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Job outlook for interactive developers in the United States
Interactive developer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected interactive developer job growth rate is 13% from 2018-2028.
About 20,900 new jobs for interactive developers are projected over the next decade.
Interactive developer salaries have increased 11% for interactive developers in the last 5 years.
There are over 265,225 interactive developers currently employed in the United States.
There are 169,948 active interactive developer job openings in the US.
The average interactive developer salary is $89,875.
Are interactive developer jobs in demand?
Interactive developer job and salary trends over time
Interactive developer jobs over time
Interactive developer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 265,225 | 0.08% |
| 2020 | 314,341 | 0.09% |
| 2019 | 88,275 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 113,343 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 108,466 | 0.03% |
Average interactive developer salary over time
Interactive developer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $89,875 | $43.21 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $86,913 | $41.79 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $84,946 | $40.84 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $83,184 | $39.99 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $80,908 | $38.90 | +1.8% |
Interactive developer jobs by state
Most common states for interactive developers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 825 | 119% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 3,265 | 39% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 405 | 38% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 368 | 38% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 240 | 38% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,204 | 36% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,973 | 29% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 904 | 29% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,081 | 28% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,138 | 27% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 197 | 26% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 478 | 25% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 338 | 25% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 259 | 25% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,333 | 24% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,077 | 23% |
| 17 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,279 | 23% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 125 | 22% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 186 | 21% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 336 | 20% |
Most common cities for interactive developers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alpharetta | 17 | 26% | $80,513 |
| 2 | Jersey City | 13 | 5% | $88,082 |
| 3 | Plano | 9 | 3% | $86,650 |
| 4 | Atlanta | 9 | 2% | $80,502 |
| 5 | Tampa | 7 | 2% | $77,547 |
| 6 | Orlando | 5 | 2% | $77,152 |
| 7 | Chattanooga | 4 | 2% | $76,987 |
| 8 | Fremont | 4 | 2% | $112,857 |
| 9 | Phoenix | 11 | 1% | $88,057 |
| 10 | Charlotte | 10 | 1% | $84,025 |
| 11 | Dallas | 10 | 1% | $86,896 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 9 | 1% | $113,460 |
| 13 | Jacksonville | 8 | 1% | $75,927 |
| 14 | Washington | 8 | 1% | $91,267 |
| 15 | Raleigh | 6 | 1% | $85,874 |
| 16 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $85,060 |
| 17 | New York | 20 | 0% | $91,608 |
| 18 | Philadelphia | 6 | 0% | $87,753 |
| 19 | San Jose | 5 | 0% | $112,410 |
| 20 | Houston | 4 | 0% | $87,974 |
Interactive Developer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of interactive developer experts
Nova Southeastern University
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Gannon University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Auburn University at Montgomery
Indiana University South Bend
Pennsylvania State University - Erie (The Behrend College)
Illinois Wesleyan University
New Mexico State University
Allegheny College
Saint Xavier University
Taylor University
John Brown University
Rider University
Union University
Defiance College
Seminole State College of Florida
Harding University
Junping Sun Ph.D.
ProfessorNova Southeastern University
Computer Software And Media Applications
What Interactive Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Junping Sun Ph.D.: Computer Science and its applications in various fields are very dynamic and constantly evolving, and anyone in the fields needs to prepare to be adaptive by lifelong learning.
Travis Mandel Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo
Department of Computer Science
What soft skills should all Interactive Developers possess?
Travis Mandel Ph.D.: Although computer science seems like a highly technical field, soft skills are really what differentiates software engineers. One of the most important qualities of any software engineer is explaining their code clearly at various levels of technical depth and explaining why certain design decisions were made. You could write code that does amazing things, but if that code consists of snippets you pasted from StackOverflow without really fully understanding them, it will be a huge headache for anyone who needs to come into the codebase later and maintain or update it.
Another one is asking the right questions. Imagine you are dropped into a huge codebase and asked to add a new feature (very common!). There's no time to understand everything that is going on, but on the other hand, you need to understand enough of the code to do your task effectively, which involves asking questions. A failure to ask questions will likely result in you wasting a huge amount of time working on something that is ultimately not useful, for instance, re-implementing a complex function that already exists somewhere in the codebase.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Interactive Developers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: Computing is ubiquitous, and with more industries moving to remote work, location is becoming less critical. If the internet reaches a place reliably, computing jobs can be located there.
