It was late March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of people to start work from home. But, the circumstances are slowly transforming, with employees being asked to get back to office for work. Unfortunately, it was an unprecedented amount of adaptation for both businesses and employees which made them stay back at home and work. Now few companies are welcoming their teams back into the office, and it’s the time for you to prepare for this. There might be slight anxiousness about going back to the office after working from home for months. However, that doesn’t mean you should be unprepared. In order to manage any change effectively, you need to arm yourself with a plan while also remaining flexible. The IT Jobs Board provides the five ways to sync and navigate to things like the returning of face-to-face meetings, daily commutes, avoiding distractions, feeling the responsibilities, and knowing about each other. Set weekly meetings with your manager If you are planning about staying on top of your responsibilities, set time with your manager every week to review your current progress on a micro and macro level.  You’ll get to touch base about all of the projects you’re working on. Also have a scheduled time to take a break from the day-to-day to refocus which is always a good idea. It’s an easy way to be proactive, and your manager will thank you for it. Keep up a good rapo with the manager, to stay updated with all the work related activities. Commute benefits Many think that commute is one of the most difficult parts of returning to the office. False, the trips are real relaxation for you, when provided with office commute. Lay back and put on some peaceful music to enjoy after work. You can also listen to a business-focused podcast, use audio resources to learn a language or call an old coworker you haven’t spoken with in a while. There are plenty of ways you can utilize your time. Avoid distractions If you are working for a company, working by yourself in a private space is one thing. However, it completely changes when you are working in an open-floor office plan which is something else altogether. So, get rid of as many distractions as you can. It is possible when you put your phone on silent; wear noise-cancelling headphones, etc. This allows you to focus on what you need to. Also, remember that it’s okay to ask for space from coworkers when you need it. If you’re in the middle of an important project and somebody comes in to have a word casually, it’s not rude to ask them to come back when you’re less occupied. Feel the responsibilities Once you’re back in the office, you’ll eventually find out what time management system works best for you. Until then take note all of your tasks, meetings and other responsibilities in one document so you know what you’re supposed to do when. Get to know your co-workers Virtual and in-person relationships require different kinds of upkeep. You will find your co-workers every day, so get to know them a little better. Have lunch with them, or see if they’d like to get coffee during their afternoon slump.

Learn about the best careers that motivate to a great future in IT industry. We have the top picks that have huge demand in the UK and across the globe. Here’s the list of 15 careers that are in-demand and offer best perks in the IT industry as it grows on a day-to-day scale. The 15 best IT careers for the future Here are the in-demand jobs in IT with approximate average salaries at an entry level for each role: 1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) Engineer Average annual pay: £52,000 The world is witnessing great trends in terms of preference and knowledge in AI and ML currently. So are the job opportunities at a high pitch. These new technologies are becoming the emerging field of automation with minimal manual interference. AI Engineers have been learning big data to train models across different languages involved in the IT industry. With the courses mastered in ML, prospects with enough knowledge in the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technology are on huge demand. See our open Machine Learning Engineer jobs. 2. Information Security Analyst Average annual pay: £49,058 Data security in the present world is becoming critical. The roles involved by the Information Security Analyst covers the businesses carefully and let the breaches out of the way. They are one of the highest paying jobs UK while main role lies in safeguarding client’s data. A bachelor’s degree in computer science would suffice the role to be carried. The major responsibilities involved are protecting information systems from cyber threats. Additionally, all the user data and sensitive company information is ensured to be secure. 3. Data Scientist Average annual pay: £50,000 There are many companies and businesses collecting data each day. So, the compilation and other aspects including cleaning, and presenting data for organizations is done by a Data Scientist who has relevant skills in data science. There are huge numbers of job openings in Data Science at this point in time and also in the future. See our open  data scientist  jobs. 4. Software Engineer Average annual pay: £38,000 Everything that’s developed in form of technology involves the work of a Software Engineer in highest paid IT jobs UK segment. All the devices including phones, laptops, tabs work on hardware, but on the other hand, it’s the software that’s developed in the gadgets for functioning. A software engineer may be associated with different technologies in the IT industry. He/she is said to be designated with this role after acquiring a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or information technology courses. See our open  software engineer  jobs. 5. Computer Systems Analyst Average annual pay: £30,000 Computer Systems Analysts are essential because technology changes rapidly. These professionals analyze computer systems for companies and perform updates to make systems more efficient. Computer systems analysts mark its presence on the list of best IT job due to high job satisfaction ratings and competitive pay. 6. IoT Engineers Average annual pay: £62,106 Internet of Things (IoT) is the resonating term in the current world. Connecting your devices or electronics from anywhere remotely is nothing but IoT. Engineers involved with this new technology are those with one of the highest paying careers. Its reputation has been growing with technology growing all around. 7. Block chain Engineers Average annual pay: £50,278 Blockchain Engineers are one of the most preferred careers with IT skills. According to research, there’s been a 517% increase in global demand for block chain engineers. This huge demand also comes with a very rewarding salary. 