Is IT For You?
What you can expect from a career in IT
Information Technology has become an integral part of almost
every business today, and this rise has been so rapid that there are
sometimes more jobs than professionals available to fill them.
What is an IT professional?
The term IT professional encompasses hundreds of specialisms,
from the design and programming of computer systems, through
testing, maintenance and support, training of users, and software or
hardware sales. You might choose to work exclusively with software,
hardware, or applications development.
The type of company you could be employed by is as varied as
business itself, but the majority of positions are with blue chip
companies in the financial services, hi-tech, tele-comms and retail
sectors.
Why IT?
In addition to the higher than average earning potential and
favourable promotion prospects discussed above, working in IT offers
almost endless possibilities for travel around the globe, working
with different types of organisation on all kinds of projects. The
only limit is your own skill set, and with most companies offering
ongoing training there should be no reason for you to fall behind.
Requirements for entry into IT professions
The entry level into IT careers is generally a degree, often in
Business/Management, any Computing discipline, Engineering,
Mathematics or Sciences, but because of the severe shortage of
employees a degree in any subject is frequently accepted. Although a
postgraduate qualification is not necessary, an MSc or diploma in IT
may be useful if you don’t have a background in computing. It is
worth noting, too, that with women making up just 15–20 per cent
of the IT workforce, employers are currently very keen to recruit
more women.
Prospects
The likelihood of promotion within permanent positions depends
largely on the employer. Most companies are now realising that, with
IT employees in such demand, they must offer good prospects and
benefits in order to attract and retain the right staff, which can
be very good news for you. It is also important for them to keep
staff trained to keep up with the current trends, so once you are in
a job you should receive training in all the latest technologies,
which will in turn also increase your employability.
However, an increasing number of IT professionals work as
freelance contractors, who often work on a project basis for
employers. Being a consultant allows you to pick and choose
assignments as so many are offered. Salaries tend to be higher, and
there is the opportunity to work on a wider range of projects, but
there is less job security and you won’t have the benefits of paid
holiday and company pensions. You will normally need at least two
years’ experience to become a contractor.
Salaries
Starting salaries for graduates vary across the country. In
Melbourne and Sydney, you can expect to earn between $35,000 and
$45,000 in your first IT position, depending on whether you have an
IT-related degree, post graduate qualifications or industry
experience gained in placements or sponsorship.
For further advice please contact the Graduate Placement team
at Infopeople.
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