Since we live in a technological world where people’s lives are dictated by technology, it is but natural that a lot of today’s youth would be interested in taking up Information Technology (IT) courses in college. It seems like a good decision on their part considering that tech-related jobs dominate the list of highest-paying entry-level jobs.
Recruitment site Glassdoor listed the 25 highest-paying entry-level jobs and these were dominated by tech and engineering jobs. Financial website CNBN Make It, for its part, listed down a more specific list: the 10 highest-paying entry-level jobs in tech. Here is the list:
- Data scientist (average salary: $113,254)
- Product manager ($106,127)
- Developer ($100,610)
- Mobile developer ($98,317)
- Sales Engineer ($90,575)
- DevOps Engineer ($89,300)
- UI/UX designer ($84,941)
- Sales representative ($70,662)
- Marketing manager ($70,392)
- Quality assurance analyst ($70,383)
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Working for user experience design firms is best for tech graduates
source:uxdesign.cc
So why should tech graduates choose to work for UI and UX design firms? Well, for one, the opportunity is vast as there are a great number of reputable UX and UI design companies and some of the best are listed here. In the U.S., the technology industry is opening new jobs at a rate of 400% more than other opportunities in the other fields. The demand is great, hence, the pay is high. A lot of the entry-level salaries listed above are so much more than the starting salaries of entry-level jobs in other fields.
Besides the high demand for tech jobs, it is always great when you have to work in a company where creativity is greatly appreciated. This is why working for a UI/UX design firm is great for tech graduates. They not only earn a great deal in order to apply what they learned in college, they are also paid to express their creativity through graphic design or application design.
The passion to make things better and more beautiful
There is always that notion from the older generation that technology is difficult. Navigating technology can be quite complex. Experts from Ramotion suggest that it is the role of the UX designer to ensure that user experience is satisfactory. When users are satisfied, the UX designer is doubly satisfied. The reward of this technical job is great. In a way, it helps people, especially the older generation, to be more adept with technology. User experience or UX can help bridge the generation gap through more user-centered design. But a UX without the UI is incomplete. A UX without the user interface is ugly and messy. So whether you are more of a UX designer rather than a UI designer or vice versa, the role is just as rewarding: you make technology so much more convenient and aesthetically pleasing to boot.
Why companies need UI/UX designers
source:www.wix.com
What is the goal of every company? To make money. How does a company make money? By attracting customers. Since we live in a technology-driven world, companies turn to technology in order to get more clients. And if you notice, most companies already have websites and mobile apps to make them more accessible to their target clients. This is where digital agency becomes important.
Take a look at grocery stores and notice their evolution over the years. It used to be that people go to the grocery store to buy food and other household items. But with technology, people no longer need to go to the store to buy grocery items. Now there are two opportunities here—the grocery store could make its own website design or mobile app where customers can have their goods delivered to their homes. Or another company can create its own application where they go to the grocery store for the client and deliver the items at their doorstep. In any case, the grocery store or the third-party business will need a digital agency to do software development as well as design work.
Enter the UI/UX designers: The UI designer makes sure that the website and mobile design are not messy and are easily navigated through its presentation. On the other hand, the UX designer will ensure that the actual navigation process of the app is accessible and satisfying. Customers want convenience, which is why they are on the mobile app in the first place rather than going to the actual store.
Tech knowledge and creativity
source:thelongandshort.org
It is also worth noting that UX and UI design is about knowledge of technology and creativity. While a four-year stint in the classroom will arm tech students a boatload of knowledge about software development, technological advancements, design process and creative techniques, there are other ways to gain theories and skills. There are short courses, training and self-research. Of course, the creativity part is intrinsic and can be perfected through constant practice. Having said that, education is important but those without university degrees but possess application design experience, technological expertise, as well as the passion and talent for design, can still very well find themselves earning close to $85,000 a year in a UI / UX design agency.
The opportunity for UX and UI designers will balloon even more as a throng of companies become more dependent on online presence when it comes to market conversion. In this technological world, people find themselves spending hours on the internet whether for work or for personal or social activities. In the process of simply surfing the net, mobile users find themselves randomly clicking over content that could address their personal issues or whims. If your service design is easy to navigate and the overall experience was simple enough, then there is a big possibility that the mere act of surfing could translate into a sale.
Opportunities for UI/UX Designers
Yes, Silicon Valley is the go-to place for tech opportunities. But for those who prefer other less saturated areas, there are other regions in San Francisco where the tech industry is also booming. Aside from San Francisco, here are the other top tech cities in the U.S. for tech opportunities: Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Colorado, Denver; Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York and Seattle, Washington.
