Meet-ups

Careers in Technology is the part of Newburgh Library's  Career Smart Series. Dr. Yulia Ovchinnikova, PHD, Business Development Professional, Tech Entrepreneur and Strategist and the president of Open Hub will present on the varied career opportunities in technology, and entry-level jobs for different levels of education and different specializations.

We will talk about different careers that technology skills can unlock, job prospects, and how individuals can pursue learning about technology and I thought you'd be perfect for this. 

The explosive job growth of the information technology industry began just about two decades ago, and it has barely slowed down since.

Nearly every company whose employees use computers has a need for IT professionals. Every company needs a digital presence. The majority of tech jobs do not require a college degree, but they do require prior practical experience. We will discuss a few different career path, where do you need a college degree, and where you do not. There is a huge gap between theoretical based college diplomas and the real life skills in tech - marketable and employable.
In the US alone, jobs in this field are projected to grow 10% between 2016 and 2026 -- faster than the average of all other occupations. Coding Bootcamps are thriving while all tech companies are desperately hiring for a #relevant and #practical skill set.

Region's specific:

Technology sector is growing in the Hudson Valley as well, but these careers remain invisible to local talent. At the same time the need for tech jobs in the Hudson Valley is hidden. Technology jobs are not popular since both trends are invisible. This is the chicken and egg problem. Companies who need tech employees are not looking for local candidates. People who have tech skills and can be hired are looking for jobs at Manhattan and other places outside the Hudson Valley. These challenges create new opportunities:
• Continuing Education adults are looking for modern skills in tech to support their freelance or career change. Coding or Web Development Bootcamps are trending and getting more attention that can be more supported.
• There is a gap between college education and professional skills required by hiring companies. This gap can be covered by real skills bootcamps like Fast Track Web Development Bootcamp at Suny Ulster, specialty training, community collaborative projects, and technology focused job fairs.
• Technology awareness in the region is growing, but more efforts needed to popularize it. There is a need to introduce local stakeholders to the different aspects of technology and stacks/ tools available. This is happening through community tech meetups and conferences, e.g. #EdTech, #Cybersecurity, Hudson Valley Tech Festival #HVTechFest, etc.
• There is low visibility for local tech jobs and companies. People who are looking for tech jobs are not seeing locally hiring companies.
• There is growing startup community as well as professional network for startups utilizing technology stacks and skills.