It’s so strange to think how different things were 20 years ago. For some, it’s strange because they’ve witnessed all the changes that have happened over the years. And for others, it’s strange because they’ve never lived in a world without certain technologies and conveniences.

One thing that has definitely evolved over the past two decades is the job market. There are so many different careers available today that did not exist in 1998 thanks to all the technological innovation that has happened. Here are some of them.

App developer

This job proves why inspiration matters. The entire mobile application (or simply, app) industry wouldn’t exist if inspiration didn’t exist. Every single app in your app store was thought up by someone who was inspired to do something new and exciting. And after that idea has been thought up, someone has to make it a reality. That’s where app developers come in. They’re the people who create the physical app that you end up using on your smartphone or tablet. An app developer ensures that the app is both functional and looks good – to make the user experience as amazing as possible.

In order to become an app developer, you need to be able to use and understand all different sorts of computer programming languages. Some app developers studied software engineering, information technologies or computer science, but others taught themselves how to build an app. There are many resources available online that can help teach you how to code and design mobile applications. It just takes patience, concentration and hard work.

SEO specialist

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a technique, or rather many techniques, used to make websites rank on a search engine (mainly Google) when people search for a specific term. The higher a website ranks for a term, the higher up in the search results it shows up. This is important because if someone is looking for a plumber in their area and they google “Plumber in Woodstock”, they’re not going to scroll down past the first few results that come up. And they’re definitely not going to click to go onto the next page. This why every plumber in Woodstock would want to rank for that term. SEO specialists are in charge of making the brands they work for rank high for the terms their customers are searching for.  

But that’s a very simple explanation of SEO and if you’re interested, there are many courses online that you can complete and, once you have a basic understanding, Google offers some very interesting courses for free. The reason why this job is so interesting and is always challenging is because search engines are always changing their algorithms (to help give people better search results) and SEO specialists have to keep up and figure out what the search engine is looking for in a website.

Social media manager

In 1997, just over 20 years ago, the first social networking site, Six Degrees, was launched. But back then, no one could have predicted the success and extreme popularity of social media. Then Myspace came along in 2003 and then Facebook – the most well-known social networking site in the world right now –  was officially launched in 2004. These websites started the type of social media we experience today. Social media today is a way to connect and share our lives with people all over the world. And brands use it as a way to connect and interact with their target market in a language they understand, at a time that suits them and in a place where they feel comfortable.

Being a social media manager means it’s your job to manage the brand’s image and “identity” on whichever social media platforms appeal to their consumers. It’s a difficult job because you not only have to get the attention of the brand’s target audience but make sure it’s good attention. You have to create social media content that encourages the audience to interact with the brand, make sure any questions asked on social media are answered and that any complaints are responded to as soon as possible. These days you can do social media marketing courses, but current social media managers have studied subjects like media, writing, advertising or marketing.

Professional podcaster

Basically, podcasts are like online radio shows. Except that you can start your own relatively easily, without having to work for years at a radio station to gain enough experience and exposure to go on air. Launching your own amateur podcast is as easy as owning a smartphone, choosing the right app and training yourself to speak without saying “um” or “uh”. But creating a professional podcast that makes money is a lot harder.

You’re going to need a strong concept, to begin with. What are you going to be talking about? Are you going to interviewing people about the local music scene? Or are you going to be scripting a fictional story that carries on each week? There are many podcasts out there, so you’re going to need to have a special angle that makes people interested and a voice that makes people listen. You’re also going to need to invest in specific equipment and software, starting with a good microphone and an audio editing programme. But you can build up your equipment as you go along. Your aim should be to grow your audience as much as possible so that brands are willing to pay you just mention them on your show. That’s how podcasters make money.

These are just a few of the jobs available today that didn’t exist back in 1998. So, if you’re looking for an exciting career that will keep you interested and motivated, consider one of the above or click here and start your job search.