Information technology (IT) today has become a cliché that even a toddler knows about it. In 1960’s and 1970’s the term information technology was recognized and associated with institutions such as hospitals, banks, and government offices. By then they referred to it as the processes that are involved in storage of information.
Currently IT or information and communication technology (ICT) is diverse and concerns managing and dispensation of information (Limoncelli et al, 2007, p. 189). IT and ITC makes use of computers, software, servers, storage media and transmitting devices. At the beginning of the 21st century in many parts of the world children were already aware on how to operate computers with the western world leading.
The IT job in any organization is highly competitive and comes with a wide range of duties. Such duties could include overseeing the organization’s firms. They are bundled with the task of ensuring the technology system of the firm functions effectively.
This includes the servers, email clients, software, databases and other elements used in the daily running of the firm are operating as required. Currently most organizations today are moving towards technological advancements hence without the IT specialist most of the organizations activities will run to a halt.
The IT department is also charged with the responsibility of developing technological strategies for the firm’s technological strategies. They have to determine the best servers, email providers and software that best suits the organization. They have to protect the organizations servers and network from viruses and hackers especially with the increase in cases of internet fraud.
The duties of IT personnel also include repairing of computers within the organization. Computers may break up or fail thereby making the organizations activities to come to a standstill. The IT department ensures that the computers are repaired or replaced and an inventory of all replacements of computer and other computer devices kept.
The IT also manages the company’s computers by installing the required software for its running. The IT department may at times be needed to train its employees on how to use some of the software especially those that are customized for the organization.
The field of IT or ICT is among one of the most demanding and highly marketable career. With the demand of the job it comes hand in hand with a hefty salary package. Although the salary scale differs among different countries and organization it may range from $100,000 to $400,000 per annum. The payment package may also exceed the $400,000 depending on the financial strength of the organization, qualifications of an individual and the duties. The job is also accompanied by attractive allowances and bonuses.
A career in IT is wide and diverse. It entails IT management careers and other technical or support staff IT career. It is a wide career with plenty opportunities and room for growth and career growth. As a technical IT officer you are the lowest level of the career and at this level you are in direct contact with the organizations computers and devices. The main duties is handling the machines and managing the information system.
The management level is much more diversified and consists of heads of the various information systems departments (Ghori, 2006, p. 122). The departments may include software architect, webmaster, software quality engineer, system administrator, network engineer, chief information officer, projector manager, and IT auditor among many more. These are mainly concerned in guiding and leading their juniors in carrying out their duties as required.
The trend in IT careers seems to be the in thing with most of the scholars today. With the move of the world towards the world of IT and making of the world a global village has greatly encouraged people to venture into IT (Burgess, 2004, p. 176). The old manual systems are being replaced with the new automated and computerized systems that are IT aided.
With this move in the 21st century IT careers are seen to have a bright future as even of today most of the firms have department for managing its information systems. Off shoring has a very little or no effect on the economy, for instance America’s economic output has grown by a 3.3% annual rate since 2003 when the issue of off shoring was at its peak. This is evident that as economy grows more and more job opportunities are created hence growth and development of IT as a career.
There are a number of IT courses with the most common being software developing and computer programming. However, these are just a few and are becoming vague with the introduction of more courses that are specific and narrow. These may include SQL, C# and the different programming languages.
Each of these courses may offer a certificate, diploma, higher national diploma, degree or other postgraduate levels. Every level provides its own careers in the IT field. Every organization is a potential employer for a person in the IT field with companies dealing with computer hardware and software leading the pack. Financial institutions, educational intuitions and many other institutions are an equal employer.
Conclusion
In a nutshell the whole world is focusing on moving to the world of computer technology. This in turn provides the demand for people with knowledge in IT. It is also quite amazing how any organization regardless of its size or operations would require an IT specialist. IT is a career like any other and provides vast opportunities for all.
Reference List
Burgess, M. (2004). Principles of network and system administration. John Wiley and Sons.
Ghori, A. (2006). Certified System Administrator for Hp-ux. Ashgar Ghori. Print.
Limoncelli, A., Hogan, C. and Chalup, R. (2007). The Practice of System and Network Administration. Addison-Wesley.