Internet of Things (IoT)

Our everyday lives have been changed by the Internet of Things (IoT) including how we approach transporting information and networking, it continues to solve problems that we hadn’t previously been aware of. Through the data devices such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Hive Connected Home can produce, it has automated parts of our lives, making things more convenient.

IoT technology works by using built-in sensors, software, and communication hardware to collect and send data generated by their usage and environment. Devices share this data through an IoT gateway or platform or by connecting to another IoT device. Data is then typically sent to the cloud for storage and analysis.

This data can also be used to provide analytical insights, and influence marketing or business decision decisions – learning customer behaviour and knowing when to target a product to them. One example of this is the government's analysis of smart meters, monitoring how the country uses supplies, and shaping the way that energy will be supplied and delivered to customers in the future.  

IoT is an important piece of technology that will continue to improve our daily lives. There are many advantages of having things connected, such as:

1. More data means better decisions
2. Ability to track and monitor things
3. Lighten the workload with automation
4. Increase efficiency by saving money and resources
5. Better quality of life.

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

There is also the IoMT which links medical devices to systems that can track patient data and recovery progress. One example, remote patient monitoring, enables patients with long-term conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure to submit data directly to their doctor without them having to attend appointments. The monitoring can also flag up where there are problems and trigger the doctor to arrange to speak to the patient.

A report from ITjobswatch shows that the number of permanent jobs in IoT has more than doubled in the UK since 2020, with even more expected to become available going forward.

Job titles can vary

Sometimes, the job title includes 'Internet of Things' but sometimes, these roles can fall under job titles where it is not so obvious, such as solutions architect, software engineer or developer. The best way to search for these roles is to start with searching for the ‘internet of things’ and go from there.

Identifying more opportunities

By keeping up-to-date with the latest news, you’ll also identify companies that are active in this area. If you find a company that interests you, check out their website for job opportunities and/or contact the HR or personnel team to find out where they advertise roles, and you could ask if there are times during the year that they typically recruit in.

You can also keep up-to-date with the latest IoT news and take a look at the list of the top 10 IoT companies of 2022.

According to www.techtarget.com, the seven must-have skills needed to boost your career in the IoT area are:

1. Artificial intelligence and machine learning - Artificial intelligence is a technology that enables a machine to simulate human behaviour. Machine learning is a subset of AI which allows a machine to automatically learn from past data without programming explicitly.
2. Node.js development – This is designed to easily create fast and scalable web applications and develop solutions for high-traffic needs.
3. Mobile app development - Mobile application development is the process of creating software applications that run on a mobile device,
4. API automation and testing - A computing interface which enables communication and data exchange between two separate software systems
5. Information security – This is sometimes shortened to InfoSec, which is the practice of protecting information by mitigating information risks
6. UI/UX design - UX design involves managing the user journey as they interact with a product or service, while UI design focuses on the actual construction of that product or service's interface
7. Cloud computing – This is where you would use a network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.

There is no prescribed technical background or degree required to work in IoT but computer science, engineering, science, maths, IT and other technology-related backgrounds are highly relevant and sought-after for specialist roles. However, in start-up companies, there are likely to be roles in areas such as marketing, business analysis and design which will not require you to have technical knowledge.

We have the Nottingham Internship Scheme which provides a range of work experience opportunities exclusively for our students and graduates.

All the opportunities are with small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), charities or social organisations. They take place throughout the year with schemes during spring and summer. This is an excellent way to build experience.