How Not to Get Lost in the Crowd of Juniors? On Niches in the IT Industry

What Does a Niche in the IT World Mean?

In the IT industry, the concept of a niche refers to a clearly defined segment of technology or market area with more specific needs and significantly fewer specialists. Instead of operating broadly, a specialist focuses on a particular type of solution – this may include software for medical facilities, systems supporting energy network management, or data processing used in logistics and transportation. Such a narrowed focus allows one to develop knowledge that is not widely accessible.

At a time when basic programming skills are becoming commonplace, abilities tied to a specific domain gain particular value. Clients are looking for experts who can effectively navigate complex contexts and accurately identify non-standard needs.

Why Narrow Your Specialization?

Focusing on a narrow technological field significantly facilitates career development and gives an advantage in the job market. Choosing such a path brings a number of concrete benefits – not only at the beginning of your career but also in its later stages:

● Fewer competitors. In less popular areas, there is a lack of specialists, which makes it easier to get invited to interviews and find attractive offers. Employers and recruiters actively seek people with rare but specific skills.
● Better pay. High-level knowledge of specialized topics often translates into better-paid positions. Companies are eager to invest in employees who can solve specific problems that other candidates cannot handle.
● Faster career growth. With a clearly defined direction, it’s easier to plan further learning, gain experience aligned with the chosen path, and quickly reach higher levels of competence. Over time, such consistency can result in becoming an expert in a selected field.
● Greater engagement. Working on issues that truly interest us brings much more satisfaction. Daily tasks cease to be routine and become a source of motivation.
● Recognition in the field. A well-chosen niche supports the development of a recognizable image. Specialists with a well-defined profile are often invited to participate in conferences, consultations, or mentoring programs.

Where to Look for Less Commonly Chosen IT Paths?

The tech industry doesn’t form a coherent, uniform landscape. Its development constantly generates new specializations – each one responding to specific business needs. From data protection in the digital world, through efficient management of the rapidly growing amount of information, to creating satisfying user experiences... It is at the intersection of different areas of knowledge, where an unconventional perspective and the combination of various competencies are needed, that demand for versatile specialists is growing.

Advanced Implementations and Integrations in the World of Website Builders

Among IT students, there’s a common belief that website builders – Webflow, Wix, or Squarespace – are tools for creating simple websites, with no room for more ambitious projects. However, market realities show a completely different picture. Around these platforms, an entire ecosystem of services has emerged, where the core is no longer just “clicking together” a website but its expansion, integration, and further development. Work in this space begins where the standard capabilities of the editor end.

A specialist in advanced implementations sees a website builder as a flexible environment that can be expanded programmatically and integrated with other systems. This could mean syncing inventory data with a product catalog, automatically forwarding forms to CRM systems, or integrating the site with a reservation platform. In daily work, no-code and low-code solutions – such as Make or Zapier – are used, which require designing thoughtful, logical data flows and the ability to analyze processes.

This specialization is for people who can combine technical skills with an understanding of business. They become a bridge between the world of marketing and the complex architecture of IT systems – and can move freely between them.

Web Performance Engineering

Today’s internet doesn’t tolerate any delays. According to the report The Impact of Website Speed on User Behavior, as many as 45% of users are discouraged from making purchases or using services when a site loads too slowly. Slow websites appear unfinished, which undermines their credibility, and trust in the brand noticeably decreases. In response to such challenges, web performance engineering has emerged – a field that combines surgical precision with detective-level inquiry. Its task is to accurately locate the causes of slowdowns and eliminate them effectively, without interfering with the proper functioning of the website or application.

At the center of this specialization is profiling – a meticulous analysis of the entire page load process, from the first server request to the final display of content in the browser. A web performance engineer navigates both front-end optimization – improving script performance, compressing graphics, or smart font loading – and back-end efficiency, where effective database queries matter. Infrastructure-level work is also essential – proper CDN and cache configuration, as well as choosing the right dedicated server, can significantly speed up website performance.

All these actions aim to improve key indicators – especially Core Web Vitals – with particular emphasis on visual stability (CLS), which directly affects user experience.

Working on website load speed is a field where results are immediately visible – both in better site reception by users and in measurable business benefits.

