Many people would like to know specifically what kind of career paths there are for engineers. There are a wide variety of engineers, from engineering to IT and WEB, but here we will focus on IT system engineers, front-end engineers, server-side engineers, and other WEB engineers. Along with how to draw a career path, we will also introduce examples of actual career paths, so please refer to them.
How to draw a career path for an engineer?
There are two major ways to draw career paths for engineers. One is a pattern in which you aim to become an IT specialist by developing your technical skills based on the skills you have already acquired, and by increasing your specialization. As an expert in a particular field, you are in high demand.
The other is a pattern of adding new skills and expanding the range of support. Management, consulting, and full-stack engineers with IT knowledge will be on this career path.
increase specialization
Build a career as an expert in a specific field by deepening your current career and increasing your specialization around the skills you have acquired. Also known as an IT specialist. It is characterized by specialization in each field, and it is especially active in fields that require high expertise, advanced knowledge, and technical skills, such as security and databases. Due to his deep knowledge and technical skills, he is expected to be a reliable and excellent advisor in his specialized field and will demonstrate his ability to solve difficult cases and problems.
In the past, many career paths shifted to management, but in recent years, the importance of security and the need for experts to deal with the intensification of cyberattacks have led to a career path that is attracting attention.
broaden your skill set
Based on IT knowledge and skills, this is a career path that adds new skills and expands the scope of work. For example, there are career paths for system engineers to become project managers by learning management, or to become IT consultants who have acquired the knowledge and techniques of consulting.
In the case of web engineers, there is also the option of becoming a full-stack engineer by having a server-side engineer acquire front-end skills, or a front-end engineer acquires server-side skills.
Introducing examples of career paths!
Let’s take a look at some examples of career paths. This time, we will introduce the career path for each engineer, so please refer to it.
System engineer career path example
Typical career paths that system engineers can aim for include IT architects, IT consultants, and in-house SEs in different industries.
・IT Architect
System engineers can also become IT architects by digging deep into aspects such as strategy and planning. IT architects are required to participate in the ultra-upstream development process from the conceptual stage, proposing and constructing better system structures and design styles for management strategies from the perspective of IT strategy. Therefore, it is necessary to have a wide range of knowledge and the ability to make proposals for system construction, as well as knowledge of management strategies.
・IT consultant
If you can take charge of strategy while making use of the knowledge and skills of a system engineer, you will be able to see the career path of an IT consultant. IT consultants participate in management strategies, propose business reforms using IT, and assist in corporate strategies. In addition to customer negotiation skills and management experience, knowledge of corporate management is also required.
・In-house SE
In addition to this, if you work at a SIer, you can also consider becoming an in-house SE. The in-house system engineer is the sole person responsible for the company’s systems. A wide range of knowledge as an SE is required, such as system construction, operation, maintenance, and response to system inquiries and failures.
WEB system: Career path example of a server-side engineer
Career paths for server-side engineers, where technical skills are emphasized, include security engineers and full-stack engineers, in addition to improving their expertise and development capabilities.
・What is a Database engineer?
As a career path for a server-side engineer, you can first pursue the database skills necessary for developing applications and become a database engineer. Database engineers develop, design, operate, and manage databases. Knowledge of current mainstream databases such as Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server is essential. In recent years, with the development of IoT, the skill of handling big data has become important.
・What is a Security engineer?
Knowledge of security measures is important for developing server-side programs, but by pursuing this skill, you can aim to become a security engineer. A security engineer is a job specializing in information security that takes various measures against cyberattacks, which have become more intensified and sophisticated in recent years, and designs and builds systems, investigates vulnerabilities, and proposes and implements improvements. High communication skills are also required because it is necessary to explain the risks and convince the client to prevent cyberattacks.
・What is a Full stack engineer?
By acquiring infrastructure skills and front-end skills along with server-side program technology, there is also a path to becoming a full-stack engineer. A full stack engineer is an engineer who can cover infrastructure, server-side, and front end by himself. In addition to server-side programs, a wide range of knowledge and experience is required, from server settings to HTML and CSS.
WEB system: Career path example of a front-end engineer
The career path of front-end engineers not only enhances their expertise as it is, but there are flexible career paths such as web designers, UI/UX engineers, full-stack engineers, and web directors.
・What is a WEB designer?
In general, front-end engineers are not in charge of design, but by improving their design skills, they can expand their areas of activity as web designers.
Web designers are required to have a sense of design and a sensitive sensitivity to trends. In addition to operating Adobe products such as Illustrator and Photoshop, creating design proposals and logos, and illustration skills, skills such as color schemes and layout sense, and typography are also required.
・What is a WEB Director?
A front-end engineer who has a great influence on the final finish can also play an active role as a web director by having skills such as management and progress. The web director manages the progress of the entire project, including project proposals, client negotiations, management, and budget management. Communication skills, negotiation skills, broad knowledge of web development, and knowledge of the latest technology trends and design trends are required.
・What is a Full stack engineer?
As with the server side, you can aim to become a full-stack engineer from a front-end engineer. Since you already have front-end skills, you will learn server-side programming and infrastructure skills.
Security engineer career path example
Career paths for security engineers include security administrators, security consultants, security analysts, and ethical hackers.
・What is a Security administrator?
As a security engineer’s career path, it is conceivable to use your knowledge of security to become a general security administrator. In addition to overseeing the security of the entire IT system and managing the progress of projects, we also participate in corporate management strategies if necessary. In addition to a high level of security knowledge, management skills and management knowledge and management skills are also required.
・What is a Security consultant?
Security engineers can also become security consultants by leveraging their high-security knowledge. Security consultants provide security advice to companies and help with business strategy. To propose what kind of security measures should be advanced based on specialized knowledge, it is necessary not only to have the ability as a security engineer but also to have the ability to make proposals that consider the latest technological trends and management strategies.
・What is a White hacker?
Security engineers are specialists in defensive security measures, but it is also possible to become a white hacker by learning offensive skills such as actual hacking. An ethical hacker is a security specialist who hacks using advanced technology and knowledge to investigate security vulnerabilities. In addition to a broad and deep knowledge of all security measures, knowledge of servers and systems, and hacking techniques are required.
One way to decide which engineer you want to be based on your ideal career path
In recent years, IT has increased demand in various fields, and the career paths of engineers have become extremely diverse. As a result, many occupations offer completely different career paths.
In the past, the career path for engineers was often drawn from the starting line, but from now on, it will be possible to draw the career path first, research the skills and qualifications to be acquired, and decide the engineer you want to be. It will be one option.
Visit the Facebook page Xtreme Techy if you’re ever interested in corresponding topics.
Related Articles>> [How is it different from freelance? ] Advantages and disadvantages of engineers working as nomads
