Start Your IoT Career: 5 Tips for Landing an IoT Job
IoT, aka the Internet of Things, has successfully reshaped organizations and their spending strategies. With more and more companies pivoting to an IoT focus, the demand for IoT experts is ever-rising. Since this is a specialized field and demands a specific skillset, its professionals generally earn a lucrative salary. If you’re looking to join the gravy train and offer your services to this industry, here are some tips on how you can land an IoT job.
- Bridge the gap
There are many aspects to IoT that require skilled professionals, but the demand is not being met currently. For instance, a professional dealing in IoT security needs the know-how of embedded security, device security, application security, and network security. This means that they would need experience in several domains for someone to land a job in IoT. This is incredibly hard for enterprises as finding professionals with the required skill set is challenging. As there is a big gap to be filled, potential employees may land a job if they get up to speed quickly.
- The Knowledge of Development
Embarking on an IoT job means you must have a suite of technical skills that are mandatory for product development. Job seekers must be fluent with some imperative skills on IoT development such as:
A working knowledge of wireless
such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Lora, and Sigfox
Data science and data analytics
Sensor Expertise
Cybersecurity
IoT architecture
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning
The more knowledge you can attain on the skills mentioned earlier, the better your chances are of getting hired.
- Build a device mentality
IoT devices are gadgets with certain peculiarities that make them stand out from the other smartphones and PCs. However, to make it work requires a set of specialized skills. Learning and understanding wireless networking, such as low-power and lossy networks, can be crucial in making your resume stand out. A right candidate would be educated not only on IT communication protocols but also on Z-Wave, Zigbee, NFC, Neul, and 6LoWPAN.
Learning about embedded systems is also an advantage for potential employees. A working knowledge of general-purpose languages such as Javascript and C++ or embedded-specific languages like Parasail and Go can add value to your application.
- Blow your own horn
A potential employee should have a working knowledge of the skillsets required to land an IoT job, and s/he must also be able to prove their experience with tangible projects that they have worked on. Your knowledge of IoT can only take you so far if you don’t have a solid portfolio that showcases every task that you have worked on and handled. Here are some tips on what to add to your job application.
Hands-on experience with IoT
If you have worked on real-time applications of IoT on prototypes and those that have generated a return on investment, make sure to add them on to your portfolio.
Pitch an idea
If you haven’t been out on the field as much and don’t have hands-on experience, you could always pitch an idea to your potential employers. By creating a project with real-life applications and is useful to a business or a person, the hiring manager may be able to see your potential.
- Soft Skills
IoT demands dynamic professionals as it is an exciting up-and-coming field. As such, you can’t expect to be stuck at your desk working on your project. Along with the skillsets required for dubbing yourself an expert on the field, you also need to have a set of soft skills such as problem-solving skills, a knack for smooth communication, and damage assessment. A person who works well in a team is always preferable over those who don’t. A candidate who is also familiar with design thinking and expertise in marketing IoT solutions is sure to stand out among the rest.
This article was written by Alex C. Porter, a technical writer at CraftResumes. With his expertise in the job industry, he has facilitated potential employees to land their dream job.