Careers in IT and Technology

Overview

Are you technically confident and capable?
Do you have real passion and interest in the digital world?
Would you love working with technology every single day?
Then a job in the IT and Technology sector could be ideal for you!

The Technology sector is undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing in modern society today. Due to the increasing digital saturation of the 21st Century, technology seems to have taken roots in all aspects of job sectors. Information Technology (IT) touches just about every area of our lives from the demanding worlds of science, medicine, engineering, defence and business to the more relaxing aspects of our lives such as entertainment and recreation.

A world without IT and Technology is a world without texting, surfing the web, checking emails or watching TV. How many days (read: hours) can you live without these things?

Almost everything that is impressive and advanced today relies on its’ technology in order to work!

Working in this sector can be hugely fascinating and fun for the right candidates, especially those who prefer being immersed in the digital world instead of drowning in paperwork in the “real world”. It’s also the perfect sector for people who love fixing, designing and creating things using technology.

Specific areas of work

The following are the four key areas of this sector:

1) Software and Services

The software and services industry is the largest of the areas and involves designing, developing, releasing and maintaining software programs and applications.

Professionals who develop these computer programs using Programming Languages such as JavaScript or SQL are called Software Engineers, Developers or Programmers.

This area of work is the most appealing for individuals who are good in programming, troubleshooting code (debugging) and who enjoy the challenge of “creating something from nothing”.

2) Hardware

This part of the industry is about manufacturing, assembling and maintaining the hardware components of the computer systems and its related infrastructures and technologies.

It is the combination of hardware and software that define the computer systems that we know today; one cannot function without the other.

Some parts of the hardware industry have become automated over the years although human supervision and involvement is still required at every level.

3) Multi-media

The multi-media sector of the IT industry is one of the most modern, creative and fast-paced work environments in the job market. Professionals working in this field work on the creation and maintenance of websites, interactive tools, mobile apps, and game development projects.

4) Telecommunications

Telecommunications is the communication / interaction of information using technology.

Thanks to the advancement telecommunications technology and the professionals working in this field we can take calling, texting, emailing or watching TV for granted in our daily lives.

The majority of professionals working in his field are computer engineers, technicians and operators. BT, one of UK’s largest telecommunications companies, employs over 80.000 people in this industry across the country.

Education and qualifications

The minimum entry requirement for this industry is having at least a level-3 IT-related qualification. This could be a BTEC, A-Levels or any other nationally-recognised qualification.

Having at least a 2:1 degree in IT, Computer Science or related subject is the minimum requirement for many graduate schemes and for working in popular IT companies.

Any additional training or qualifications – especially when combined with relevant work experience – will undoubtedly increase your chances of standing out from the crowd in this highly-competitive industry.

Skills and personal attributes

• Computing skills: This is a no-brainer really but it’s important to re-iterate that all IT professionals are expected to have at least a good understanding of computers and how to use them regardless of the area they are working or specialised in. This includes understanding basic code and being able to troubleshoot common IT problems.
• Creativity: This skill is particularly essential for software developers who are required to think outside the box and come up with innovative programs and applications.
• Communications skills: Being able to clearly and effectively communicate technical knowledge to a non-technical audience is an essential part of working in IT.
• Writing skills: IT professionals are often required to produce important reports, documentations and other written work as part of their jobs.
• Problem-solving skills: The one thing that is guaranteed when working with technology is that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. IT professionals are expected to solve these problems whenever they arise by finding appropriate solutions.
• Hands-on: It is a popular misconception that IT professionals sit boringly behind a computer 24/7 with little physical activity. The truth is that for many IT workers such as network engineers and IT technicians need to be hands-on to perform their day-to-day duties.

Pay and benefits

Entry level positions (such as IT Trainees or Junior Technicians) can earn anywhere from £13.000 to £17.000 per annum.

Mid-level IT professionals (such as IT Support Officers and Software Engineers) can expect to be paid between £17.000 and £35.000 per annum.

The salary dramatically goes up for Senior IT Managers and Directors starting from £45.000 and going up to £85.000 per annum, depending upon the company, job role and responsibilities.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Likes and advantages

• Salary: The salaries paid in the IT industry are above the national average and professionals working in this field can expect competitive salaries.
• Free Training courses: Working in IT means that you will always need to stay on top of the latest technology. Fortunately, it is common practise for companies to fund their employee’s IT training in order to improve their performance in their jobs.
• Being in an important role: One of the great things about working in IT is that you will always feel that you’re a valuable asset to the organisation. Your role means that you create things, solve problems and make other people’s lives that much easier. Who wouldn’t be proud about that?!
• Satisfaction: Troubleshooting and finding solutions has been mentioned quite a few times in this article but less has been said about the extreme satisfaction one will feel once a problem or issue has been successfully resolved. A simple “well done!” or “Thank you!” from your colleague or manager can make your day.
• Learning new things every day: The IT industry is a rapidly-changing sector where you will come across new technologies all the time; whether that is through the release of new products or when old software is being updated with added functionalities.
• Transferable skills: The truth is that nowadays IT is all around us and any skills that you develop during your training, education or work experience can be used in many other aspects of your personal life.
• Different areas to grow into: IT is required in any industry so, for example, if you enjoy Science or Medicine, why not work in IT in a Lab or a Hospital? The opportunities are endless!

Challenges

• May be needed outside working hours: Being a very important part of the organisation comes with added responsibilities; many IT professionals – especially working alone in small organisations – can expect to be called in to work in emergencies or special circumstances.
• Stress and dealing with angry customers: Whenever something goes wrong with the technology who is the first person the customers, users or colleagues will look to blame or turn to? It’s first and foremost the IT guy and then everybody else.
• Keeping up to date with software and trends: Given the evolving nature of the industry it can be quite difficult for a person to do their jobs and simultaneously stay up to date with all the latest technologies and trends in the industry.

Prospects

Things are looking promising for the future of IT. According to the Guardian (May, 2015) Robotics, automation and the internet of things “will be at the centre of the UK’s future economy.”

It is extremely uncommon to find an established company in the 21st century which doesn’t need some level of IT support or service. IT has now become an integrated part of many businesses and there is a great demand for professionals working in this field.

Worldwide IT spending forecast for the year 2015 is estimated to be 3.8 TRILLION US dollars (Gartner Jan, 2013). All these software, networks and infrastructure mean that there are lots of skilled workers required to maintain, operate and improve this technology.

Every year this industry continues to grow and is forecasted to continue with this trend for the next decades to come, combine this with better than average job prospects and the IT and Technology industry becomes an attractive career option to be seriously considered.