How to Start a Digital Career in Nevada as a Beginner
July 13, 2021
Working in a career that offers a sense of purpose and fulfillment is a top goal for many adults. They seek opportunities that result in positive impact and a path for continued growth and success. This is where a digital career can become a no-brainer for new job seekers and career changers alike.
What Are Digital Careers?
Digital platforms, social media, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence are changing the way people interact with each other and the brands they love. As a result, new jobs are emerging and traditional jobs are modernizing their operations to keep up with the times. Along with the continued evolution of digital communications and technologies comes the increased demand for skilled digital professionals who can manage these new processes.
Some careers are more obvious to identify as “digital”, like networking and software development, but others might not be as obvious. Digital jobs, in general, relate to work that is done using internet-enabled tech and rely heavily on digital skills. This can include graphic design, data entry, and assistant work.
Digital Careers in Nevada
In the Silver State, digital careers like Network Administrator, Software Engineer, and Web Developer saw over 100% growth in 2019, with thousands of open jobs projected for 2024. With so much potential to take advantage of, now is the time to discover a new career path in technology. So, what sort of digital careers can you expect to find in Nevada?
Let’s start by taking a look at Nevada’s four main industries:
Mining
Mining may not seem like a sector that can open the doors to a digital career but with the Internet of Things (IoT) steadily on the rise across all industries, it’s not surprising that we’ll see more digital careers in traditionally “analog” or “hands-on” professions. Digital strategy, data analysis, and software implementation and maintenance are just a few roles emerging in the mining industry.
DevOps Engineers: develop applications to help track maintenance activities, optimize scheduling, and manage spare parts.
Communications & Engagement Specialist: support communications and brand management initiatives to preserve and strengthen a company’s culture and reputation.
Database & QA/QC Analyst: responsible for integrating, compiling, filtering, and retrieving new and historical data from databases. Provide GIS support by consolidating geochemical, geologic, structural, and geophysical data.
Environmental Superintendent: manage day-to-day environmental compliance and oversee data collection necessary to ensure accurate and timely environmental reporting to site management and regulatory agencies.
Agriculture
Home to more than 2,900 farms and around 5.8 million acres of farmland, Nevada boasts a thriving agricultural sector geared mainly towards range livestock production. While cowboys may have once ruled these lands, modern technology is now omnipresent: from drones and sensors to monitor and increase crop yield; to agricultural robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for increased efficiency; to livestock biometrics that ensure herd health.
Farm Technology Program Manager: develop, manage, and execute roadmaps for critical farm technologies — lighting, irrigation, controls, automation, environment management, sustainability.
Controls Technician: responsible for advanced diagnostics and perform maintenance & facilities management operations of indoor or outdoor farms.
Performance Livestock Analyst: lead innovation in smart livestock management by improving traceability, helping farmers manage their daily cattle feeding operations, tracking individual animals, and treating sick animals promptly.
Cybersecurity Project Specialist: manage IT security-related projects for agricultural infrastructure rollouts, upgrades/replacements, and server and storage system refreshes.
Tourism
From Burning Man to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, the state of Nevada has been attracting visitors craving a range of experiences. So it’s no wonder that the tourism, gaming, and entertainment sectors are some of the biggest employers in the state. These industries have largely digitized all their operations, from contactless hotel check-ins to inventory management systems to online booking for events and resorts—the vast majority of jobs in this sector will require a range of digital skills.
Hospitality Industry Digital Marketing Associate: optimize brand and media strategy to deliver maximum return on advertising spend through all relevant channels.
Travel & Entertainment Account Manager: identify new sales opportunities in the travel and entertainment spaces (hotels, airlines, ticketing platforms, etc.) and manage the entire sales cycle from prospecting to close.
Creative Strategist: use various creative canvases and technologies to engage communities of people with richly crafted storytelling and experiences delivered in multiple channels.
Full-Stack Developer: responsible for the development, troubleshooting, implementation, and enhancement of new and existing web applications for entertainment and hospitality companies.
