IT Qualifications – What can you achieve?

Article Written By: Karl Parkinson

There are an estimated 1.1 million IT professionals in the UK, distributed between around 120,000 IT companies and other industries, such as finance, the public sector, transport, storage, banking and communications. In addition, the services supplied by these professionals have a significant effect on the countryandrsquo;s economy, being worth an estimated andpound;57,000 million per year. London and the South East employ around 40% of new graduates, where Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales account for only around 11% of the workforce. The average starting salary for a new graduate is around andpound;30,000 with more experienced graduates and those aligning directly to large organizations being able to command more. The most common jobs in IT for new graduates include software engineering, IT consultancy, computer programming, systems analysis, computer analysis and computer operations management. As well as requiring IT skills, these posts also require problem-solving and strong communication skills, with the ability to work as part of a team.

The IT industry invests more in training than any other industry in the UK. The type of IT training depends on the aims of the business or company that a graduate is working for, but it is usually based in working with new technology. However, many graduates and professionals take it upon themselves to learn new IT skills to further their chances in the industry. There are training courses in most aspects of IT, including desktop support technicians, design and development courses, database server infrastructure design and professional developer qualifications. The industry seems to favour those with extra qualifications and these can lead to higher wages and longer IT careers. Courses are certified by most of the large operators, including Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, CIW, Computeach, IC3 and Adobe. There is a current trend in the UK IT industry for out-sourcing and off-shoring work; around 8% of IT operations are out-sourced overseas, pointing to a significant IT skills gap in the UK. Some companies have reported delays in the development of new products and services directly as a result of this. As the link between a lack of qualified professionals and product-delay becomes more evident, there has been a drive for more innovation and investment into IT training. Business projects that do not use IT in some shape or form are now in a significant minority, with companies now willing to spend more on new IT systems and professionals to maintain them. In the advent of this IT-driven age, even the government is looking for fully-qualified recruits to develop complex IT infrastructures for new ventures, such as the introduction of national ID cards and the smooth operations behind the 2012 Olympics.

IT has not only seen the dawn of a new era in business and commerce, but it looks to be a vital component of our everyday lives for the foreseeable future.

About the Author

Karl Parkinson, Chairman. Computeach - With over 40 years of experience in the IT Training Industry, Computeach provides innovative and truly blended learning solutions to a wide range of customers. For more information visit - http://www.computeach.co.uk/

You Can Link Directly to "IT Qualifications – What can you achieve?" by using the url:
http://www.allbestarticles.com//business/careers/it-qualifications-what-can-you-achieve.html

This Article Has Been Published on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 and Read 98 Times

Find All Best Articles at http://www.allbestarticles.com

Rating: Not yet rated

Comments

No comments posted.

Add Comment

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.

Related information on Careers

The Importance of Experience in the Construction Industry
Graduate Programs in Healthcare to Advance Your Career
Upcoming Trends in the Graphic Arts Industry
Find the Job of your Dreams with the Help of Professional Social Networking
Job Opportunities For First Time Graduate Students
An Overview Of The Different Kinds Of Insurance Jobs
It Doesn't Matter Where You Live, Customer Service Jobs Are Important To Every Business
Sign Up With An IT Recruitment Agency
Customer Service Jobs Come In All Different Shapes And Forms
What It Takes To Become An HVAC Professional
How to make the most of your internship
Study Abroad: The Basic Steps
Do I Need Experience With EMT Jobs To Have A Firefighter Career?
Check Out Exactly Where To Search For Industrial Engineering Employment
Common Medical Billing and Coding Terminology
Preparing for Your Phlebotomy Certification Exam
IT jobs in Dubai
Trying To Get Sales Opportunities
Why Applicants Hate Recruitment Agencies
How to Get a Job in the Insurance Industry
The Challenges Of Taking Electrician Courses
Renewable Energy Training Courses For A New Career
California Counseling Jobs Help You Help Others
7 Steps to Finding Ad Agency Job Opportunities
Marketing Advertising Jobs - Rules for Increasing Your Success in Marketing Advertising