Is IT Still an Attractive Career?

Radical changes in IT careers are expected. Survivors of the dot-com burst of the ’90s are now facing new challenges related to outsourcing, off-shoring, and downsizing. Despite the fact that several IT companies have closed down and the field has had to endure many negative media reports, more companies have entered the field, more graduates have entered the profession, and the pay has improved dramatically. An unstable past and competition have taught large IT organizations to become lean, mean, specialized shops.

On the plus side, computer use and networking, as well as demand for new software, has continued to explode. With a mind-blowing rise in the number of organizations that incorporate IT into their businesses, there is a tremendous demand for IT professionals.

Why Are IT Careers in Demand?

• Competition among organizations to develop innovative and sophisticated software.
• Emergence of the Internet as a trusted tool of businesses, which results in demand for experts to create web applications.
• Sophistication of data-processing systems.
• Need to integrate computer systems with mobile technology.
• Rise in cyber-security concerns.

Jobs for IT Professionals:

1. Computer support specialists provide technical assistance for client organizations. Increasing complexities in computer technology and the need to integrate and adopt new technologies prompts organizations to hire specialists.
2. Computer software engineers enable computers to perform various applications by developing software and systems. Rapid growth in the computer and data processing services industry will result into several jobs for software engineers.
3. Computer hardware engineers design computer hardware and supervise its manufacture, installation, and performance. With the integration of computers and IT into every aspect of industry and business, more and more organizations will need support to manage, upgrade, and customize their complex systems.
4. Computer Programmers. Computer programmers write detailed instructions called programs for the proper functioning of computers and their applications. There are numerous openings for programmers in the rising number of software-developing firms, data-processing services houses, consulting firms, and large business organizations.
5. Systems Analysts and Database Administrators. Systems analysts help organizations solve computer system problems, and database administrators devise ways to organize and store data. Because of rapid growth in computer and data-processing services, organizations will continue to hire these professionals.

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Despite the rapid changes in the industry’s paradigms, techies continue to form the backbone of any industrial organization. In the earlier days, techies were generally associated with the manufacturing industry and blue-collar responsibilities. However, the advent of the silicon age has given new meaning to the responsibilities that most techies handle and has changed society’s perception of technical jobs.

Today’s techies are generally associated with white-collar jobs such as network administration, systems administration, network engineering, technical support, software development, technical writing, database administration, and quality assurance.

Depending on their qualifications and work experience, techies can expect to earn anywhere from $40,000 per year to more than $100,000 per year in the United States today. The general educational qualifications the industry recognizes are computing or information technology degrees in chosen areas of specialization. Computing and IT organizations across the globe would be gasping for air if there were no techies around to carry out their day-to-day operations.

Techies may be self-employed or may work for public- or private-sector organizations. Today, technical organizations are providing more focused client solutions. Techies employed by “solution-provider” organizations are dedicated to the specific needs of their employers. Though techies may argue that they are a “different species,” the companies they work for exist to address the needs of their clients.

However, many techies prefer to go solo for a variety of personal reasons. They like being their own bosses, pursuing personal goals, and determining their own work schedules. Techies belonging to this category will generally find it difficult to mesh their employment needs with the requirements of potential employers; it is better for them to be self-employed.

For most techies, it is not advisable to focus heavily on promotion and marketing right away. The best way forward initially is word of mouth. It is best to let friends and acquaintances know about your specialization and the technical services you offer.

At many companies in the corporate world, there are clashes between the “geeks” and the “suits.” Technical staff members may not respect or appreciate their corporate bosses and may consider them intruders into personal areas governed by their technical proficiency. On the other hand, the “suits” are usually after corporate ideals such as customer satisfaction, performance, and efficiency.

Yet another issue that techies face today is outsourcing. A variety of tech jobs are being outsourced despite the concerns being voiced throughout the U.S. Nevertheless, above-average and top-level techies have already found niches for themselves in the domestic market and are proving to be sources of motivation for other techies who aspire to move up the ladder.

