets and schedules. Common certifications in the field include PMP and ITIL, both of which are included in our Senior Technology Project Manager Program. The Robert Half Salary Guide 2024 estimates the starting salary for a technology project manager to be $124,930

Boost your IT career at ACI Learning Tech Academy

Our courses are always taught by a live instructor with years of industry experience. You’ll be able to ask questions, participate in group discussions, and get trained in real time. With course content that’s updated regularly, you’ll be ready to work in the industry.

Instructor Mentors are available for personal study support. They’ll create a personalized study plan to help you master even the toughest concepts.

With your enrollment, ACI Learning covers the cost of one exam attempt for each course. These exams can cost hundreds of dollars, but we know that getting the certification is the goal of each student.

Take classes in a way that works for you. Attend in person or online (depending on location and funding). Each course runs for four hours per day on a morning, afternoon, or evening schedule, so that you can make your training fit in with the rest of your life. 

Everybody learns a little bit differently. Our courses include myriad ways to consume the material, including ITPro videos, study games, dynamic quizzes, practice labs, group projects, discussion sections, digital flashcards and more.

The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®) officially recommended 12 ACI Learning courses for college credit. That means a class at ACI Learning could count towards a traditional degree.