When it comes to job opportunities, the tech industry giveth and it taketh away. While some jobs are becoming obsolete thanks to technology and, particularly, the rise of AI, many speculate that the majority of tech jobs that current students will become experts in don’t even exist yet. It is one of the joys of tech; every day brings a new surprise and, with it, opportunities.
According to the IT Salary Guide on Motion Recruitment, despite the uncertainty of the last year, tech unemployment rates remain below the national rate. And new opportunities promise to keep on coming; McKinsey asserts that the next decade will see more change and technological advancements than the last decade. McKinsey goes on to estimate that, in 2025, the Industrial Internet of Things will go from strength to strength, with an estimated 50 billion devices connected to it by the end of the year, with metaverse revenue reaching up to £800 billion.
With these rapid advancements in technology come rapid changes in the job landscape. And while we know that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is responsible for mass layoffs – IBM alone announced the replacement of 8,000 roles with AI, but it is also responsible for the emergence of a host of new roles. From blockchain technologies to the metaverse, the IoT to AI, technology has become increasingly intertwined in our lives, but the coming years will see the inextricable connections continue to grow. Here are some jobs destined to emerge out of this rapidly changing industry.
CAO – Chief Automation Officer
COOs and CIOs beware: CAOs are on their way and will be likely to outstrip you in their use of automaton to streamline operations across your company. Where COOs are confined by the constraints of systems and people to operate them, CAOs draw upon AI – specifically automation – to optimize repetitive processes, identify and remove bottlenecks, and create an intuitive, streamlined organizational structure.
With the operational excellence of a Chief Operating Officer and the technical skills of a Chief Information Officer, the CAO needs to stay ahead of the game, continually developing skills that are both industry-specific and technology-aware.
Gamification Marketing Specialist
In a world where gamification is becoming increasingly central to many activities, it is not surprising that the role of gamification marketing specialist is likely to become a hot new role of the future. Similarly to the CAO, the gamification marketing specialist needs both marketing knowledge and technical expertise. Utilizing game design elements and principles to engage audiences and promote products or services effectively, they leverage the intrinsic motivations of gaming, such as competition, rewards, and achievement, to drive customer interaction and brand loyalty.
The gamification marketing specialist is responsible for bringing the gaming experience to customers across platforms, including social media, apps and websites, to drive customer engagement and make the marketing experience a more interactive one. As well as being creative, this post requires technical and analytic skills to allow for the monitoring and refining of campaigns for optimal results.
Metaverse Research Scientist
As the concept of the Metaverse gains widespread acceptance, the demand for Metaverse Research Scientists is expected to soar, surpassing the existing roles in AR and VR research. Unlike traditional tasks involving basic digital modeling, the role of a Metaverse Research Scientist will encompass a monumental challenge: developing a comprehensive digital framework that mirrors the entirety of the physical world, extending far beyond current capabilities.
This ambitious endeavor requires candidates to delve into a diverse array of technologies, including computer vision algorithms, neural rendering, scene reconstruction, and more. The goal is to create a digital environment where real-world interactions are seamlessly mirrored and actionable. This foundational architecture will underpin a multitude of applications, spanning from entertainment to industrial processes like quality control and healthcare.
Becoming a Metaverse Research Scientist demands a profound expertise in fields such as deep learning, computer vision, or computational imaging, typically attained through a PhD. Proficiency in programming languages like C++ is also essential. Given the complexity of the role, aspiring candidates face a formidable yet rewarding journey ahead.
Metaverse Storyteller
The lure of the Metaverse will depend entirely on the stories that it tells; enter the Metaverse Storyteller. People ideally suited to this role will have a Literature Major and Marketing Minor. Their primary role will be to utilize the research provided to create immersive quests that will help users to explore the Metaverse. Complex training scenarios will be embedded into the experience, as will organic marketing opportunities and the potential to capture data as the user proceeds through each quest.
Cybersecurity threat attribution analyst
Cybersecurity threat attribution analysts may go under a range of names including Cyber Intel Analyst and Threat Intel Analyst. Utilizing their advanced understanding of malicious software, Cyber Threat Intelligence Analysts conduct comprehensive research and analysis on cyber threats. They meticulously investigate and dissect various forms of malicious activity, generating detailed reports for organizational leaders. By leveraging this intelligence, they forecast potential future attacks, thereby aiding in proactive measures to thwart cybercriminal activities within their organization. These analysts play a pivotal role in safeguarding against cyber threats, providing invaluable insights to enhance cybersecurity defenses and mitigate risks effectively.
Human-Machine Matchmaker
As technology takes us beyond the realms of what we thought possible, emerging jobs become even more difficult to believe. We know that the limitations of technology lie within the information that they are given. As AI emerges as the anticipated future co-worker, companies will need to utilize matchmakers to facilitate optimal deployment of automation across departments. Their role extends to selecting suitable data sets, fostering seamless interaction between human expertise and machine capabilities.
Human-machine matchmakers will also spearhead the exploration of novel technologies, pinpointing innovations poised to revolutionize organizational operations. By identifying and integrating these advancements, they pave the way for enhanced productivity and, consequently, increased profitability. In essence, these matchmakers serve as architects of the human-machine partnership, orchestrating synergistic relationships that propel businesses into the forefront of technological advancement.
For those committed to forging a career in tech, the opportunities are limited only by the imagination. In order to optimize career potential, it is important that tech employees remain open minded, gathering skills and experience at every opportunity to help them to amass the many diverse skills required of these emerging roles.
By Shahin Fard