XR in Action

Technologies related to virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) – collectively known as XR (Extended Reality) – were long associated mainly with entertainment. Today, that perception is becoming outdated, and more industries are recognizing XR as a tool that genuinely supports their operational, training, and design activities. Combining digital images with the physical world opens entirely new possibilities where precision, safety, and efficiency are key.

How does this look in practice?

● In logistics and warehousing, AR technology allows interactive operating instructions to be overlaid on physical devices, reducing onboarding time and decreasing errors during servicing.
● In medicine, VR simulators allow surgeons to practice complex operations in a realistic, fully safe environment.
● In construction and urban planning, 3D models viewed through MR goggles help detect potential design clashes early and reduce costly modifications.

Creating such solutions requires developers to have a unique set of skills. At the forefront is knowledge of graphics engines – Unity or Unreal Engine – and the ability to optimize performance for devices with limited processing power. Equally important is the understanding of UX design principles in a 3D environment. Designing interfaces in XR follows completely different rules than designing for flat screens.

Looking for Something More?

Technological proficiency doesn’t have to lead only to a career as a programmer. In an environment that increasingly values collaboration, understanding business context, and flexibly responding to changing needs, technical knowledge becomes an asset in roles that combine IT with strategic thinking and communication.

For people who value human interaction and varied challenges as much as algorithms, interesting development paths include:

● IT Consulting. As a consultant, you advise companies on how to use technologies to better achieve their goals. This work requires knowledge of IT systems, strong organizational insight, and the ability to communicate knowledge effectively.
● Technical Marketing and IT Solution Sales. Your knowledge of a digital product can be invaluable in sales or promotional roles. Positions like Technical Marketing Manager or Sales Engineer allow you to translate complex technological concepts into tangible benefits and create content that resonates with informed audiences.
● Tech Writer. If you can understand complex systems and describe them just as clearly, this role is perfect. A good tech writer creates clear documentation, instructions, tutorials, and materials for users and technical teams – acting as a bridge between engineers and the rest of the organization.
● Scrum Master. In this role, you organize the team's work. You help remove obstacles, improve communication, and support the team’s effectiveness. It’s a great fit for people who like improving processes and shaping a collaborative atmosphere.

How Not to Disappear in the Crowd of Candidates With Similar Skills?

The path to finding your niche doesn’t begin by browsing job ads but with close observation of personal aptitudes and interests – even those beyond the tech world. Analytical thinking developed through logical games might point to a future in cybersecurity. Meanwhile, a structured approach to information suggests potential in data engineering. It’s worth reflecting on what activities most engage us and what tasks bring internal satisfaction. The best way to verify early instincts is through hands-on experience – by participating in workshops, small projects, or non-profit initiatives. This is an effective way to discover which topics truly fascinate us and what we learn effortlessly.

However, reflecting on one’s strengths is only half the process. Equally important is recognizing current market needs. Regularly reviewing job offers provides valuable signals, but this shouldn’t be limited to popular positions. It’s worth paying attention to technologies that – although less well-known – play an important role in specific industries. Demand for specialists in lesser-known areas often exceeds the number of available candidates.

Valuable insights also come from observing trends. In addition to reading industry reports and expert articles, conversations with professionals working in the field play a huge role. Conferences, trainings, and community events provide opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge – not just about which tools are being used, but also in what context and in response to what challenges.

Where Lies the Advantage in the IT World?

The IT industry offers a very broad range of roles, meaning that people with diverse talents and personalities can find their place. There is room both for those who love analyzing data and designing systems, and for those who thrive in creative, empathetic, user-facing environments. The diversity of tech problems demands equally diverse approaches – opening the door to unconventional career paths.

For this reason, your first specialization does not have to be a lifetime decision. Every skill gained, every completed project, and every solved challenge contributes to a personal toolbox that can be applied in an entirely new direction. The ability to adapt to changing conditions and to flexibly define your professional profile is becoming one of today’s most valuable competencies.

Sources:
● Hosting ranking by Jak Wybrać Hosting?
● Recruitment results for the 2023/2024 academic year in universities supervised by the Ministry of Education and Science | MEiN
● The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)
● The Case for Choosing Software Development Niches – Villa Maria College

Article prepared in cooperation with a partner of the service.
Author: Agata Tyrcha