Jobs Made Possible with Technology

A recent conversation related to the “good” and “bad” of technology forced me to consider its effects on the job market. While there may be evidence to support the claim that many have jobs have become obsolete as a result of technological advancements, the reality is that in replacing certain jobs, a number of professions have emerged that are more “up to date”, and arguably provide individuals with greater income than the more popular jobs of the past.

 

Here is a look at a few jobs that have been made possible through advancements in technology:

 

 

Social Media Professional

 

A decade or so ago, very few people could readily identify what social media is all about. Now, social media is all the rave. Such is the significance of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and company that it is next to unheard of that an individual or entity does have a presence on one – in many cases it’s all.

 

As it stands, many people are familiar with what social media is, and those individuals will acknowledge that key to maintaining an image on these platforms is to be interactive. While it may be considered okay for some individuals to seldom access their accounts, for others – and for many organizations – a lot of work is required. It is as a result of this that social media professionals are needed. These individuals would have acquired a great level of expertise and familiarity with the various social media platforms to be able to engage those who visit a particular page or account – whether fans, or clients, or stakeholders.

 

 

So important is social media that many organizations consider maintaining their various accounts more important than building and maintaining a company website of their own.

 

 

Mobile App Developer

 

Another job that has technology to thank for its emergence – and rapid rise to prominence – is that of a mobile app developer. A mobile app (which is a shortened version of application) is pretty much software designed to be used on mobile electronics such as smart phones and tablets. As it is now, these devices are considered essential by millions of individuals across the world, and the apps being created for them craved to a large extent.

 

In the latter stages of the 2000’s, the saying “there’s an app for that” began to capture the interests of many, as there were a number of daily tasks that were made a lot easier with such a program. If that saying was accurate then, it is even more accurate now, as it is believed that over a million apps currently exist in cyberspace.

 

In spite of the quantity, there is no denying that the ability to create such software is at the moment one of the best skills that a professional can possess. Being able to design and construct mobile apps is a great way to land an individual a job with any organization looking to capture the attention of an audience by utilizing their interests. Having said that, however, doing it for personal gain is arguably even more profitable. The support for such a claim? Just a few months ago, the very popular WhatsApp was bought by Facebook for a total of $19 billion.

 

 

Information Security Professional

 

The phenomenon of hacking – with undesired by-products such as identify theft – are among a few of the unwanted developments that have emerged with the increased advancements made technology. With this in mind, professionals with the expertise in information security are now among the most coveted in whatever industry.

 

Within the last year, there have been multiple reports of major companies being the victims of a breach. It is quite likely that many more entities would have suffered a similar fate if not for the individuals that develop the various programs to safeguard the information stored on the servers. Being able to create programs such as anti-virus software to protect sensitive information is a skill that cannot be overstated.

 

 

Online Freelancers

 

Traditionally speaking, the title of a writer could only be claimed by an individual who wrote for a newspaper, or had written a book, but this is no longer so. The same applies to a host of other professions that would generally demand years of education and certification to make an individual qualified to perform in the role.  With the emergence of numerous freelance websites – Elance Odesk being among the popular selections – a high speed Internet connection and a computer is essentially all that is required to help an individual expand their professional portfolio.

 

With these platforms, individuals can work in a variety of areas, including data entry, translations, virtual assistant, website development, photography, while a significant percentage of freelancers are writers. Working as a freelancer provides individuals with the freedom to work on their own terms, selecting their own hours, and dictating their rates. Similarly, unlike the everyday job, an individual is free to venture into multiple areas without any restrictions.

 

 

From the perspective of the expertise, technology has also played a key role. The resources available to those with their respective interests are accessible with a search on the Internet. Though the certification may be lacking, the beauty with freelancing is that very few clients actually ask for it – unlike the traditional “9-5” job.

 

 

 

Jobs Made Possible with Technology