Manufacturing
In Nevada, manufacturers employ almost 5% of the workforce, generating over $8 billion annually. Pharmaceutical and Aerospace manufacturing are the two most significant sectors in terms of job growth, followed closely by motor vehicle producers. The digital transformation of manufacturing goes well beyond mechanical assembly lines; it sinks deep into the inner workings of product design, creation, marketing, and distribution. You can expect most jobs in manufacturing to require some level of tech knowledge.
Manufacturing Systems Data Analyst: be the subject matter expert for all data flows, connecting production orders that will be used to forecast and simulate manufacturing output.
Digital Production Coordinator: responsible for coordinating the flow of production information from the salesperson and customer to the manufacturing facility.
High Tech Manufacturing Field Marketing Associate: work with sales, business development, and strategy to build and execute integrated marketing programs for new business.
Operational Technology Cybersecurity Specialist: assess, design, and build infrastructure, processes, and policies to meet manufacturing facilities cybersecurity needs.
What Skills Do I Need to Pursue a Digital Career?
While some core digital skills are needed across all job functions, aspiring tech professionals need to decide on a specific career path they want to pursue because a full-stack developer, for example, will be required to train in several areas that a digital marketer wouldn’t need, and vice versa.
Whatever discipline you decide to embrace, some digital skills are universal, and you’ll need to learn them if you want to work in a team environment. Some may even masquerade as good old “soft skills,” but remember: you have to be able to apply them in the digitally-enabled, likely remote & virtual, workplace you’ll be entering.
- Stay Organized
Every organization uses different internal processes, but all tech jobs require the ability to use various digital systems or online tools to track your expenses, schedule meetings, project-manage teams, and keep documents organized in the cloud.
- Computer Science Basics
Some careers require more computer science knowledge than others, but all tech professionals need a basic level of familiarity with common software programs, online communication tools, and operating systems.
- Creative Problem Solving
New technologies emerge every day, so your ability to creatively solve novel problems within a digital ecosystem will play a significant role in your day-to-day work.
- Clear Communication
Whether you’re hosting a virtual event, taking clients on a digital tour, or strategizing the creation of a new product, being able to clearly articulate your ideas across a variety of communication tools is always the key to success.
- Keep Track of Everything
From deploying a new cybersecurity architecture to launching a marketing campaign, you’ll use various online tools to make sure that all tasks are running smoothly across different people on your team.
- Critical Thinking
Whether you’re dealing with complex coding issues or simple inventory requests, all tasks require a degree of critical thinking to make them make sense. Online collaboration tools and quick communication platforms can be a lifesaver.
Becoming a Digital Professional With No Previous Experience
No experience? No problem! The first step towards becoming a digital professional is getting proper training.
Training
Whether you’re inexperienced or you want to sharpen your current skills, there are a few ways to get the training you need.
The traditional route of a four-year university program can be a great way to meet like-minded individuals, grow your network, and learn the fundamentals of your digital discipline of choice. Many undergraduate degrees offer digital marketing, coding, or UI/UX design courses to help you gain knowledge, learn techniques, and retain theoretical information. However, many people find that a four-year degree is not suitable for their lifestyle due to financial, familial, or other considerations.
Self-training can be a great way to expose yourself to an array of concepts and techniques at a fraction of the cost. Eager learners can find free resources, internships, online classes, networking opportunities, and study the subject on their schedule. With enough self-training and discipline, you may be able to gain globally recognized certifications; however, the learning curve can be quite steep if you’re a beginner with no previous exposure.
Accelerated career-prep bootcamps are a great option if you’re looking for flexibility and a program that delivers hands-on training based on your level of experience. Many prefer this option because of its flexibility, price tag, and fast pace.
With the UNLV Digital Skills Bootcamps, learners finish in under a year—which means you will be qualified to start applying for jobs in the field in less time than most traditional schooling options. Rather than getting a degree, learners receive a Certificate of Completion after about 10 months of extensive training and practical learning to gain real experience!
Start Today
Want real training with real pros? The UNLV Digital Skills Bootcamps offer online classes led by active technology experts who are passionate about transferring their knowledge and experience to you via hands-on training and simulation labs. Learn the relevant techniques professionals are using in the tech field today and prepare for internationally recognized industry certifications.
Get serious about your digital career. Get in touch with our admissions advisors by calling 702-832-4555 or filling out the form below.
