Have you just left the armed forces or have a scheduled plan to separate? Transitioning back into usual civilian life might bring up some fears, anxieties, and worries. It is not always easy to go back to how things used to be before you joined the military, but the change does not need to be a source of stress or concern if the right preparations are set into motion.
One of the biggest concerns for veterans is beginning a new career after serving, and thankfully opportunities do exist with G.I. Benefits. Although this article won’t go into depth about the benefits offered from the incredible Forever GI Bill, we will talk about outstanding IT-related career options for veterans.
Why information technology? The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a job outlook of 28% growth between the years 2016 and 2026. This is remarkably much quicker than average, which means that IT-related occupations are on the up and up.
With such an incredible growth rate, it is safe to say that entering into a career in IT would be a smart decision, especially if you are passionate about information technology to begin with.
Furthermore, ICOHS’s school of IT offers benefits for veterans, which means you’ll be able to study IT to your heart’s content with our non-profit vocational school and still save big while receiving a thorough, personalized education experience.
We are passionate and dedicated to being an affordable school for IT and aim to provide veterans with a comprehensive learning experience that will set them on a path towards success and fulfillment of career goals.
IT Career Options for Veterans: The Top Contenders
If you are a veteran and your objective is to begin a career in information technology, here are some outstanding options:
Software Developers
With an expected 24% job growth outlook between 2016 and 2026 and an average yearly income of around $105,000, it’s safe to say that becoming a software developer is an excellent choice for those who are interested in such a career.
Software developers are responsible for:
- Designing, maintaining, and developing software for a variety of organizations, projects, and companies.
This can be an especially versatile and creative career choice, serving as a good fit for those who enjoy variety from task to task and opportunities to work on a project to project basis. Additionally, software developers play an extremely important role in developing applications that allow individuals to complete specific actions on computers and other smart devices. Without these professionals, our capabilities as digital consumers would greatly diminish.
Web Developers
Web development is reportedly expected to have a 15% increase between 2016 and 2026 with an average yearly salary of around $69,000. The money may not be as sizeable as it could potentially be for a software developer but website development can, in some ways, be a more fulfilling career.
Web developers are responsible for:
- The creation and design of websites and web pages.
For those who would like to be able to work from home and on a variety of projects, web development is ideal because it allows for flexibility and offers opportunities to work on fun, exciting assignments. Additionally, you can specialize in web development for a specific field or industry, further narrowing down your passions and interests so that you can show up to work with a spark in your heart on a regular basis.
Information Security Analysts
This career choice has a projected job outlook of 28% between the years 2016 and 2026 with an average annual income of approximately $98,000.
Information security analysts are responsible for:
- The planning and organization of a company’s or business’s systems and networks to ensure that their servers are as secure as possible.
As cybersecurity becomes an even more pertinent challenge in this day and age, the need for security specialists is greater than ever. Information security analysts play a vital role in protecting networks from cyber attacks and security breaches, which is what keeps this occupation so relevant and in-demand.
Computer Support Specialists
Possessing an expected job outlook increase of 11% between the years 2016 and 2026 and an average yearly salary of around $53,000, computer support specialists play an important role in a company’s IT team. Compared to many other information technology-related careers, this option requires significantly less education and training making it a quintessential choice for those that would like to enter the IT career field as soon as possible.
Computer support specialists are responsible for:
- Advising and assisting organizations as well as computer users, typically in the form of technical assistance, especially when problems arise that need to be fixed.
Although working as a computer support specialist is not normally a job with stay-at-home flexibility, it does entail versatile work hours. Most organizations require 24-hour in-house support, which is why many computer support specialists work full-time schedules with varying shifts. With that being said, typically it is required that nights, evenings, and weekends are sometimes covered; therefore, this would not be an ideal choice for those who would like a more consistent 9-5 occupation.
Database Administrators
With an expected job outlook of an 11% increase between 2016 and 2026, database administrators contribute to the overall structure, organization, and flow of a company or business. The average salary for this occupation is around $90,000 per year.
Database administrators are responsible for:
- Running and monitoring software that collects data, typically in the form of customer records (i.e. shipping records and financial information.)
Just imagine for a minute an online shop that has not employed a database administrator. Simple tasks such as processing customer payments and getting their ordered items shipped would become especially challenging, particularly if the shop has grown sizeably and can no longer keep track of its patrons. Database administrators typically work efficiently with computer programs and are good with organization skills and running numbers. Most database administrators work full-time and often need to show up to a physical office. For those who would prefer to be able to work flexible hours or from home, this may not be the right career track.
Tips for Choosing a Career
There are so many options to choose from that are favorable in terms of the information technology industry. When it comes down to making the best decision for you, here’s what you may want to keep in mind:
- Passion comes first, but paying your bills is important too. We all want to show up to a job that we love, so that is why it is so vital to select an occupation that tailors not only to your financial goals but to your personal intentions as well. It’s all about balance, so if you can find a path that you not only enjoy but can also pay your bills, definitely consider sticking to it.
- Choose the right source of education and utilize their resources as much as possible. The school or institution you receive your education from should offer you valuable resources so that you may go on to be fully prepared for entering the workforce. Make sure you utilize any opportunities your place of education has to offer; they could be of great use later on in your academic or professional path.
- Know your rights with the Forever GI Bill. Many changes have recently been made to the Forever GI Bill and veteran rights have greatly improved and will continue to do so. Thoroughly research the opportunities that are available to you and talk with your school about what they offer for veterans in terms of support.
- Get in contact with potential employers to see what requirements they have so you can prepare accordingly. Have a company in mind that you would like to work for? Get in contact with them and pick their brains a bit so that you can prepare ahead of time for any potential opportunities in being employed for them. Master your resume and find out which skills can be of benefit to your employability.
Final Thoughts on Outstanding IT Career Options for Veterans
At the end of the day, it is so important to not only choose a career that you can project will grow more in-demand over time but to also select a path that you are passionate about. At ICOHS we want our students to feel personally fulfilled throughout their studies, so that they may go on to work in a field they admire.
If you have been searching for IT schools in San Diego or career colleges in San Diego that offer tech programs with benefits for vets, we offer a variety of education trajectories including Computer and Networking Technician Certification, IT Network Specialist, and IT Systems Administrator options.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, reach out to ICOHS today and request more information so that together we can get a jump-start on your career goals and intentions.
