Many Millennials grew up with the advice to become Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, or Accountants. For most of their parents, these were the best career options available; it required a university degree and ensured them a stable income.
With technology coming into the picture, our options changed somewhat. You don’t necessarily need a degree to build a career anymore and you don’t need to study full-time. Plus, there are many new career options available.
If you have to pick a career for 2018, consider the following:
High in demand careers
In 2017, the following jobs were high in demand in South Africa according to Career Junction:
Information Technology 27%
Finance 18%
Business & Management 16%
Sales 13%
Admin, Office & Support 8%
Architecture & Engineering 4%
Marketing 3%
Although Engineering and Accounting careers are still very in demand, they aren’t the only good options. Information Technology (IT) brought quite a range of new careers, including network systems, information support and services, programming and software development, and Web and digital communication (or digital marketing).
Do I need a formal qualification?
In deciding whether you need a formal qualification, you will have to consider the level of competitiveness of the job, the type of business you want to work for, and the level of income you want to earn.
Careers that require qualifications
Aside from being very in demand, the following jobs (related to the list above) rank as some of the highest paying jobs in SA in 2017:
- Software developers (IT)
- Accountants (Finance)
- Engineers and Architects
At the moment, IT jobs in South Africa has a much higher demand than supply, meaning there are more positions available than qualified people to fill it. Certain IT careers do not necessarily require qualifications, but the demand for qualified Software Developers shows that it might be worth your while to get a degree in IT. Accounting, Engineering, and Architecture still require you to have a qualification.
Careers that don’t require qualifications
The following jobs do not necessarily require a formal qualification, depending on the employer:
- Digital Marketers (IT; Marketing)
- Sales Assistants (Sales)
- Administrative Assistants (Admin, office & support)
- Web Developers (IT)
Online learning is very popular for careers in digital marketing. For example, you can easily do a digital marketing short course online, including SEO, social media management, Google Adwords, and graphic design. Sales positions mostly provide on-the-job training, including to Sales Representatives for various sectors, Call Centre Agents, and Shop Assistants. Administrative Assistants can do various admin courses online, including basic bookkeeping, business administration, and labour relations courses.
Some IT careers will not require you to have a degree. It is possible to get a job by teaching yourself the basics through online learning and building your experience. Web development and design is a popular career choice where many people are self-taught. You can become a freelance Web developer or designer, or find a job at a small company without having formal qualifications.
Can I build a career with online short courses?
It is still possible to get promoted to Management within your company without a formal qualification, although you might have to start out with a lower salary or position than someone with a degree. The job market is very competitive and a qualification or certification might get you noticed, but employers appreciate a positive attitude and a willingness to learn very much.
