Every year there is some kind of technological breakthrough, and with that comes a lot of opportunities for our job seekers. The Internet of Things, or IoT for short, is one of the closest to that, making it a viable career path for anyone.
But wait, what is the Internet of Things? What kind of education should I take? What kinds of jobs should I expect? Well, don't worry; we are here for you. This article will give all the answers you seek, including a foolproof iot careers hack made just for you!
What is Internet of Things?
Let's break it down word by word. “Internet” basically means a global chain of networks, where people connect to gain information about a lot of things. Meanwhile, “Things” refers to the electronic gadgets, often called "IoT Devices," that provide real-time information between the server and the gadget.
When combined, we get something like, "A device that uses the Internet to communicate.” The scope of IoT is massive; it is, after all, all around us, including our TVs, smartwatches, refrigerators, and so on.
What is not Internet of Things?
While the scope of IoT is massive, it still doesn't include everything related to the Internet. Most job seekers often get confused by them, so here's a small list of things that feel like a part of the IoT ecosystem, but in reality, they aren't:
Normal Internet Usage
The traditional use of the Internet, like browsing the Web, streaming a movie on Netflix, or listening to some online music, isn't considered a "Thing" in the Internet of Things, despite being a core part of the Internet use case in the modern era.
Always remember the Things part in IoT. This thing must be a gadget or anything of the same sort that collects and exchanges data with other Things in a semi-automatic or fully automatic way. The best example is fitness bands. They collect data and upload it in the database that we can access in their dedicated application.
Offline Devices
If a device is meant to be offline or doesn't connect with the internet or any form of network, it'll also be disregarded from the term IoT. For example, regular light bulbs, which cannot be controlled by an app, are considered, well, just a light bulb, nothing more, nothing less.
Locally Stored Data or Information
There are a lot of devices that collect data locally and never upload it to the cloud or allow the user to access it over any other gadget. A pedometer, for example, stores steps locally without sending them over to a network. Although smart pedometers have already arrived on the market, this example only aims to indicate the older ones.
Standalone Software
Software or apps are an integrated part of IoT. But just software without any gadgets to communicate is still just software and nothing more. The best example of this is YouTube.
Educational Requirements for IoT Jobs
IoT is a broad spectrum that has a lot of lines that one can take. So, to make it simple, we have divided all the critical processes into simple three-part sections:
Step 1: Take a Career Counselling
Before jumping in, we recommend consulting about your career first so it becomes clear which road ahead is the most suitable for you. Thankfully, we here at Infigon offer a dedicated counseling session for students and working professionals.
Internet of Things consulting will make it clear what you should pursue next, ultimately saving you from making bad decisions and clearing the shortest path for a successful future.
Step 2: Pick Your Education
Getting a good education is the foundation of IoT job opportunities. It not only provides a huge boost in knowledge but also in the confidence department that every IoT job seeker will need. So here are all the educational paths that you can take:
- Bachelor of Engineering (BE)
- A four-year undergraduate course.
- Aims to provide a strong theoretical and knowledge-oriented base for future engineers.
- Bachelor of Technology (BTech)
- A four-year undergraduate course.
- Aims to provide a strong base for technology-oriented knowledge.
- The most famous choice for IoT job seekers.
- Master of Engineering (ME)
- A two-year postgraduate course.
- Aims to provide advanced knowledge about engineering concepts, designs, and theories.
- Master of Technology (MTech)
- A two-year postgraduate course.
- Aims to provide advanced knowledge about practical applications and technologies.
- Preferred choice for IoT job seekers.
- Various Certificate Programs
- The time frame will depend upon the course.
- Certificate Programs include Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, AWS Certified Developer Associate, IBM Cloud Certified Developer, and so on.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- In between four and five years.
- The highest form of education for IoT professionals.
- For those who want to make a change in the world of IoT through their research, knowledge, and passion.
- Preferred goal for professors or researchers at universities.
Step 3: Know The Demand
IoT India is ever-growing, which in turn makes tons of demands for more IoT professionals. For example, just recently, Reliance Jio and the Indian government started investing heavily in artificial intelligence.
If that's not enough, just hear this: President Trump promised to make the USA into an AI hub for innovation and healthcare revolutions. In simpler terms, there will soon be job requirements in the USA in the thousands, if not millions.
How To Find Internet of Things Jobs in India
There is no shortage of Internet of Things jobs in India. This year, we embarked on a new era of machine learning. Thanks to that, the demand for software engineers, data analysts, security professionals, etc., has grown tremendously.
IoT startups in India are also booming in return, saturating the job market more and more with each passing day. So, anyone looking for jobs in an iot careers should immediately start looking on platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri.com, Glassdoor, Indeed, and so on.
The usual way goes like this:
- Log in to the portal of your choice.
- Fill it with your educational details and any other projects you may have worked on in the past.
- Include proper personal information like name, date of birth, nationality, and so on.
- Upload a good-quality picture.
- Make sure it's not a passport-size photo.
- Capture a really good one with a DSLR.
- Create a new resume for each portal.
- And lastly, apply for jobs.
Some portals will have a subscription-based system, like Upwork or FlexJobs. There are countless other free alternatives; we'll recommend using them instead.
Remember to also try your luck on international job portals like CareerBuilder and Eurojobs. International jobs not only pay a lot but also give you the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world while achieving your dream job.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the expected salary for IoT jobs in India?
Ans. Expected IoT job salary packages in India are between 20LPA and 50LPA.
2. Are BE and BTech the same?
Ans. Fundamentally, they are different. But on the basis of strength of degree, they are considered equal in India. The value of a degree in BE or ME is the same as BTech and MTech.
3. What are the common programming languages used in IoT jobs in India?
Ans. Programming languages like JavaScript, C or C++, Python, and HTML/CSS are the most famous and commonly used in Indian IT sectors or IoT jobs in India.
4. What are some real-world applications of the Internet of Things?
Ans. Things like smart TVs, smart home appliances, smartwatches, etc., are some of the best examples of real-world applications of IoT.
5. What is IoT UPSC?
Ans. The term "IoT UPSC" refers to the job opportunity through the preparation of UPSC, or Civil Service Examination. There are a lot of career paths through this where one can help in developing smart cities, disaster control, smart traffic control, waste management, and so on.