In the run-up to the new year, many people find themselves contemplating the big life decisions and changes they’re planning to make for the twelve months ahead. Of course, actually sticking to them is another matter; one survey reported that just 8% of people who make resolutions manage to keep them throughout the year.
That being said, using the new year as a time to find a new career path makes sense; searching for a new line of work, and ultimately getting a new job, is a resolution with inarguable long-term benefits. It’s also the sort of resolution which you can start to plan for in advance—think of organising your schedule to actively start looking for work as the equivalent of going to the sporting goods store to buy sneakers.
So what are the jobs and industries which will be most accommodating to new starters in 2018, and set you up for a very happy new year ahead?
Computer systems analysis
One thing you need to consider when you’re looking for a new job for the new year is finding something that’s futureproof; with up to 50% of jobs predicted to give way to automation by 2032, getting your foot in the door of a new industry early is essential. Information (or computer) systems analysis, for example, is likely to be a constantly in demand role—no matter which jobs become automated over time, someone is going to have to be in charge of the data controlling the automation.
According to Business Insider Magazine, demand for computer systems analyst positions is set to rise by 21% by 2024. Information systems degrees are one of the most crucial foundations to getting a role in this fast-growing sector, with both drawing on technological savvy, critical thinking and problem solving.
SAP (short for Systems, Applications and Products) is one of the most widely-used data systems softwares, and having a working knowledge of ever-evolving SAP practices is particularly useful. According to one list of tips for landing SAP jobs, training sessions and networking with other SAP practitioners will help the chances of budding computer systems analysts in landing the best role possible.
Break into the VR industry
With Amazon stocking over 190 different headsets, and over 18 million global users (as of March 2017), virtual reality is becoming one of the most competitive parts of the tech sector. As more of the major electronics players venture into the arena—after much speculation, Apple belatedly put their hat in the ring in late November when it acquired its first virtual reality startup—VR platforms will be keenly observed as the decade rolls to a close.
Courses which teach much of the coding needed to create VR videos are widely-available, and VR production companies are understandably eager to acquire the best and brightest new talent the industry has to offer. In their guide on how to break into the VR industry, REWIND recommend building your own games and experiences, noting that “the commitment to…practicing in your free time will set you apart and shows you are serious.” If nothing else, it’s a way to turn a tech-savvy hobby into a career in one of the most desirable sectors of the industry.
Health sector
While it may be less well-paying than data analysis, and not as bleeding edge cool as a career in virtual reality, other sectors are in need of staff for less glamorous reasons. Our aging population and changing infrastructure has led to healthcare being responsible for “8 of the 15 projected fastest-growing occupations” in America, according to Bloomberg.
From personal training to nursing, there is a global high demand for health workers (and vets), and many of these roles don’t necessarily need a formal medical qualification. CNBC notes that the roles of medical records technician and diagnostic medical sonographer are both highly sought-after and well-paid and, not unlike SAP, are likely to be perpetually in demand.