Despite the bursting of the dot com bubble, careers in IT still abound, as do graduate opportunities to work at the cutting edge of technology. There is still a significant disparity between the industry and the number of experienced and enthusiastic graduates, with supply still failing to match demand. The IT sector is split into two areas (as well as the equally dynamic public and private sectors) - those of services, and research and development - and the type of work offered and skills required varies, as IT is used both as a means to achieve solutions and a developmental end in itself.

One thing is clear: entry into the sector does not require an IT degree. When you take into account the speed that the sector moves at, new skills and knowledge are especially highly valued. Indeed, many large companies offer inexperienced graduates projects in marketing or end-user areas to help new employees to acclimatise to the sector. Most work will be software-specific, so in-house training will predominate.

Opportunities in the TIME sector especially mark out the importance of the IT sector in tandem with industry and development. Development and consultancy opportunities are plentiful within telecommunications and engineering, such is the near-universal demand for efficient information technology.

The Way In

A postgraduate qualification in the industry is essential for the top jobs: the Novell Certified Netware Engineer (CNE) course and Microsoft's MSCE and MCP are all popular. Many firms will subsidise some study, as such courses are quite expensive to attend.

Many firms recruiting are aware that an aptitude for IT is not necessarily exclusive to an IT degree, and as such look for general knowledge and ability in the field. In some cases, a good first degree and enthusiasm is enough to appeal to employers, as the fast-moving field of IT changes with such rapidity that a cutting-edge area one year quickly becomes a backwater three years later.

Key Skills

Enthusiasm for all things technological is vital to enter the sector - although a computer science degree may not be de rigeur, some experience with programming and technology projects is extremely useful. Application and commitment to projects is also very important, as much of your time will be spent on specific tasks.

Pay & Lifestyle

Not all computer jobs feature the inhuman hours of the stereotypical computer programmer, though the financial rewards of working in a truly innovative field can be considerable. Many roles within the IT sector involve some sort of personal sacrifice and flexibility, and the deadline and budget pressures on many programming and servicing jobs are readily apparent.

Roles

Web Designer

Often operating on a freelance and commission basis, website designing has survived the dot com bubble, though companies are frequently choosing self-upgrade services and in-house designers over bought-in design. Like other freelancing areas, such work can be somewhat unreliable and difficult to find, but the rewards can also be great, as with all creative projects.

IT Development and Research

Often on the cutting edge of information technology, and responsible for delivering efficient operating services as well as specific programs, this field is one with tangible results, as the innovative projects you are spearheading could be the mass-market successes of tomorrow.

Technical Support

Being an IT technician isn't as mundane as it sounds: as system capabilities are extended and become more complex, the demand for highly skilled support teams for both private and corporate users spirals. Solutions to difficult problems will often prove to be as creative as initially creating the software!