Job Family: Computers and IT

 *Career job information for job seekers

The development of digital technologies continues to bring about big changes in the working and home environment. Most organisations, large and small, national and international, now rely greatly on their computer systems.  ( employment job )

Careers range from the highly technical, such as software developer, computer games designer or technical support person, to those requiring good business awareness, such as systems analyst, database administrator or web editor. Roles such as interactive media designer or web designer provide work in this sector for those with high levels of creativity and possibly a design background. Job titles can be confusing as they are not consistent across the industry, and multiskilling means roles can overlap.

People with a career in this area generally spend a lot of time at a computer screen. However, this doesn't mean they don't interact with other people. People generally work as part of a team, often in open-plan offices. Working hours vary from normal office hours to shift working. Some jobs involve travelling to sell or install systems, or sort out problems on site.

Employers include specialist consultancies that provide a variety of IT services to other businesses and organisations that employ their own in-house IT support teams. These are usually large businesses, ranging from financial services companies through to local authorities.

Around 900,000 people work as IT professionals in England - of which around 45 per cent work in the IT and telecommunications industry, and the rest are based in other industries. Jobs exist in all parts of the country and there are opportunities to work abroad.

Good teamwork and communication skills are often just as vital as technical knowledge, and almost all jobs need the ability to solve complex problems in a logical manner. The internet has seen great advances in e-commerce, database-driven websites and wireless networking. Consequently, all computer specialists also now need to have a broad knowledge of internet technologies.

Entry for many jobs is after a degree, HND or foundation degree. Some support-level roles are open to those with lower-level qualifications. There are many relevant full-time courses to help people prepare for entry to the industry. A Diploma in information technology, offered at some schools and colleges, could provide a starting point and IT and telecoms Apprenticeships are available.

The fast pace of change in the industry means that career progression depends on keeping up with advances in technology, developing new skills and anticipating future trends. Once experienced, some people work on a freelance or contract basis, or set up their own consultancy.

Why not have a look at other career family articles as they may hold information on related jobs.

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