How do you envision technology impacting Interactive Developers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: Breadth and depth: Computing is becoming more like engineering; where the value of the product, its lifetime risks, costs, and benefits are more critical than just it's roll-out. So the engineering competencies that have always been a part of computing will become more central. Computing is also expanding; the role of data and the shift of once-research technologies (like machine learning) into production applications will continue to require computing graduates to broaden their base and continue as learners. This will cause shifts in what is considered 'fundamental' and the need for professionals to continue to hone and redevelop their technical skill sets.
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.
Director, Dual-Degree Engineering Program, Assistant Professor of PhysicsXavier University of Louisiana
Department of Physics and Computer Science
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Interactive Developers?
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.: The coronavirus pandemic has made a substantial impact on every industry across latitude and longitude. It adapted us to the new normal, which some industries see as a boon and others as bane. HigherEd, which happens to be the oldest and mature industry, is no exception. The cohort of graduates who are very special because they are flexible, comprehend concepts via simulations, videos and peer mentoring. The benefits of these pedagogies are unique, thought provoking and content rich. Subsequently, our conventional methods to calibrate or gauge student's learning outcomes were fine-tuned to current circumstances. Moreover, the prominence of online learning has also enabled us to bridge the gap. So, the repercussions of pandemic on current graduates would be narrow and low-gravity.
What's a good job out of college for Interactive Developers?
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.: With increasing unemployment rates, it would be challenging for most of the graduates to find suitable and relevant jobs. More precisely, the pandemic has increased the competition by reducing the number of job vacancies. However, the students with prior internships and research experiences have an advantage to be absorbed quickly but the majority would still be on a hunt mode. In this perspective, they may want to be strategic and pursue jobs that are at a junior level but aligned with their strengths and passion. Self-employment could be other means where they could be on the learning curve and hone skills that are desired. Volunteering has always rewarded those who have embraced it. In short, graduates have to digest the current scenario and strategize their skill sets to land in their dream job.
What technical skills for an Interactive Developer stand out to employers?
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.: In any job market, employers always desire graduates with sound technical skills that complement their teams. For instance, graduates may want to be cognizant of disruptive technologies in their fields such as software programming, coding, designing, 3d printing, project management, digital marketing, technical writing, data analytics and etc. In addition, employers have special fondness for graduates with multidisciplinary capabilities and skills. Having such sound skills would enable them to evolve as an independent thinker and thrive as a team player.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Interactive Developers?
Dr. Semih Dinc: I personally think there may be a positive impact of this pandemic for CS graduates in medium/long term. Even if many companies have frozen or slowed down their hiring process now, I believe this is a temporary decision. There is still a big need for new CS graduates in the industry. And to me it is more clear that people realized they can work remotely for many CS related positions. This means that many companies can cut their physical office budgets and hire more remote people. One of the factors for our students is the challenges/expenses of the city they would work. Some of them do not want to move to big cities. I am assuming with more remote working opportunities graduates will have more options.
What experience really stands out on Interactive Developer resumes?
Dr. Semih Dinc: According to my experience, most companies are not looking for "straight A" students. Instead, they look for someone with real world experience in their field. A recent graduate will most likely stand out if he/she has somehow contributed real projects. This can be achieved through internships. For many students, who do not have this option, they can still stand out by sharing their "good" school projects to platforms like GitHub. This way they can show companies that they are aware of these tools, and they will be ready to adopt the new company environment.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Interactive Developers?
Hang Dinh Ph.D.: I don't think there will be an enduring impact from the coronavirus on graduates of mathematics and computer science. The Internet and technology industries are booming during the pandemic, which needs graduates in math and computer science.
What type of skills will young Interactive Developers need?
Hang Dinh Ph.D.: In the coming years, when life is still being impacted by the pandemic in some way, graduates who enter the workforce may need skills that help them work efficiently from home. Those skills would include time management, self-motivation, and the ability to use technology. Of course, they still need the skills that are usually needed for their jobs, such as communication skills, teamwork, etc.
