Data Centre: A top industry for career opportunities

The last 18 months have been interesting for the data centre industry. While many sectors suffered due to closures and layoffs, demand for data centre services accelerated at a meteoric rate due to our increased need for cloud services.

In turn, professionals in this sector are in greater demand than ever before. According to the Uptime Institute Global Data Survey 2020, as many as 50% of data centre managers reported difficulty finding qualified candidates to fill open roles. The report also revealed that the global data centre industry employed approximately 2m people in 2019, which is expected to rise to 2.3m by 2025.

To keep up with demand, data centre operators must attract new talent to the industry, especially as professionals approach retirement age. Additionally, the talent deficit means businesses can no longer rely on poaching talent from competitors as a long-term strategy.

For candidates possessing skills that can be transferred to the data centre environment, moving into the sector could mean huge rewards and ample career opportunities. 

Skills required in data centres 

There are many career pathways available in the data centre industry, particularly for those with a background in electrical and mechanical engineering who possess critical thinking skills and technical expertise.

Such skills are currently in high demand across a wide range of data centre roles, including: 

• Technical Shift Manager
• Critical Facilities Data Centre Technician
• Data Centre Manager (M&E)
• Assistant Data Centre Manager
• Critical Facilities Manager
• Data Centre HV shift Engineer
• Data Centre HV Shift Leader
• Mechanical Days HVAC Engineer
• Energy and Efficiency Manager
• Client Success Manager
• Project Manager             
• Client Delivery Manager
• Data Centre Cluster Manager
• BMS – Controls Engineer

Benefits of working in data centres 

First and foremost, the demand for skills means salaries are higher than ever and are set to increase in the coming years. Additionally, due to senior professionals retiring from the sector, there are ample opportunities for career development. 

Variation is another key benefit of working in this field. The tasks of a Shift Engineer, for example, can include anything from routine maintenance to working with vendors to implement system upgrades. Professionals are often able to take advantage of flexible working hours available too, with any unsociable hours, such as overnight shifts, delivering even higher rates of pay.

Job satisfaction is also high for data centre professionals due to their valuable contribution to an organisation. They both ensure critical day-to-day operations go uninterrupted and solve issues that can threaten to take businesses offline – crucial in today’s digital age.

Ready to make the switch? 

If you’re looking to secure a lucrative data centre role, get in touch with the experts at PRS. Call us on 0207 553 5660 or email us at info@prsjobs.com.