Having completed school, you might be exploring the academic and professional career options that would suit you best. If you are thinking of entering the field of IT, we’ve got your back.

Today we sat down with Buddhishan Manamperi and Tharindu Mallawarachchi, two of the co-founders of Fcode Labs - a leading software development company in Sri Lanka, as they shared their advice for those looking to kickstart their careers in technology.

Here’s what they had to say.

1. Is it compulsory to have done IT as a subject for A/Ls?

Buddhishan:

Not at all. I think what matters most is a go-getter attitude and a keenness to learn and grow. Having prior knowledge in IT and related fields would be helpful, but anyone with a passion for the field can become part of it and thrive.  

Tharindu:

No. However, a good literacy on computers and internet will come in handy. Simply speaking, an above-average knowledge of Information Technology would certainly be a plus.

2. What are the pre-requisites required to follow an IT-related career path?

Buddhishan:

Let me word this the simplest way I can: they should have a passion for it. In addition, having a mathematical background, being a logical thinker and a good problem-solver would be beneficial to settle in easily and grow steadily.

Tharindu:

First off, you must be a driven individual. You need an analytical mind and a curiosity about how things work. A lot of self-learning will also be required, because you will have a new challenge to face or a new hurdle to cross every day. Learning the fundamentals well is key, because the foundation has to be strong. Since technologies are ever evolving, you have to be ready to keep updating your knowledge constantly.

3. What are some of the academic and/or professional qualifications that would be beneficial to enter the IT field?

Buddhishan:

If you are hoping to join the industry, learn the Fundamentals of Programming. Even without an in-depth knowledge in areas like Java, React, and AI, being adept in problem-solving basics and programming basics can get you far.

Tharindu:

If you are thinking of starting somewhere, an IT-related degree would be ideal. Following a general degree in Computer Science, IT, and Software Engineering can also be recommended. If you are good at Mathematics, you are most likely to do well. Plus, there are many resources on Programming on the internet you can refer to.

4. What are some of the career options that are currently in high demand?

Buddhishan:

As of now, Full-stack engineers who cover back end front-end databases (Angular, React, Node JS, Python, Java) are in high demand. With the increasing focus on user experience and the significance of Digital in human life, companies are also keen on having more UI/UX engineers on their teams.

Tharindu:

As AI is growing faster than ever before, AI engineering is a much sought-after field of work. Full Stack Engineering (Javascript, Java, Python) and Cloud Engineering (AWS, Azure) would be some other areas that will hopefully have a consistent demand in the job market for many years to come.