What experience really stands out on Interactive Developer resumes?
Hang Dinh Ph.D.: Determining which experiences stand out on resumes depends on the position. For example, when we look for developers for ExtentWorld, we would love someone with experience in building complex or large scale systems and in designing advanced algorithms. The experience of simple coding would not stand out for such a position. At ExtentWorld, we have code-generating tools that help us build a complex one-stop social media platform at Extentworld with just two developers. This means the simple coding tasks can be automated. Graduates of computer science should have more than just coding experience.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Interactive Developers?
Elisa Beshero-Bondar Ph.D.: Yes, there certainly will. My digital project design course this fall involved seniors working entirely remotely on teams, and learning to work with GitHub, as well as Slack and Discord to coordinate together. Everything was more virtual than ever this year, and I know that these students learned more than ever before the pandemic about virtual task management and teamwork, because they relied on it more than ever to be connected with each other. They're marked by that awareness, and my colleagues indicate that those who graduate will be more resourceful and productive than before, and ready to work at a distance as needed.
What type of skills will young Interactive Developers need?
Elisa Beshero-Bondar Ph.D.: Our graduates will need the vital skill of "looking stuff up" to find the most reliable and cost-efficient technological tools for a task. They need strong virtual as well as in-person communication skills, and they need experience with careful data and file curation. They need to be good at debugging problems and finding solutions, rather than presuming that the tech a company relies on will "just work." These things will help our students find good jobs and become indispensable employees.
What experience really stands out on Interactive Developer resumes?
Elisa Beshero-Bondar Ph.D.: Designing and developing a whole project from plan to completion, whether solo or on a team. A student with coursework involving coding won't stand out as much as a student who has applied what they have learned to a project they made themselves or with a clearly defined role on a team. A student who successfully leads a project team (during a pandemic!) clearly has much to offer the workforce.
Brian Law
Assistant Professor of Computer ScienceIllinois Wesleyan University
Computer Science Department
What Interactive Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brian Law: There are several areas that are "hot" right now, such as the previously-mentioned data science, artificial intelligence, and systems, but also cybersecurity and databases/data warehousing. That being said, the most important thing for a new graduate seeking employment to do is just to do anything, produce something. Tech employers don't and have never trusted computer science credentialing; that mistrust is the origin of the infamous "tech interview," used to verify whether a candidate actually has the technical skills to back up their piece of paper.
So to preemptively answer that question and get a leg up on other candidates, graduates should be sure to generate some artifact(s) that demonstrate(s) their technical and organizational skills. Show them that you can plan a project, design it, see it through in programming it, and do so in a responsible, organized manner (good coding style, readable code, well-documented, and using proper version control), and you'll have addressed your future employer's greatest worries right off the bat.
If it's a project in one of these "hot" areas or specifically tuned for the work the employer does, all the better, but anything the employer is doing is probably leagues beyond what a fresh graduate can do by themselves in a few months, so ultimately they're not going to be that impressed with your domain-specific technical knowledge. Instead treat it more as an opportunity to show off your "soft" skills, your programming maturity, and your ability to actually produce a product rather than just answer exam questions. And while you're at it, you might as well make it something fun for yourself so you'll be driven to finish it.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Interactive Developer job market given the pandemic?
Brian Law: I'm not sure the pandemic has really changed anything, so much as it's accelerated existing trends. Large firms are still expanding their IT workforces - or planning to when the economy recovers - with increased interest in data science, artificial intelligence, and systems, especially with an eye towards contracting IT infrastructure and services, and moving towards decentralized work, whether that be in the form of remote work, "smart" technology, and/or the cloud.
All of these were happening already pre-pandemic as the various technologies matured, but the pandemic seems to have accelerated those trends as companies are both tightening their belts in the short-term and planning ahead for the long-term. Smaller firms may be struggling to survive, but technological progress has not stopped, so while overall job numbers may be down in any given month, that just means there's a lot of pent-up demand for when the economy recovers.
