Which of these software programs (ArcGIS, Cityworks, ArcMap, QGIS) will be the most useful in finding a career in the future?

Answer 1

ArcGIS is going to be the most useful in finding a career out of the programs you mentioned. ArcGIS is the most in-depth and commercially used option. The other programs you mention all take functions/attributes of ArcGIS and offer as a program focusing on just those functions. And not nearly as well as ArcGIS. With ArcGIS you can create flow diagrams for completing analysis trains and go in depth with attribute & data management of the geographic information. Learn ArcGIS and the rest come after with either direct application or intuition with the tools you already know.