A shortage in IT professionals
February 20th 2008 02:46
According to this month's Project Manager Network Magazine, there is a shortage in IT professionals. It reports that in the UK, there is a serious risk of losing their worldwide competitive edge because of a growth in demand for more IT related specialists.
Recently there has also been a series of advertisement on Australian TV for Express IT, an IT education institute claiming in six months they can guarantee graduation from their courses and a job within four months after graduation in the industry.
The tag line is: "The average salary in IT careers is AU$84K per annum."
Ok, there is a problem here - I am in IT, and my company is an IT based company. If there is a demand for more IT professionals it certainly isn't reflecting what is currently happening in the organization. A whole department just got retrenched, and news is there is more to come.
If you want to get into IT, you will have to remember that none of the 'express' entry into IT careers will work. Sure they can get you a job within four month doing help desk. That is technically still an IT career, yet you won't be earning the money they claim. That average salary is also counting all the top executives who earn more than $150K into the average, and they only account for possibly 5% of the entire IT professional population. So don't think you won't need to put in the hard work.
Two years ago I was asked by my own manager, who is quite high up in the organization to co-present a mini-lecture held by the Australian Computer Society to young IT graduates and professions on the topic of future IT jobs. Our aim is to assist those who are either looking into an IT career, or are just about to step into the field on the forecast of the profession.
With all the companies outsourcing many jobs to countries like China and India, it is important to think of the market trends when you consider a job in IT. Any jobs that are capable of being done remotely are at risk of being shifted overseas, therefore professions in help desk, technical support, programming and manufacturing are those at risk.
What will be more stable, are jobs requiring both IT skills and business knowledge. The companies are all about business and IT alignment these days and people with great IT knowledge who are capable of understanding the business are more likely to stay.
So remember if you see the ad that tempts you into a career in IT - the express education will probably get you a job in the short term, but you will need more education and qualifications when it comes to keeping and advancing in the job. It's true there is an IT shortage, but they still only want the best.
Recently there has also been a series of advertisement on Australian TV for Express IT, an IT education institute claiming in six months they can guarantee graduation from their courses and a job within four months after graduation in the industry.
The tag line is: "The average salary in IT careers is AU$84K per annum."
Ok, there is a problem here - I am in IT, and my company is an IT based company. If there is a demand for more IT professionals it certainly isn't reflecting what is currently happening in the organization. A whole department just got retrenched, and news is there is more to come.
If you want to get into IT, you will have to remember that none of the 'express' entry into IT careers will work. Sure they can get you a job within four month doing help desk. That is technically still an IT career, yet you won't be earning the money they claim. That average salary is also counting all the top executives who earn more than $150K into the average, and they only account for possibly 5% of the entire IT professional population. So don't think you won't need to put in the hard work.
Two years ago I was asked by my own manager, who is quite high up in the organization to co-present a mini-lecture held by the Australian Computer Society to young IT graduates and professions on the topic of future IT jobs. Our aim is to assist those who are either looking into an IT career, or are just about to step into the field on the forecast of the profession.
With all the companies outsourcing many jobs to countries like China and India, it is important to think of the market trends when you consider a job in IT. Any jobs that are capable of being done remotely are at risk of being shifted overseas, therefore professions in help desk, technical support, programming and manufacturing are those at risk.
What will be more stable, are jobs requiring both IT skills and business knowledge. The companies are all about business and IT alignment these days and people with great IT knowledge who are capable of understanding the business are more likely to stay.
So remember if you see the ad that tempts you into a career in IT - the express education will probably get you a job in the short term, but you will need more education and qualifications when it comes to keeping and advancing in the job. It's true there is an IT shortage, but they still only want the best.
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