Information Technology

A new world

The computer revolution that began at the end of the 20th century led, by the mid-90s, to the creation of the internet (the web). And it gave a push to an even bigger revolution. The impact of the internet is comparable to the impact of industrialization. But the best part is that this process is still only at the very beginning.

The number of websites exceeds 900 million. Internet users: 5.5 billion. Internet auctions, internet sites, online stores, online services. The IT economy grows by 20%–30% every year. These are staggering rates. But they are not slowing down.

Over the last 10 years in Silicon Valley (the center of the IT world), a company that later became worth a billion dollars was founded every 2 months. And that is not even counting internet stars like Facebook ($1,800 billion), Amazon ($2,400 billion), and Google ($2,200 billion). None of these companies would have appeared if the internet did not exist.

All of this creates high demand for IT specialists. The global IT economy needs: programmers, designers, testers, architects, managers, system administrators, and other professionals.

It is good to be an IT specialist

If you are an IT specialist, this is a golden age for you. You can work for a great foreign company and live in a small town or even in another country. Your income will, of course, be lower than theirs (usually about half), but higher than in the local labor market (by 3–10 times). The smaller your city, the more noticeable the difference.

You will gain valuable work experience, good money, and brilliant prospects. Sometimes you will travel on business to your employer's office. And if you like it there a lot, you can move there.

A rising tide lifts all boats. But why not be the boat that is in the right place at the right time? That is also a skill.

Immigration prospects

In developed countries, IT specialists are among the top three highest-paid professions, alongside doctors and lawyers. Average programmer salaries are about $90,000/year. But the most interesting thing is that IT careers are perfectly suited to the global labor market.

What happens if a doctor wants to change countries? Another country means different medical standards. With a diploma from their country, they most likely will not be allowed to work in the new one. They will have to learn the language, retake exams, complete practical training—a long road.

For lawyers, it is even worse. In one country there are one set of laws, in another— a different set. Here connections matter more; there—case law. Even very good lawyers from one place will be of little use in another.

IT specialists: very often, directly or through intermediaries, they work for large Western companies. The same technologies, the same business processes. All documentation on the internet is in English. Resumes are in English. You can move to any country in the world and nothing will change. Even clients/employers are often the same.

And IT salaries in California are really good. That is why you need to keep developing all the time.