What Can You Do with IT Skills?

The modern world runs on computers. From the news you read to the things you buy to the social circles you engage with, computers are a vital part of everyday life. Learning IT can be valuable in so many ways, from allowing you to troubleshoot your own software and systems errors to creating an entirely new career path, mastering IT can be extremely rewarding. If you are unsure that learning IT is right for you, read below to learn more about the myriad uses of IT tools and techniques.

What is IT?

The field of information technology (commonly referred to as IT) involves working with the computer systems, hardware, software, and networks related to the processing and distribution of data. The umbrella of IT also encompasses things like networking hardware (servers and routers) and applications that allow communication over a variety of networks and the internet. 

The term “information technology” was first used in a 1958 publication of the Harvard Business Review, which divided IT into the following three categories: techniques for processing, the use of statistical and mathematical methods to make decisions, and the simulation of higher-order thinking through computer programs. Businesses devote entire departments to information technology, assembling teams to handle these tasks. 

Data processing plays a significant role in a variety of business practices, including product development and design, marketing and market research, sales and invoicing, customer development and retention, accounting and taxes, human resources and payroll, and regulatory compliance. IT has become an essential part of nearly every modern industry, so it is a wise choice to become an expert in information technology.

Professional Uses for IT

IT is used in many professional settings, thanks to its versatility and high demand. Below are five of the top professional uses for IT so you can get an idea of what career pathways exist for IT experts. 

Security

Security is a crucial element of an IT department. IT professionals that work in security usually have a help desk, networking, or system administration role and focus on physical, network, and software security, installing firewalls and routers, data encryption, risk mitigation strategy and threat analysis, knowledge of compliance regulations and standards like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and CCPA, and ethical hacking and penetration testing. 

Programming

IT professionals can also work in programming departments where they will develop software, web applications, and websites. Obviously programming language experience will be beneficial in these roles. Typically used languages are Python, C++, JavaScript, Ruby, and PowerShell. Being confident in at least two is recommended to adequately troubleshoot any errors you may encounter on the job.

Data Analysis

Troubleshooting problems and improving systems and networks, tasks assigned to IT experts, all require you to know how to properly dissect and analyze data. Some IT departments will even have their own Data Analysts to ensure their projects and workflows are correct and efficient. You could monitor performance data to find security threats or coding errors, or see where inefficiencies exist in the overall operations. Having a basic understanding of SQL and statistics will go a long way when analyzing data in these types of roles. 

Networks and Systems

Two common job titles for an IT professional are System Administrator and Network Administrator. Managing and improving computer systems and networks is essential to the work of an IT team. Working in IT may require you to administer diverse operating systems like Windows, Linux, or Mac, install and configure computer hardware and software, cloud administration and applications, maintain local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), storage area networks (SAN) and virtual private networks (VPNs), and troubleshoot and help employees with technical issues.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a high-demand field that goes hand-in-hand with IT. By managing the delivery of on-demand computing resources like hardware, storage, databases, networking, and software, cloud computing lets companies access and store information without managing their own physical devices or IT infrastructure. Its scalability, flexibility, and cost savings have helped it grow in popularity across a variety of industries. But, just like any software or network system, cloud computing relies on IT professionals to keep everything running smoothly. So, you could find yourself in an IT role within a cloud computing company or department. 

Other Uses for IT

There are, of course, ways you can use IT skills outside of a professional setting. While most will study information technology in order to start or advance a career, you can certainly attend training if you’re only pursuing IT as a hobby. Below are some of the top ways you can use IT skills outside of the workplace. 

Personal Troubleshooting

Have you ever been surfing the web, managing your budget, or working on a major school project and ran into computer problems? What if you could identify and fix those errors yourself? Studying IT can make you more adept at handling your everyday technology snafus, for everything from software updates to corrupted files.

Custom Creation

Mastering IT can also allow you to create your own software and programs entirely catered to you. Information technology usually requires knowledge in at least one programming language and a comprehensive understanding of HTML and CSS. Python and JavaScript

Complementary Skill Set

Complementary skills can help you navigate your roles (professionally or personally) more effectively by providing a broader toolset. In IT, complementary skills can help you solve challenges and work well more effectively and creatively with others. Some examples of complementary skills for IT include communication, problem-solving, project management, innovation, decision-making, conflict-solving, and interpersonal skills.

Learn IT Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate prepares you for entry-level data science and Python engineering roles. You’ll learn how to manipulate databases and perform data analysis, read and write complex database queries, prepare and clean data for analysis, and use Python to automate everyday tasks such as aggregating, updating, and formatting data. This course also covers how to clean and balance your data with Pandas, apply machine learning algorithms with the scikit-learn library to solve real-world problems, and analyze the results to detect areas for improvement. Finally, you’ll build and present dynamic dashboards and other data visualizations and deploy your projects online with GitHub to demonstrate your analytical abilities to employers.

Their Software Engineering Certificate is another option for aspiring IT students. Divided into front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development, you will learn HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling; the fundamentals of JavaScript and Git; and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder, and adapt web page content to different size screens. You’ll then move on to the fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. Plus, you’ll cover topics like React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development, and master Node.js, MongoDB, and Express.js to round out your JavaScript development skills.

By creating a portfolio of projects, preparing for common interview questions, and polishing your resume and LinkedIn profile, this course will have you ready to pursue a new job in software engineering in as little as 20 weeks (on a full-time schedule). One-on-one mentoring and a free one-year retake are included in the cost of this course. Payment plans and tuition assistance are available, and this training requires no previous experience, making it great for beginners.

Or, you could try your hand at Noble’s Python Developer Bootcamp. This three-week online course teaches Python for software development with Django, Django REST, and other developer tools like Git and SQL. You’ll start by learning the basics of Python, including its lexical syntax, then move to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. In week two, you'll learn object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and get an introduction to web databases using SQL. By creating projects that can be added to your portfolio, you’ll master URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django, as well as how to work with images, authentication, and use API endpoints with Django REST. 

It’s recommended that you are comfortable coding HTML and basic CSS. You should possess equivalent knowledge of Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS class, and mastery of another programming language is helpful, but not required. Payment plans and financing are available, in addition to extra perks like one-on-one mentoring, a free one-year retake, and a verified digital certificate are included with your purchase.