Technology dominates society in our everyday lives. From smartphones to web-enabled dashboards in our cars to smart homes, it is all around us. For this reason, there has been an explosion in the job market over the past decade. While data engineers and programmers have always been in demand, the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence in the past few years has added further fuel to the fire. The job market is full of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) related jobs that offer some of the highest salaries out there. More and more new positions are being created daily to keep up with this technology-driven world, and they do not always require a college degree. An increase in technology-related certificates and coding boot camps has given people new access to very high-paying careers. With an average six-figure salary for each in-demand job, the education or time spent in a boot camp can be well worth it. Furthermore, once in this field,...

Nearly 70 percent of young tech professionals say they have felt uncomfortable at work based on their identities and lack of inclusion. Wiley , a developer of digital education solutions, published this stat along with others in its Diversity in Tech: 2021 U.S. Report during the 2021 ASU+GSV Summit. The company surveyed 2,000 early-career tech professionals and 270 business leaders. Wiley found that 68 percent of businesses represented in the report said there is a lack of diversity in their tech workforces. These key findings may come as a shock since U.S. companies are spending a collective $8 billion a year on diversity and inclusion efforts, yet 50 percent of young tech professionals surveyed said they have left or wanted to leave jobs because of company cultures and unwelcome workplaces. “This report proves that investment alone isn’t enough to achieve equity in the workplace,” Todd Zipper, president of Wiley Education Services, said in a press release. “We need to take an...

Prisoners are getting job training so they can prepare to enter the field of tech upon their release, thanks to prison rehabilitation program, The Last Mile. The Last Mile — which is based in San Quentin, California — is bridging the gap between tech and criminal offenders to teach them how to code so they can easily find employment once they get out of prison. “At The Last Mile, we are using technology to try and solve mass incarceration,” software engineer Jason Jones said to The Denver Channel. “You are talking about disrupting the status quo of people not normally getting access and opportunity. Not only are we driving down the recidivism rate where people get out and don’t come back no more, but we also have the ability to go back in the community and stop people from going into prison in the first place.” Jones — a product of the program who now teaches computer coding to prisoners through remote communication — helps these people become reformed citizens well-equipped to...

Here’s the thing about being a freelancer: there are a lot of gigs out there. However, many companies see the gig economy as a way to get professional services at the lowest possible prices. If you’re a full-time freelancer with expert skills, this can be incredibly frustrating. Over the past few years of freelancing, I’ve developed some of the best practices for engaging with high-paying clients. In my experience, sites like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer have not been fountains of high-quality, high-paying clients. Here’s my advice on how to utilize these sites to your advantage and take your freelance game to the next level: 1. Find Your Niche Developing a unique specialty can do wonders for your income potential. As a former engineer turned writer, I knew that my bread and butter would come from the technology industry. Tech companies are always looking for writers who can understand complex topics and craft outstanding content. Whatever service you offer, dig deep into your work...