8. Computer Research Scientist Average annual pay: £38,498 Computer Research Scientists leads at the forefront of technological innovation. These scientists in the IT Jobs research and discover new ways for driving progress in computer technology. The future for this profession has been increasing each year. 9. Data Analyst Average annual pay: £35.000 The skills of analyzing data are the key for any business today. A large number of employers and recruiters are looking for workers with strong data analytics skills. The major role of a Data analyst is to skills at interpreting data. The roles include ensuring data accuracy and finding the best ways to use that data. 10. IT Manager Average annual pay: £33,027 One of the highest paid roles in Tech Jobs is IT manager. He/she plays a vital role in management with descent knowledge on IT industry, especially in the area of specialization they are involved with. They mainly focus on the information technology sector of a company. Planning and coordination is all this role covers. They look for ways to improve IT systems and are in charge of highly skilled technical teams. 11. Database Administrator Average annual pay: £26,165 Database Administrators (DB Admin) is another role that is similar to data scientists. They work with large volumes of digital information and help clients manage data. They maintain databases and ensure that computer systems run as efficiently as possible. They handle all the works related to back-ups and recovery periodically or whenever necessary. 12. Web Developer Average annual pay: £45,536 Web developers are of the roles that come under best paid jobs UK. With expertise in frameworks, programming languages, and design strategies; web developers build and maintain websites and applications. Their focus also lies in making sure all text, video, images, and other design elements are aligned properly on the page. These roles are on the high-demand list and especially with the full stack developers being on the song. 13. Computer Hardware Engineer Average annual pay: £32,548 Computer Hardware Engineers help in designing, building, and repairing the physical circuitry that makes computers work. These are the best IT support jobs that associate with the software resources working smoothly in the tech industry. Computer hardware engineers who are popularly known as the hardware professionals are well-paid along with receiving similar benefits to that of a Software engineer. 14. App Developer Average Salary: £29,058 The numbers of Smartphone usage in the UK speaks about how important an App Developer role is like. Approximately 79% of UK adults own a Smartphone and on average they spend 2 hours and 34 minutes each day. You never can imagine a phone without apps. The necessities like shopping, gaming, and browsing have been growing. All such apps are made available with the App Developers innovating ideas on both iOS and Android. 15. DevOps Engineer Average annual pay: £31,286 The major roles of DevOps engineers is to primarily work with the production of software, and oversee code releases to make sure everything goes smoothly. They need to identify the software inefficiency of software and rectify relevant errors. Efficiency of the software is their major criteria while monitoring, troubleshooting, and editing or configuring the software. DevOps Engineers are on the list of the highest paying technology jobs in the UK.

Keeping a track on the evolution of IT Jobs workforce and changes in industry trends help to navigate the complex technology job market. Within the last few years we have seen the rise of Artificial Intelligence and Augmented reality but companies are severely understaffed on technology leaders and senior product developers.  According to the Robert Half Technology’s 2018 IT salary report , the most in demand technical skill sets that UK companies are looking for: Experience with Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality Data Science (Big Data and Machine Learning) Business Intelligence (Database Technologies) Mobile Application Development Talent for Saas in Cloud (Amazon AWS, Microsoft Hyper–V, VMware) Excelling in Cybersecurity While IT Jobs Board recognises that the fantastic growth in the tech industry subsequently leads to employers seeking top talent continually, the need for soft skills such as great leadership and communication will pave a way into the top tech space. According to a recent study by Modis, the number of tech employment opportunities is expected to rise exponentially by 2024. The forecasted job growth in Web and Mobile development roles are expected to rise by 27% and the coding and engineering experience are now even more essential to build new and innovative products and services. App developers need to be proficient in HTML5, Objective- C, C++, and C#. According to an IT article by Scott Stiner, the desirability of Swift, UX and UI design skills has increased, as they will offer more value to project leaders and management teams. Data Science and Business Intelligence Analysis roles are also predicted to grow by 21% by 2024. With the rise of big data and machine learning, the Data Scientist talent further consolidates Business Intelligence Analysts. This combines communication of data patterns and processes, analyses the findings to offer recommendations in improving business operations. The programming skills (Python, Java), strong analytical skills, experience with database queries, OLAP and SQL Server are ideal for a career in Data Science and Business Intelligence. A Forbes article states that IT security has become a forefront in the media due to the recent infiltration of networks. Stakeholders are demanding companies that more investment should be made to protect the data that is being captured behind the walls. There will be unparalleled heighten in employers looking to recruit job seekers that possess expertise in all levels of IT security (Information Security Manager, Systems/Application Security Analyst) skill-set. Modis report forecasts an 18% increase within the next few years to bridge current shortage in the industry. The production and growth of new technologies are an outlay of the Programming knowledge and analytical skills showcased by tech workers. These skills are evergreen and are continually developing and evolving as time goes by. The prominence of IT job roles coinciding with each other identifies that the adaptability in the ever-changing market is a key component to keep ahead of the game within the tech industry.

