Careers in Information Technology are IT!

Is a career in information technology for you? Do you know what careers are available in the IT field? Have you thought about becoming a Web developer, network administrator, or computer programmer? Do you know what skills are required, how much education you will need, or how much you can expect to earn? Will you like the job? What are the job prospects?

A cutting edge career in IT is exciting, rewarding, challenging, and fun for those people who have the right skills and personality for the jobs. Two skills are consistent throughout all IT career requirements: 1) good problem solving skills, and 2) good communication skills. A person in the IT field should enjoy learning new technology.

Where are the jobs? According to a 2002 study conducted by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), during the 1990's there were many more IT jobs than qualified workers to fill them. Since the economic down turn that began in 2001, IT job growth has declined; however, in 2002, about 3.3% new jobs were created. In addition, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services list of the fastest growing occupations, the top seven careers in the next ten years in Ohio are in the computer field. That means the job prospects are very good. Information technology is a part of nearly every business and organization. In fact, non-IT companies hire more IT workers than IT companies do. According to the 2003 ITAA survey, the top programming or Web development skills include Java, C++, HTML, XML, ASP, and SQL (database). User support jobs accounted for 55% of new jobs in 2002. Companies have begun to demand more specific skills and more experience.

Job hunters in the IT field rely less on newspaper advertisements and more on Internet job boards where companies today often post IT vacancies. Successful job hunting strategies must include networking with people, whether that person is a friend, someone you meet at a job fair, or a casual acquaintance. To increase your networking skills consider joining a technical association or organization. Companies report that they find 27% of their new hires through employee referral and 19% through networking at job fairs or in the community.

Careers in IT generally pay well. According to a 2003 survey by IT Club USA, an entry level C++ programmer can expect to earn between $38,000 to $46,000 a year. The top salary for a senior level programmer nationally may reach about $105,000. An entry level help desk employee may earn between $33,000 and $41,000. An entry level network engineer will earn between $41,000 and $49,000, while a senior level network engineer may earn up to $89,000.

Most IT careers require a college degree and/or industry certification. Three out of five computer programmers have a Bachelor's Degree. According to Carnevale and Desrochers in a 2001 article, 83% of workers with Associate Degrees earn the same amount as workers with Bachelor's Degrees. The 2002 Ohio Board of Regents Performance Report indicates that Associate Degrees provide workers with a wage boost of 25-30% over someone with a high school diploma. Certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Network+, A+, or others are essential for those without a degree and provide an advantage for those with two or four year degrees. Certifications are especially important in the networking, security, and user support areas and for those with little or no job experience.

IT careers can suit many different personality types. If you like to work with people, consider the user support or computer training area. If you like to work with your hands, consider computer networking or computer repair/user support. If you like to work more independently, computer programming may be a better choice.

• Resources:
  Carnevale, Anthony P. and Donna M. Desrochers. Help Wanted...Credentials Required: Community College in the Knowledge Economy. Educational Testing Services, Princeton, NJ, 2001.
• Cronin, Paul. 2002 State of the Techie Address.
• Information Technology Association of America. "ITAA Data Show Overall Information Technology Workforce Grew Slowly in 2002."
• IT Club USA. 2003 Salary Survey.
• Ohio Board of Regents. Ohio's Colleges and Universities 2002: Profile of Student Outcomes, Experiences and Campus Measures, 2002 Performance Report. 2002.
• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio Job Outlook to 2010.
• The Northwest Center for Emerging Technology's Cyber Careers Center for the Net Generation.
• U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Computer Programmers," Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Editorial provided by Charlotte J. Wharton, Chair, Computer Information Systems, Sinclair Community College.