Regardless of the current situation, ambitious techies with motivation and devotion can still attain long-term success.

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The technical knowledge you have in the morning may be obsolete by evening.

In our information-based era, new technology is blossoming and fading faster than ever. The latest cars have more computerization than the Apollo 13 spacecraft, and the job of an auto mechanic can scarcely be termed low-tech any longer. In the manufacturing sector, jobs and processes have already shifted to countries where there is cheaper labor. In the knowledge sector, jobs that can be handled remotely have already become remote. Amidst the fast-paced environment of the job market, relying simply on your technological skills to carry you through is no longer an effective career strategy. Continually updating your skill sets and developing other skills beyond your arsenal of technical abilities are essential today for a successful tech career.

The techie who keeps his or her job is a survivor first and a techie second.

The best worker is never laid off from his or her job. Corporations go to great lengths, including offering training programs, to retain valuable talent in technological jobs. However, when your present technological skills are not adequate to cope with new technology in the field, your employer’s decision to retain you will not depend on your technological skills. Your employer has to view you as something more than a simple techie, and it is up to you to make him or her see that. When employers are sure of the adaptive and results-oriented nature of an individual employee, his or her name is never going to be on the list of possible layoffs when there is an impending change in the work environment.

Increase your value to your employer.

• Work the in-house network. Don’t just be the guy who’s referred to for specific technical problems. Be identified as a person who speaks the language of management.
• Make connections with senior-level managers. Without connecting with senior staff members, you will never come to know the unwritten rules within a company and the industry. The knowledge and information you gain from senior staff will help you make better on-the-job decisions.
• Honor the time of superiors and your commitments. Failing to keep commitments and wasting the time of senior-level staff and superiors is one of the easiest ways to lose credibility. On the other hand, honoring their time and your commitments builds the credibility you need to stay and progress in your career. Rather than looking for what someone can do for you, look for what you can do for someone else.
• Volunteer for projects that others are not ready to accept. More often than not, the manager who makes the assignment knows which project most employees will try to avoid. Your willingness to take the risk and help out will stand you in good stead.
• Volunteer for projects that span departments. Accomplishments related to projects that span different departments help to build your professional reputation.
• Focus on accomplishments. Problems at work are often generic across companies and industries. Today, more emphasis is given to accomplishments on the job than to time spent in the job. Exhibiting effectiveness in generic areas increases your value both to your current and prospective employers.
• Ask for informal evaluations from senior staff members and management. Having an informal conversation with your manager about your work saves you from unpleasant surprises. Open channels of communication reduce misunderstandings and misjudgments.
• Don’t be afraid to blow your own horn. Being modest about your accomplishments is not going to serve you well. Do not be arrogant, but make sure everybody concerned is aware of your bottom-line contributions to the company.
• Take every opportunity to cross train. Select an area of interest like marketing or sales within your company and cross train yourself.

Remain alert and develop yourself.

• Never be complacent. Complacency leads to inactivity, arrogance, and loss of sharpness.
• Keep yourself ready for the eventuality of a job loss. Read the changes in the wind and be prepared to respond efficiently when they affect you adversely. Keep looking for better opportunities all the time. Remember, it is always easier to negotiate with a prospective employer while employed than it is to negotiate as an unemployed worker.
• Identify other opportunities. Do not ignore career options that are far from the beaten track. Continually assess how your skills can fit into another position or another industry. Try to identify opportunities outside your sphere of familiarity.
• Be prepared to reorient your career objectives according to the market situation. Don’t be inflexible. If situations demand that you leave your comfort zone, do so, and don’t rule out relocation or a pay cut when there are better future prospects.
• Never stop learning. Take advantage of all company offers of training seminars or tuition reimbursement. A lot of people suddenly put a stop to their learning mode after finishing their schooling. Do not end your education with your degree.

Above all else, be confident that you can always find work. That’s the manual for job survival.