IT Prerequisites

Information Technology (IT) uses technology to solve business problems and make business decisions. Since IT requires technical training, it can be intimidating to those just starting. You might worry that IT will be too hard to learn. This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning IT and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. This way, you’ll be successful however you choose to apply your new skills. 

What is IT?

IT stands for Information Technology. IT is an umbrella term for many job roles that combine business with technology. People who work in IT use computers and technology to solve business problems, make business decisions, and keep businesses running smoothly. 

Many companies have IT departments that manage computers, networks, software applications, and other technical aspects of running a successful business. The IT department could include providing technical support to employees, server maintenance, network security, software development, data analytics, or maintaining hardware and network infrastructure. 

People often think of IT as a support role. While support is a role within IT, IT has many subcategories beyond support, including data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, DevOps, and blockchain. IT professionals might ensure the network is secure, analyze data to help make business decisions, or develop a new software product. 

Jobs requiring IT skills are in high demand, with growth expected to continue at around 15% until 2029. IT can also be a lucrative career path: the average salary for IT professionals is around $100,000. Some IT subfields, such as cybersecurity, have a 0% unemployment rate. Training in IT could lead to an exciting career with an excellent salary.

Read more about what IT is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with IT?

IT describes jobs that combine technology with business, which makes it a huge field with no single job role or learning path. You’ll need verifiable technical training to become an IT professional. However, the size of IT adds a lot of flexibility to its career options and increases the number of opportunities. 

Being knowledgeable about technology is critical for working in IT. You’ll need a combination of intuitive and learned tech skills to excel, especially if you choose a role that requires troubleshooting, such as a support role or cybersecurity. People often underestimate the soft skills necessary in IT jobs, such as logical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, or critical-thinking skills.

IT skills are also highly prized because they improve your work process. Some of the most in-demand IT skills include cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics and data science, networking, software development, machine learning, and project management. Skills in these areas can get you hired in almost any industry.

Is IT Easy to Learn?

One of the challenges to learning IT is that you’ll be required to train in more than one area. IT combines technical skills, such as coding and data analysis, with business skills, such as management and leadership. Additionally, you’ll need to add specialized skills for a specific job, such as data analytics or cybersecurity. 

The difficulty of learning IT will vary the most depending on which IT skill set you choose to learn. For example, learning to code to become a Software Developer may take more time than training to work at a help desk. Regardless of your goals, if you’re planning to pursue IT as a new career path, you’ll want to seek guided training, such as a bootcamp or certificate program. 

What to Know Before Learning IT

Technical Skills

IT uses technology to make business decisions, solve problems, and streamline business processes. You’ll need a solid foundational understanding of technology to launch a career in IT. Some of the most in-demand IT skills include coding, cybersecurity, cloud management, data analytics, system administration, and help desk skills. 

One of the great things about IT skills is that they are in high demand across industries. For example, if you learn to code, you can be a Software Developer in any industry. Some industries hiring the most Software Developers include healthcare, finance, and the entertainment industry. 

Learning some of these technical skills may seem intimidating. However, bootcamps and live online classes are a great way to learn technical skills. Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate provides comprehensive training in coding both the front end (what you see) and the back end (what makes it run) of a website or an application. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in software development. 

Soft Skills

Soft skills are more challenging to describe than technical skills. Soft skills are typically related to interpersonal interactions. For example, do you have the leadership skills to lead a team of developers? Or do you have the problem-solving skills to work at an IT help desk? 

An IT worker’s most important soft skills include communication, leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and self-discipline. A successful IT worker will anticipate problems to avoid them instead of just responding to them when they happen. For example, cybersecurity professionals will need problem-solving skills and technical training. Enrolling in a bootcamp, such as Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp, can assist in developing these skills as students perform real-world cybersecurity and network protection assignments. 

Business Skills

Business skills are critical for IT workers. Training in business skills is one of the critical things that differentiate IT from computer science. Learning business skills can be critical for IT workers who are expected to use their technical and soft skills to solve business problems. 

Many people think you can only learn business skills in college or on the job. However, live online classes and bootcamps are a great way to add business skills to your resume. For example, Noble Desktop offers a Data Analytics Certificate, which prepares graduates for a career as a Business Analyst or Data Analyst. Students are guided by an expert instructor through hands-on, guided projects to develop business and technical skills, including using Excel, coding with Python, SQL, machine learning, data visualization, and Tableau. 

Key Insights

• IT may be challenging for some to learn since it requires a combination of technical, soft, and business skills.
• Before learning IT, you should be familiar with basic computing and master IT fundamentals before training in a professional specialization.
• You can receive comprehensive IT training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.

Learn IT with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

IT is a large job field with many career paths and nearly limitless opportunities. There are many paths to working in IT. However, there are recommended training paths based on your goals. 

To become an IT professional, you’ll need verifiable job skills. Many tech and coding schools offer IT training, but you’ll want to choose one that focuses on technology and business since IT demands skills in both. Bootcamps are highly recommended for launching a new career in IT or pivoting to a different job role because they offer comprehensive technical training in the least amount of time. 

Many bootcamps offer a live online training format which is an excellent option if there are no in-person IT courses in your area. Because the class is live, it works like an in-person class. You can ask questions and interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You can collaborate with classmates or receive direct feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. One advantage of live online classes is that they give you the interaction of an in-person classroom without any commute time. You can train in IT skills from your home or from anywhere.

Noble Desktop is a coding, business, and design school that offers live online bootcamps and certificate programs in some of IT’s hottest career paths, including data analytics, full stack development, and cybersecurity. All their classes have guaranteed small class sizes, so you get extra guidance from an expert instructor. Noble Desktop uses a unique approach in all its classes: instructors teach a “micro-lecture” and immediately guide students through applying the concept they’ve just learned. They also have a “learn the skills guarantee,” which includes a “free retake” option in which graduates can retake a course for free to continue developing their skills. 

Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate provides comprehensive training in data analysis, data visualization, business intelligence, and databases. Data Analysts use data to help businesses make good decisions. Students are guided through real-world, hands-on projects to develop skills in using Excel for data analysis, working with Python, SQL and database operations, data interpretation, business forecasting, machine learning, and using Tableau for data visualization. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Data Analytics which is shareable on Linkedin. 

You can earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Cybersecurity by taking Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. Students work with an expert instructor to develop skills in network security tools, evaluating network security using penetration testing, Security Operations Center (SOC) principles and practices, understanding attackers, security monitoring and logging techniques, information gathering techniques, and understanding application vulnerabilities. 

Full Stack Developer is listed as a Top 3 Job in the US by Glassdoor. Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate provides comprehensive training for becoming a Full Stack Developer who creates both the front end (what you see) and the back end (how it runs) of websites and applications. Students learn to create layouts using HTML and CSS, program in JavaScript, create web applications using Node.js, use MongoDB to work with databases, API development using Express.js, work with Git to track changes, and use JavaScript libraries.