For example, the pandemic has pushed a lot of small businesses and restaurants to adopt online ordering and shopping systems; those systems aren't just going away when the pandemic ends, and new post-pandemic businesses will have to compete against incumbents with significant technology investments.
What general advice would you give to an Interactive Developer?
Brian Law: i) Explore your options thoroughly. Too many students get bewitched by Big Tech companies, with their bold promises, their fancy campuses, their big recruitment events, and their nice swag. Nowadays, this also happens to students with start-ups. But those jobs are not only highly competitive, but they also have very similarly exacting work cultures and very little work-life balance. These are cutthroat environments that are, frankly, not suited for everyone. Instead, many graduates would probably be happier working at, say, medium or small-size companies where they can find a workplace culture that fits them rather than the other way around, or non-tech companies where the pressure is lower because the goal is more stability and support rather than rapid innovation. Of course, this is the exact same dynamic that plays out with young consultants, accountants, lawyers, and doctors, who are also often initially attracted to high-powered, high-pressure environments but often end up deciding it's not for them, especially as they get older and start thinking about families.
ii) Specialize. There's no job out there with the title, "Computer Scientist." Employers are looking to hire you for a specific set of skills and knowledge. If you can identify the area of Computer Science you're interested in and the work you want to do in that area, you can again get a big leg up over your competition if you can demonstrate that you actually want to do what your future employer wants you to and that you're good at it. If you want to work with databases, then take those extra database electives and learn some other database technologies on your own time, and your resume will stand out amongst all the others for any DBA job.
iii) Don't sweat it too much. You've probably been alive for 22 years or so, so you'll probably be in the labor force for 50+ years. Your first job is not going to be your last job, and you may easily find your career path taking unexpected turns that you never even knew existed. Just like you didn't know what the areas of computer science were as a freshman, there are many many CS-related job types out there that you're not even aware of, and 50 years from now, there will probably be even more. While it may seem like your first job will set you on one path for the rest of your life, really it starts you towards 5000 possible paths out of millions in total. No, you don't get the stability of a "job for life" anymore, but that can also be freeing in a way. Don't worry about finding that "perfect" job; even if you did find it, you and the world around you will change over time anyway, so just take your first step confidently and always keep an eye out for your next one.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Interactive Developers?
Dr. Shaun Cooper Ph.D.: For most graduates, no. Most employers have their own platforms, so the effects from the pandemic are not in play as the employer; the investment into the new graduate would be similar with or without the pandemic. The new graduate may have a more difficult time catching up from the loss of some educational experiences from the pandemic, but I think it will even out in twelve to eighteen months. Some examples of the biggest challenges for new graduates are the transitions to working with others and being in offices. The past eighteen months has allowed all of us to enhance our bad personal habits; the new graduate is likely to bring these to work and expect that this is normal (e.g., bathing, eating at the desk, playing games during work time).
What type of skills will young Interactive Developers need?
Dr. Shaun Cooper Ph.D.: Most young graduates want to be game developers. Frankly, there are too few jobs in game development for students to find a reasonable change. The skills employers want are in using SQL with relational databases, and they want the ability to work in a full stack development environment and the willingness to learn new platforms and programming environments. The employer has a huge investment in their development stack, and the new employee has to learn that stack. Also, they want employees with the ability to communicate with management and, most importantly, the ability to work with others. The graduate should be solid in basic data structures and how they are applied to solutions. Additionally dynamic HTML web services are welcome.
What experience really stands out on Interactive Developer resumes?
Dr. Shaun Cooper Ph.D.: The most important experience on a graduate's resume is the fact that they worked during their undergraduate years. Employers certainly prefer a student who has had a computer science-related internship, but regular employment experience is equally important. The recruiters want to see a person who has been in the employment system. A student who has never had any job is more of a gamble to an employer.
As for internships, one internship is good. A second one is even better. Preferably doing a different activity and maybe at a different employer.
As the Chief Information Officer at NMSU (now retired), I oversaw 100-plus regular employees. When we interviewed new graduates, it was very important to me to see that the applicant had consistent, continuous (part-time) employment.
Oliver Bonham-Carter Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorAllegheny College
Department of Computer Science and Affiliated Faculty in Integrative Informatics
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Interactive Developer job market given the pandemic?
