IoT is one of the rapidly growing fields these days. Many IoT career opportunities that exist today were not even thought of before, so it's the perfect time to develop your career in IoT. You can go into security, design the UI, or devise various sensors. The choices are endless. 

Here's how to grow in your IoT career.

1. Know the Must-Have Skills

The Internet of Things is a rapidly growing industry. Those who want to be part of this industry must have an array of skills to succeed in this field. Devices of all kinds, such as mobile phones, automobiles, and industrial equipment, connect to the Internet and rely on IoT. As a result, the demand for developers, engineers, and other IoT professionals will significantly increase in the coming years.

IoT professionals must have skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning since their job can include working on IoT projects involving some AI components. IoT devices collect data, which organisations need to analyse and use for decision-making. AI is responsible for making the data that IoT devices collect useful by filtering redundant data from big data stores and performing complex data analysis.

Another skill that IoT professionals should learn is app development. IoT devices are controlled by mobile apps. Therefore, IoT developers should know how to develop user-friendly mobile applications. IoT professionals should also learn about API automation and testing. API, which means Application Programming Interfaces, allows IoT devices to exchange real-time data and communicate with each other.

2. Remember to Develop your Soft Skills

Soft skills refer to your ability to work and deal with others in your line of work. As a dynamic field, you cannot expect to only sit down at your desk all day when working in the IoT industry. You must also have soft skills like problem-solving, strong communication, and troubleshooting skills. Most employers expect IoT professionals to have skills in a help desk.

When working as an IoT professional, you will be working with others in implementing IoT systems. You will also be involved in diagnosing their issues, so you must have emotional intelligence and be a good team player. Since many IoT rollouts are developed from scratch and have to be introduced to the department that will use them, you must also be familiar with design thinking and know how to market IoT solutions for specific industries.

Solid communication and interpersonal skills are essential skills you need as an IoT professional, as you will be working closely with a team of developers and assisting in converting connectivity and other data-related tasks. Interpersonal communication skills help you improve professional and personal relationships, allowing you to express your thoughts and convey your intentions clearly. In addition, these skills help you to understand and empathise with others.

3. Find Specialist Recruitment Agencies

With IoT being one of the most in-demand professions today, you can find plenty of opportunities, but they may not be the best jobs for you. If you want to ensure that you end up with the right company, consider working with specialist recruiters who can help you get the best role in the right company, which can help develop your IoT career.

Specialist recruiters are familiar with the IoT industry and know which companies are hiring. Some of these roles may not be available to the public yet. Professional recruiters have an extensive network and strong relations with companies in the IoT industry and can connect you to top employers. When you work with specialist recruiters in IoT, they will get to know you, determine your professional goals, and understand your skills, experiences, and work style. This personalised approach is essential in connecting you to a job that's perfect for you.

Specialist recruitment agencies will serve as your guide in growing your IoT career. They understand how passionate you are about your work and can give you advice on what the top employers are looking for.

4. Partake in Development Training

Growing your IoT career requires ongoing education and training, and this is where professional development will come into play. These training courses will teach you the skills to develop your career in IoT. They can come in the form of online training. In some training courses, you will receive a certification. 

Personal development programmes can help you outline your professional goals. These programs teach you to challenge yourself and focus on the more essential aspects of your professional life. By identifying your career goals, you can stay motivated and be more productive in accomplishing tasks and improving your skills.

IoT professionals who engage in professional development will be more confident since they have the skills required to succeed in the field. With professional development, you will be more efficient in your tasks, opening you up to more opportunities in the IoT industry. If you are struggling to get promoted in your current line of work, taking up professional development training may be your ticket to securing a promotion.

5. Specalise within IoT

Another way to grow your IoT career is to specialise within the industry. You can specialise in different niches, paving the way for more opportunities that can help further develop your career. 

For instance, if you have a passion for developing apps, consider specialising in developing IoT applications, where you will be writing algorithms to help organisations analyse and manage data. You can also specialise in developing IoT strategies, a field known as IoT architecture. As an IoT architect, your job is to create a strategy to meet the organisation's present and future IoT needs.

IoT safety engineering is another speciality in the field of IoT. For this specialisation, you will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation's IoT technologies are safe from cyber threats and hackers who could end up controlling them. Your work will include conducting penetration tests while keeping an eye out for loopholes that could make the system vulnerable. Meanwhile, an IoT solution engineer will work directly with customers to determine their IoT needs and develop solutions to meet their needs, from wireless technologies to applications and sensors.