The web is a boundless collection of text, images and graphical content that is interacted by the lens, retina and optic nerve and transmitted to the brain that creates visualisation. But, for the millions of blind users around the world, the most common way to access the web is through screen reader software. Screen reader software is capable of interpreting HTML coding and converting the onscreen text into audible output that is read aloud in a sequential manner. Unfortunately, there are many websites that are inaccessible to blind users and these include online employment Web sites and thus preventing these individuals from even applying for jobs online. Employment is a core ingredient for self-esteem and independence and utilising the value of gained knowledge through education should be harnessed without any boundaries. Journal of usability studies conducted a research on job applications for IT Job Boards and this highlighted the design problems that are associated with layout, navigational issues between the input fields as well as the inability to identify the form they are completing. There are industry accepted usability and accessibility (WGAC 2.0) standards that practitioners have to follow when creating dual graphical interfaces. An online sector analysis conducted in 2004 reveals that 80% of the websites fail to meet the requirements of accessibility for blind users. A more recent study conducted on Google search engine’s accessibility and usability issues delve deeper in to the form validation issues and screen reader’s lack of functionality with the description of input fields. When a blind user searches for information with regards to IT Jobs or articles on Google’s search engine, there is a roadblock exhibited by the screen reader software. The audio is output in a sequential manner from the webpage, so it enlists the menu navigational links as well as other advertisements that coincide with the search results for similar IT related articles . This creates cognitive overload for the blind users and thus creating confusion when trying to identify the most relevant information. Form validation is a big issue for blind users when it is not specified through audible feedback and this problem is exhibited by Google’s search engine interface, due to its inability to correct user errors in input fields. This was also unveiled in the job application study such that coincides with the data entry problems when filling in the form for applying for various jobs online. A common misconception is that web usability and accessibility issues arise from the graphical user interface (GUI). The opinion of practitioners is based on the idea of graphical content not being recognisable by screen readers, therefore fails to convey the graphical elements to a blind user. There are improved guidelines from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to help the designers to demonstrate better practices in designing accessible and usable Job Boards and search engines for visually impaired users. Furthermore, it would also be of vital importance to involve testing of form based interfaces that determine task adequacy, behaviour equivalence, device independence and semantic loss avoidance for individual webpages. Author: Pavan Annam

In 2017 cyber security salaries will soar higher than any other tech specialty , and the profession is growing at a terrific rate.  There has never been a better time to transition into a cyber-security career. IT professionals already have a huge advantage, with a ready-made CV of relevant experience and transferable skills. And, the ‘transitioning’ process is now faster than ever. This year, we are launching the UK’s first Government-backed SANS ‘Cyber Retraining Academy’ , with training content certified by intelligence agency GCHQ, for people who have never worked in cyber security jobs . It is a completely free, intensive training programme dedicated to taking people with no cyber qualifications or experience and turning them into qualified, entry level professionals in just 10 weeks.   Graduates could then secure roles with some of Britain’s biggest employers .  Those who have completed the 2015 SANS’ UK Cyber Academy have since been snapped up by some of the biggest names in the industry and offered exciting security roles. The ‘Retraining Academy’ application process uses aptitude tests, including a multiple-choice questionnaire, to look for hidden traits gauging the propensity for success in cyber, from puzzle-solving to determination. For those who qualify, the intensive course includes academic study for leading GIAC certifications and practical ‘hands-on’ work in high-pressure, real-world scenarios. Candidates will be tasked with preventing a national virus outbreak and their ability to hack into IOT devices such as unmanned aircraft. A live ‘portal’ will enable prospective employers to track candidates progress through the course in real-time, so that successful candidates could receive a job offer the moment they graduate. The ‘Cyber Retraining Academy’ is completely free and those who are selected to take part will start on January 23 rd 2017. So do you think you have what it takes to be a cyber-warrior, and defend Britain online? Why not try our free aptitude test and see if you could make it through?