Oliver Bonham-Carter Ph.D.: Pandemic has accelerated social connectivity trends using technology, including technology for remote work, and e-learning, and technology to make e-commerce more comfortable and faster. I foresee these accelerated technology trends to continue, even after the pandemic, and therefore job markets in these areas to continue to grow. Another big surge we have seen is in data analytics, which has been increasing over the last decade, and COVID-19 has spotlighted this field. I expect data analyst jobs to continue to be in demand and to grow. Also, the pandemic showed us the interconnectedness of technology with other areas. As the need to develop better solutions to fight various diseases heightens, for example, I expect jobs in biotech to grow.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Interactive Developers in the next 5 years?
Oliver Bonham-Carter Ph.D.: More technology and expertise to use online productivity, development, and communication technologies, is now needed to build and maintain online infrastructures to bring people together in a smaller world. The increase in demand for graduates in the areas mentioned above will result from the current dependence that the pandemic has forced upon Internet-based technologies for communications and productivity. For instance, more will likely be done online after the pandemic since companies have grown used to the convenience of organizing online meetings, working in the cloud, and completing development and scheduling tasks, using freshly-minted, online productivity technologies from GitHub, Zoom, Google Meet, and similar organizations.
In academia, conferences used to be in-person only, and so if you wanted to meet colleagues in your research area, you had to attend in person. Due to the lessons learned from conducting meetings during the pandemic, participants are encouraged to attend conferences virtually, give presentations, develop collaborations, and become involved in new and exciting projects without leaving their living rooms.
These events have grown used to this freedom to organize events, without physical boundaries, when getting people together to meet, think, and work. It is logical to perform more online work now, to be done so conveniently to include more people and more productivity, with less travel and hotels to worry about. It would seem that those who design technological innovations, permitting better communication, development, and productivity for online users will be the creators of the collaboration spaces of tomorrow.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Interactive Developers in the next 3-5 years?
Oliver Bonham-Carter Ph.D.: In the next few years, technologies related to artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing, container-orchestration systems, and cybersecurity will continue to become more important and prominent. These technologies have the foundation to improve the quality of life in terms of health, education, fighting misinformation, creating better connections, fighting climate change, etc. IoT with smart devices connected online will continue to rise, thus producing more data, which will necessitate AI, data analytics, and security solutions. Additionally, I foresee 5G technology to play an essential role in the next few years, as e-commerce expands into autonomous delivery services. In the software engineering field, to enable fast, secure, and connected software development, technologies allowing to automate a part of that process, such as version control, containerization, and Kubernetes, will also become increasingly important.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Interactive Developers in the next 5 years?
James Vanderhyde: There has been a steady increase in software and IT jobs for the last 20 years, and this is not going to slow down any time soon. In the next 5 years, demand will increase, particularly in software development and cybersecurity. The technology field changes so quickly that beyond 5 years, it is difficult to make predictions. That is why we thoroughly prepare our computer science and information systems students for technology changes and career shifts to discover the best in themselves and to be prepared to meet the demand and excel within the field.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Interactive Developers to find work opportunities?
James Vanderhyde: Any big city will have lots of opportunities for computing, software, and IT work. Silicon Valley and the rest of the west coast are the most famous, but innovation is happening everywhere around the country and around the world, including here in Chicago. Chicago tech companies have hired our students upon graduation, and likewise, our graduates have found success and gratification in the field.
What are the best companies to work for an Interactive Developer?
James Vanderhyde: The best companies to work for are companies that respect you as a person and not just a cog in the machine. They are inclusive, and they recognize and appreciate diversity. They have a track record of handling sick leave and family leave as needed. They will not expect you to eat dinner in your office and then go back to work after an already long day. All software companies experience crunch times around release dates, but the best companies do not experience constant crunch. That is a sign of poor management. The best companies will give you challenging problems to work on and reward innovation.
Dr. Jonathan Geisler
Associate ProfessorTaylor University
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
What are the best companies to work for an Interactive Developer?
Dr. Jonathan Geisler: The best companies to work for are the ones that are responsive to both their customers' and employees' needs. They are the ones that have tried to be proactive during the pandemic and not just survive until everything got "back to normal." They know that a damaged workforce leads to a damaged company, and so they provide good management, encouraging everyone to be healthy mentally and physically.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Interactive Developers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Jonathan Geisler: There will be a continued increase in demand for computer engineering
graduates as computers become more heavily integrated into the fabric
of our lives. Things like self-driving cars, the Internet of Things, and
mobile computing will become more commonplace and increase the demand for engineering talent; the long-term trend of using smartphones and web-based applications will not slow, leading to an increase in the
demand for computing talent.
How do you envision technology impacting Interactive Developers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Ted Junseok Song: The question is not whether technology will advance or not. It is, rather, how it will advance. Professionals in the industry need to be equipped to see the customers' demand and where our society is headed. I would recommend college students to be interested in broad topics apart from topics in their major. Well-rounded people will have more opportunities to impact the future.
Dr. Howard Rees
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Information SystemsRider University
Information systems
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Interactive Developers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Howard Rees: Hmm, what technology? That's a question with many different levels of context. For some undergraduates in CS and IT, I would look at systems programming in massively parallel environments, application programming with particular focus on security and privacy, and data science and analytics. For other undergraduates, they might look at artificial intelligence and machine learning, for business applications especially. AI is becoming ubiquitous throughout the business, but it's often used as a "black box."
Meaning that the applications (and those "operating" them) do not understand what's happening inside. AI systems are often "designed, trained, and tested" by the provider and certified as generating the output most desired by the customer but only in a statistical sense. There is no "proof" that the AI black box is, with certainty, doing what the business customer (or the provider for that matter) thinks it is doing - it just does a good job when tested on data. There will be a significant need for tech-savvy people to design, train, monitor, and apply them so that they do not deviate from the desired goals. Such deviations can result in socially destructive business practices. As you can't properly manage what you don't understand, there is a risk in using AI too blindly. CS and IT graduates will need to help out.
What general advice would you give to an Interactive Developer?
Brian Glas: Build relationships: Different technologies will interest and challenge you, but throughout your career, you'll find that it's the relationships that are the most important. This is harder to grasp earlier in your career, but much easier to understand after 15-20 years.
Gain different perspectives: Spend time with people in other roles that your job interacts with, and gain a solid understanding of how they view things; this is most valuable for career progression and understanding of how your work fits into the big picture.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Interactive Developers?
Aaron Napierala: I think the pandemic's lasting impact on graduates will be decisive in preparing them for careers in technology. A recent graduate of mine just completed training for a new position with a company, completely remote. It was the first time the company had ever done anything like this before. It was a success, and the graduate raves at the entire process. The pandemic is forcing companies to scrutinize how they operate, to ensure the best possible outcome, for whatever it is they are doing. Once they see the success of being able to accomplish something more efficiently, or they are more cost-effective, they may continue on this path. Why would a company post their ad locally and interview a handful of candidates, when they can open up access globally and draw from a much larger pool? So for graduates just now entering the workforce, they have a distinct advantage: having access to technology for the majority of their lives and just coming out of situations that were forced on them to communicate remotely.
Craig Tidwell Ph.D.
Professor/Program ManagerSeminole State College of Florida
Center for Information Technology
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Interactive Developers?
Craig Tidwell Ph.D.: Many I.T. employees already have the option to work remotely (telecommute), but this will become even more important with the Coronavirus challenges. Employees must be able to work remotely and be organized and self-directed. Employers are looking for teleworkers that can work on a task from anywhere.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Interactive Developers in the next 3-5 years?
Frank McCown Ph.D.: Software continues to move to mobile devices and the web and away from desktop applications. The pandemic has encouraged growth in applications that make in-person transactions go away, and that trend will likely continue. Obviously AI-enabled or assisted applications will continue to grow.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Interactive Developers?
Frank McCown Ph.D.: Many companies have changed their hiring practices. It's not unusual for a new graduate to jump straight into remote work. I predict the move from in-person work to remote work is only going to accelerate as we get more comfortable with it. Once the pandemic dies down, and economic uncertainties start to go away, companies that had been on hiring freezes will likely jump back in, creating a strong market for graduates.